Luxating Patella:
Luxating patellas are literally, slipping kneecaps. The kneecap is situated inside a groove in the femur, and held in place by ligaments. If the groove is shallow, the kneecap will slip to either the inside or the outside of the leg. Slipping to the inside is called medial luxation; slipping to the outside of the leg is called lateral luxation. Medial luxation is the more common condition.
Luxating patellas are literally, slipping kneecaps. The kneecap is situated inside a groove in the femur, and held in place by ligaments. If the groove is shallow, the kneecap will slip to either the inside or the outside of the leg. Slipping to the inside is called medial luxation; slipping to the outside of the leg is called lateral luxation. Medial luxation is the more common condition.
Luxating patellas are almost always inheritted, although a birth defect of inward turning legs wil also cause lateral luxation, and trauma of the legs can also be a factor.
A dog with a luxated patella will walk with a stiff gait, almost as though the leg can not be bent. The leg may be turned inwards, and a lump is easily obvious by feel along the inner or outer leg.
Can this condition be corrected?:
There is a surgical treatment available, using sutures, the surgeon can secure the patella in place. This surgery is more successful on smaller breeds. Pain management is most often prescribed for the resulting inflammation.
There is a surgical treatment available, using sutures, the surgeon can secure the patella in place. This surgery is more successful on smaller breeds. Pain management is most often prescribed for the resulting inflammation.
Side Note from me:
Ozzy my Wonder Dog was born with inward-turning rear legs. His patellas started to luxate at the age of eight months. After an x-ray revealed the source of both the mysterious lump, and awkward limp, our veterinarian recommended against surgery for a dog his size. She instead, showed me how to slip his kneecaps back into their groove when they wandered out, and prescribed anti-inflammatories for the pain of swelling afterwards.
Ozzy my Wonder Dog was born with inward-turning rear legs. His patellas started to luxate at the age of eight months. After an x-ray revealed the source of both the mysterious lump, and awkward limp, our veterinarian recommended against surgery for a dog his size. She instead, showed me how to slip his kneecaps back into their groove when they wandered out, and prescribed anti-inflammatories for the pain of swelling afterwards.
If your dog suffers from luxating patellas, talk to your vet and find out if surgery is the right road to take or not.