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Has this ever happened to you? You’re out enjoying a nice walk with your dog, when suddenly she yelps, lifts one of her back legs completely up off the ground, and immediately appears lame. Panicked, you try to figure out what in the world is going on while she spins around whimpering, and then suddenly… she puts her foot back down and starts walking again like nothing ever happened.
Chances are, you’ve just witnessed a classic luxating patella.
Luxating patella goes by many different names: “floating kneecap”, “trick knee”, and “slipped kneecap”, to name a few. Essentially, they are all terms for the same condition, which is a temporarily dislocated kneecap (“luxating” means “out of place”, and patella is the medical term for kneecap).
This condition is extremely common in small and toy breed dogs, and when it happens, it can be quite painful. Luxating patella is one of the most common orthopedic conditions seen by veterinarians, and it’s most commonly diagnosed in puppies around 4 months of age (although any dog, regardless of age or breed, can develop it).
But in order to understand what causes luxating patella, you first need to know a little bit about how the knee works – and what happens when it doesn’t work the way it should.
Anatomy Of A Knee
Dogs’ hind (back) legs are very similar to our legs. They’re made up of the thigh bone (femur), the shin bones (tibia and fibula), and the knee joint that connects these bones together. Sitting on the front of the knee joint and held in place by ligaments and tendons is a little round bone called the patella (kneecap).
In normal knees, the patella fits very nicely in a notched area at the bottom of the femur called the patellar groove. The patella’s job is to protect the knee joint (and judging by how often we bang our own kneecaps, it does that job very well!). As the leg bends, the patella slides up and down within the patellar groove to give the joint maximum flexibility, and the groove helps to keep the kneecap in place.
Unfortunately, some dogs have a patellar groove that isn’t deep enough to hold in the knee in its proper position. In a dog with luxating patella, the kneecap temporarily slips out of the patellar groove and moves off to either side. The sensation the dog feels when this happens causes the dog to stop and pull its leg up off the ground until the kneecap can pop back into position.
Luxating patella can also occur as the result of trauma. This can be something as serious as being hit by a car, or something as innocent as jumping off a couch or bed and landing the wrong way on the floor. However, it’s much more likely to be due to a patellar groove that’s just too shallow.
Regardless of the cause, luxating patella needs to be treated. If it keeps occurring, arthritis will eventually develop in the joint, causing permanent damage and a great deal of pain and loss of mobility for the dog.
Breeds Predisposed To Luxating Patella
Although any dog can develop luxating patella, it’s much more common in toy breeds, including:
- Toy and Miniature Poodles
- Pomeranians
- Chihuahuas
- Papillons
- Jack Russell Terriers
- Malteses
- Yorkshire Terriers
- Pekingeses
- Boston Terriers
- Bichon Frises
Some dogs with very short legs, like Dachshunds and Basset Hounds, can also develop luxating patella because their short femur bones throw off the angle of the patellar groove.
Symptoms Of Luxating Patella
The most obvious symptom of luxating patella is sudden apparent lameness in a back leg, followed by the dog either holding its leg up completely off the ground, or walking with a distinctive on-and-off “hop-skip” step.
The video below shows a dog walking with a luxated patella:
Other symptoms can include:
- Lameness in a back leg that seems to come and go for no apparent reason
- A bowlegged appearance when viewed from behind, particularly in puppies
- Shaking or extending the back leg after the patella pops out of place in an attempt to pop it back in
- Temporary paralysis of the knee joint
- Difficulty getting up from a reclining position
- Reluctance to run and jump
- Noticeable weakness in the affected leg
- Swelling around the knee joint
Diagnosing Luxating Patella
If you suspect that your dog has luxating patella, make an appointment with a veterinarian as soon as possible. The vet will take x-rays of the knee to view the position of the patella, as well as to assess whether the patellar groove of the femur is too shallow to hold the kneecap in place. The vet will also perform an examination of the knee by feeling the entire joint, which can help determine if the patella is sliding around more than it should be.
There are four levels, or grades, of severity with luxating patellas, with Grade 1 being the mildest and Grade 4 the most severe.
Grade 1: The dog is not usually in pain. The patella pops out (or can be manually popped out), but pops right back into place on its own.
Grade 2: The patella pops out of place but doesn’t always pop back in on its own; sometimes it requires manual manipulation to put it back into place, but usually moves out of place again when the dog starts walking. A dog with this grade is usually not painful, but if left untreated, the pain can progress and arthritis can develop.
Grade 3: Dogs in this stage are usually in pain and arthritic. The patella is sitting outside of the patellar groove more often than it is inside the groove. If it’s manually put back into place, it stays there temporarily, but then pops right back out.
Grade 4: The patella is outside the patellar groove all the time, and won’t stay there at all if manually put back into place. The dog is usually experiencing quite a bit of pain and already has degenerative damage to the joint.
Treating Luxating Patella
The goal of treatment for luxating patella is twofold: to relieve pain, and to improve the function and stability of the knee.
There are several non-surgical things you can do to help a dog with luxating patella:
- Make sure your dog is not overweight. Extra body weight will put a tremendous amount of pressure on an already-compromised knee joint. If your dog is overweight, talk with your veterinarian about safely modifying his diet to help him lose weight.
- Although it may sound counterintuitive, keep your dog moving! This will enable him to build up the muscles around the knee to help hold the patella in place.
- Give your dog joint supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin, which are proven to improve the production of joint fluid (which helps cushion the knee joint) and help rebuild damaged cartilage.
- Ask your vet about Adequan, an injectible joint support supplement that also helps repair cartilage and increases joint fluid production.
- Consider adding Omega 3 fatty acid supplements to your dog’s diet. Omega 3 fatty acids can have an anti-inflammatory effect in joints. High-quality fish oils are a good source of Omega 3’s; ask your veterinarian for recommendations.
- Consider other non-traditional treatments, such as acupuncture, hydrotherapy (swimming and special exercises done underwater to strengthen the knee), massage therapy to stimulate healing and reduce stress, and acupressure to increase circulation.
Although all of the above suggestions will certainly help a dog with luxating patella, here’s the thing: non-surgical methods will never be able to change the anatomy of your dog’s leg. For this reason, surgery is by far the most recommended approach to correcting a luxating patella.
Why Surgery Is Almost Always The Best Option
Unless a dog is older and/or has other serious medical conditions that make him a poor candidate for anesthesia, surgery for luxating patella remains the most effective way to repair and correct the issue.
The procedure is very straightforward: in most cases, a veterinary surgeon uses orthopedic tools to scrape out and deepen the patellar groove so the kneecap no longer slips out of place. In more serious cases, some surgeons will also surgically alter the position of the ligament that holds the patella in place and tighten the joint capsule of the knee to make it more stable.
After surgery, most dogs recover very quickly. The affected leg is bandaged for a few weeks, then once sutures are removed, the dog is able to start going on short walks to build up strength in the repaired leg. The success rate for this surgery is approximately 90%, with little to no recurrence of the issue.
Why No Dog Should Live With A Luxating Patella
Luxating patella in any dog should ALWAYS be treated. Left untreated, the movement of the patella back and forth in and out of the patellar groove will wear down the cartilage in the knee and eventually cause bone-on-bone contact, which can be extremely painful and cause permanent damage to the joint.
Diagnosing and treating luxating patella early can help prevent arthritis and loss of mobility, and can greatly improve a dog’s quality of life. If you suspect your dog has luxating patella, be sure to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Your dog will thank you!
Have you ever had a dog with luxating patella? Please tell us about it in the comments below!
Thank you Camille, I always learn something new with your articles. I’m going to send this to my sister who has a small dog.
Thank you, Jill! And thank you so much for sharing the info! 🙂
My dog was diagnosed with Stage 3 Luxating Patella, which after reading the stages, he sounds more like a stage 2. I was told to give him Hemp & Hip chewables, it has omega 3’s, fish oil, turmeric, glucosamine, and chrondantin, and hemp oil. I’m hoping it works, we just started it 2 days ago, as surgery was quoted at $2,000. Sounds like here though surgery is inevitable but then other sites say most dogs wont need surgery, so I don’t know what to do
I agree, sometimes it can be really tricky trying to determine whether your dog needs surgery. 🙁 The reason why most veterinarians recommend surgical correction of luxating patella is because of the permanent damage it can do to the knee joint over time. Although supplements, weight control, and building up surrounding muscle helps, it just can’t change the fact that the patellar groove is simply just too shallow to hold the kneecap in place.
And just an added thought that I didn’t include in the article…when I was in small animal veterinary practice, we did many of these surgeries to correct luxating patella. I can’t recall one case where it wasn’t successful and didn’t dramatically improve the dog’s quality of life. Unlike surgeries to repair a torn cruciate ligament (another common orthopedic problem in dogs), recovery time for this surgery seemed much quicker, and the dogs healed very well with no need for further treatment.
That being said, there are other things to consider when you’re making a decision about having any surgery for your dog. If your dog is older, or has other medical conditions that might complicate anesthesia, sometimes you have to weigh the risks of surgery against the potential rewards. If a dog is diagnosed with luxating patella when he’s very young, odds are on his side that he’ll have many years ahead of him; surgery in that case could prevent him from becoming permanently arthritic or even lame by the time he’s middle-aged. But if a dog is older when he’s diagnosed, you have to take into account the potential benefits vs. the risks of putting him through surgery, including the toll recovery from surgery might take on him. And of course, orthopedic surgery can be expensive, which may make it cost-prohibitive for many dog parents. So unfortunately, I agree that it can be a very complicated decision. 🙁
My 14 year old otherwise very healthy and energetic golden/cocker mix had patellar luxation surgery on April 28th, and everything seemed to be going great until he very suddenly starting limping about two months post surgery. I took him back to the vet because I was sure something had gone very wrong, and after assessing his knee (no radiology or anything) the vet insisted the knee was stable and said that it is not uncommon for them to suddenly start limping like that as the nerves are growing back from the surgery and that he will be re-learning to walk again as the neurons adjust and start sending out the new signals as the healing continues. He put him on gabapentin and said that should help block some of the neural signals from the knee before and that the new signals will start firing. I am skeptical, I can’t find anything about this on the internet and now my dog is limping even more, a few days later. What gives is this for real and if this is not uncommon why dont they tell people about it in advance? I am pretty devastated that I spent about $2500, took time off of work, and basically have been living my life all about the dog to get him healthy again and now I fear that he needs surgery again.
Hi Laura… I have to admit, I have never heard this explanation either. I would be highly suspicious if my dog had been doing great for 2 months post-surgery, then suddenly began limping. The fact that his lameness keeps getting worse is also a red flag. I would suggest getting a second opinion from another vet (preferably an orthopedic vet if you can find one) to rule out any further injury to his knee, or any post-surgical complication. He may not need another surgery, but he definitely needs to have his knee assessed to find out what is causing the pain, which at this point should be getting better, not worse.
Good luck, please let me know what happens!!
I’ve got an 8 month cocker that has just been diagnosed with grade 1 bilateral luxating patellas. I’m devastated as I was hoping she’d be an agility dog. Anyone had a dog return or start agility after having had the sx.
Somebodies dog had an OP to fix it ( yesterday ) he is on the way to recover
My dog, Annie, had her laxated patella surgery 2 days ago. The doctor gave her tramadol for pain. My concern is her level of pain and what is normal. She had cruciate ligament repair a little over a year ago. The very next day after surgery she was jumping up at me on her leashed walk, (I know jumping is a big no no) but with this surgery she doesn’t seem to want to do anything. I can barely get her to get up and come out of her kennel. She will go out with me for a short walk and bathroom break but she is the complete opposite from the last surgery. I realize these are two different surgeries. Is there typically more pain associated post op with the patella surgery as compared to the ligament repair??
Hi, Jessica…. to my knowledge I haven’t heard of one of these procedures being more painful than the other. That being said, we know from our own experience that every patient is different, and for that one patient every surgery can be different yet. There are some minor complications that can occur with any orthopedic surgery on the knee, including the development of seromas (small, fluid-filled pockets) near the surgery site and an irritation or inflammation of the peroneal nerve (which controls the muscles that flex the paw). Also, during surgery for patellar luxation there can be a significant amount of shaving down of the patellar groove (the bony groove that helps hold the kneecap in place). Any time you grind down bone there can be varying degrees of residual pain afterwards, so that would not surprise me.
I would definitely let your veterinarian know about Annie’s post-op behavior. He or she may want to do a quick recheck on her to make sure there aren’t any complications developing, or perhaps adjust the level of her pain medication. Thank you, please let me know how it goes!
Could be tramadol, it causes some dogs depression and act funny! Beware
What are the odds of a 5-month-old pup with 2 litter mates that have luxating patella, developing it
Unfortunately, there’s evidence to suggest that luxating patella can be genetically passed down, so I would guess the odds of your puppy developing it if 2 of his littermates already have it are higher than most. But like most other genetic traits, that doesn’t necessarily mean that your puppy is guaranteed to have luxating patella. The good news is that you are aware of it, and will recognize the symptoms if your puppy does develop it…and you’ll know to immediately get it checked by your vet!
My 9 month old Toy Poodle has been diagnosed with this in both knees, he’s to have surgery on the 17th January on the first knee and when he’s healed he will have the next surgery. Really apprehensive about it as he is so young but the vet tells me he will be fine after it.
Hi Linda! How is your puppy doing after his surgery? I know he’s still healing, but did he handle it well?
My pug had her surgery today. Heard she came through surgery fine, hopefully home tomorrow.
That’s great! Hope she has a quick and smooth recovery. 🙂
Hi my puppy has just been diagnosed with luxating pataella in both her rear legs, one is constantly coming out been told to rest her for a week but it’s made no difference. She’s only 7months so I’m concerned they won’t operate yet?
Hi Neil, your vet most likely wants to wait awhile since your puppy is so young and her bones and joints are still developing. Once she is a little older, she will be a better candidate for orthopedic surgery. In the meantime, the luxating joint may be uncomfortable for your puppy, but it won’t be life-threatening and shouldn’t increase her risk of developing arthritis, so you should be okay to wait a little while to have the surgery if she still needs it. Good luck, please let us know how it goes!
Hi, I know this is years later, but I have a pug as well. I am wondering how your baby did under anesthesia and did you hear a click in their leg? Would love to chat with a fellow pug owner about this.
Hi Camille. My Dino, a (almost) 9 year old chihuahua has bilateral luxating patellas. He has had it for a few years. It seems to bother him a little more. We were doing red light laser therapy and I have him now on Dasuquin and Welactin. He is a little overweight at 8.25 pounds. I took him for his surgery consult and she says he’s about a 2-3 grade in both knees. But does recommend surgery. I am DEATHLY afraid of surgery and the pain he will be in. I will do anything he needs. My anxiety is getting the best of me. I hear that it greatly improves his life and I want him to have the best. We did his preop tests and blood is all fine. Heart and liver were slightly enlarged… We did an ultrasound and they do not see any liver disease or parts of the heart enlarged that would indicate disease and believe he may just be like that. Liver could be slightly fatty bc of the weight. We are also going to do an echo cardiogram to be sure with his heart. Also we are working on losing 1 to 1 1/2 pounds prior to surgery. I am working with the vet now on feedings. I am scared to death about how long he will be down. I see some dogs down (youtube) and look like they are in pain dragging their legs, and some are up and walking the next day. I should also mention that the surgeon did not see any arthritis in the xrays. I’m hoping that means a better recovery. Please offer any advice you can, my palpitations over my fur-son and his surgery is going to kill me. Mind you I have no kids, so Dino is my baby and I lost one two years ago (at 8 years old) to a brain tumor and numerous seizures. So as you can imagine, I’m extremely scared over this.
Jillian, I am so sorry for the delayed response to your questions! I had surgery in February, and somehow during that time this comment slipped through the cracks.. I just now saw it! My deepest apologies. 🙁
Did you end up having surgery for Dino? I totally understand about being nervous for surgery, my furry kids are my babies too! However, the good news is that Dino sounds pretty healthy for 9 yrs old, and you’ve certainly done all the preliminary testing to make sure that he is a good candidate for surgery and anesthesia. And regarding pain management after surgery, most veterinarians are very good at developing a plan for pain control after surgery, so that usually isn’t an issue for most dogs – and the fact that Dino is a smaller dog gives him an edge in being able to recover faster than a larger, heavier dog like a Lab.
Of course this may all be water under the bridge at this point if you already had the surgery for him… can you please let me know how he’s doing and what ended up happening with him? Thank you, and again, my sincerest apologies for the delay!
My Lucy (2 year old Maltese) just had this surgery today. At a year old, she started hobbling around on 3 legs and we immediately took her to the vet. Through a manual exam and Xrays she was diagnosed with Grade 1. We scheduled surgery, and during the few weeks wait, her foot swelled up and it turned out she had an ingrown wart inside her ped that was causing the lameness. (The vet felt terrible for missing this, but the miss was totally understandable since when she started holding her foot up the first thing everyone did was check her actual foot and no one noticed anything until it swelled up.) The vet removed the wart and Lucy was back to walking regularly on four legs and being her usual self within 24 hours. We knew that at some point in the future, we would have to take care of the knee, but after consulting with our vet, decided to wait until she showed symptoms again. She was great for almost a year (every so often you could see her do a little twist to pop it in herself but not often). A month ago she started holding up that leg again, so we knew it was time for surgery. The new Xrays showed she is Grade 3 now. The vet and orthopedic surgeon also confirmed for us that she has Grade 1 in her other leg, but we will worry about that once we get her through recovery from this surgery. I am hoping she bounces back quickly.
Hi Susan, how is Lucy doing after her surgery? 🙂
My dog is 10 months year old and he has grade 3 or 4, but yet ever since I gave him medication for pain relief he has been walking normally and the veterinarian said not to wait to long because it can get worse. My question is when should my dog get the surgery? also Does my dog have to be on medication his whole life?
Hi Genessis, if your dog is walking normally on the pain medication, I would ask the vet if he or she is able to confirm if the patella is still popping out of place? Usually Grade 3 or 4 is pretty severe and means that it’s not popping back in and staying there, which would mean the dog is usually still limping. If your dog is only 10 months old, and is not limping or appear to be in any pain right now, and the kneecap is staying in place, you may want to ask the vet if waiting just a little longer on surgery would be an option. And to answer your question about the medication, usually surgery will correct the issue so there won’t be a need for medication afterwards. But if the surgery is not done at all, and your dog does indeed have a luxating patella, over time it’s possible that the joint would become arthritic, and your dog could need lifelong medication to help manage the pain and inflammation in the knee joint.
My little one (13 month old Shi-Tzu mix- 5 pounds) was diagnosed with luxating patella a week ago. I was told they would reevaluate in a couple months, that it would likely resolve itself. Since then it has gotten a lot worse- her knee cap pops out an average of 10 times a day (what is the average?). 🙁 I made an appointment with another vet next Saturday and am almost 100% sure they are going to suggest surgery, which is fine. I am a teacher so I still have about 6 weeks left of school for the year, so surgery would have to wait until then (so I can be home with her). What can I do in the mean time to keep her comfortable (she is on pain meds once a day as needed- so everyday)? She also sleeps with me- will she be able to do that after surgery (she can’t jump on or off my bed and usually sleeps in one spot all night- she wakes me if she needs up)? Any thoughts are greatly appreciated, I hate that she is not doing well!
Hi Renee, please accept my apology for the delayed response! Since it’s been awhile since you posted your comment, how is your little girl doing now? Have her symptoms improved at all? Will she be having surgery, or has she had it already? Regarding keeping her comfortable, it sounds like you were already managing her discomfort well with pain medication, which is great… the only other thing you could have done for her since her kneecap was popping out of place so often would be to keep her quiet and not take her on long walks or let her jump up and down on and off furniture. To answer your question about whether she could sleep with you after surgery, once she has healed completely from the surgery, her knee should be permanently in place, so in my opinion she should be able to sleep with you without any issues, but you will want to confirm that with your vet. To be extra-safe, you can always get a set of pet stairs to put up against the bed so she can use the stairs to get up and down to prevent any strain on her knee. I hope this helps, and please let me know how she’s doing!
My puppy, 8 month old lab/pit mix was diagnosed with LP 3 weeks ago. The vet diagnosed her with grade 3 in the hind left leg and grade 2 in the hind right. She occasionally limps, especially after getting up from a relaxed position. She doesn’t seem to be in pain at all. The vet told me to hold off on surgery until fully grown and gave me duramax for her joints. I also put salmon oil in her food day and night and also take her on lots of walks and plenty of hikes, she gets a good amount of exercise. I was wondering if there’s anything else I could be doing? I hate seeing her limp and would much rather just have the surgery over and done with but I also understand she’s growing and could potentially grow out of this. Thank you.
Correction: It’s called dasuquin, not duramax. I also forgot to mention that after reading this, the grade 3 seems more than less like a grade 2.
Hi Lauren, my sincerest apologies for the delayed response! It sounds like you’re doing everything you need to in order to help your puppy, and I agree with your vet that holding off until she’s fully matured before performing surgery is the wisest course of action. Her limbs will most definitely change as she grows, so doing surgery now most likely would not be 100% successful, and could ultimately do more harm than good. When her bones and joints are fully grown, your chances for successful surgery will be much better. Regarding the limping, I would just monitor that since your puppy is a combination of 2 very stoic breeds with a high pain tolerance (lab and pitbull), and sometimes they are so driven to be highly active and just get up and go that they can power through any pain they’re feeling. So if you see the limping get worse, I’d back off the walks and hikes for a few days and see if that helps with the limp. Please keep me posted when your puppy has the surgery and let me know how she does!
HELP!!!CONCERNED FURRBABY MOMMA. WHO’S 6•1/2YR. old BABY HAS STAGE 4 LUXATING PATELLA, THEREFORE ISN’T A SURGUCAL CANDIDATE…
Hi y’all! So out if the blue, my baby (Sampson), who is a 6•1/2yr old Miniature Pinscher, helped, & started hobbling on 3 legs. His rear left leg is the problem area. I took him to my vet, and unfortunately, my vet said that Sampson has a luxating patella. He also said that he attempted to realign the joint twice in the room & then once more, when they took him for imaging. It popped out immediately each time. The vet said that is is not a new injury & that Sampson was born with this and has had this all his life. Our vet said that with the imaging, test results, & the immediate dislocation after each attempt to place the patella back into the joint, that Sampson has stage 4 luxating patella & would not be a candidate for surgery. As this would be a waste of time, money, & more pain for Samspon, that more likely than not, would not be a successful surgery outcome. We have changed Sampsons diet to help him lose 4lbs and we’ve placed him on supplements. I purchased a knee brace, but; it seems to help minimally. He can only wear it for so long, before that area in & around Sampsons knee, starts becoming irritated. What else can I do? I’ve read to keep him active, but; he seems to be getting worse, the more he uses that leg. Should I seriously consider purchasing a dog wheelchair? And if so, where do I go & what brand/size would you reccomend for him? He is a pure Miniature Pinscher & weighs 15lbs right now. He has already lost some weight. Please help! You can reach me via my email @ nicki.creel@gmail.com.
Thanks so much everyone!
Concerned Furrbaby Momma. ♡
Hi Nicki, did the vet give you the exact reasons why he said that Sampson is not a candidate for surgery? Although Stage 4 luxating patella is the most difficult stage to correct (it can sometimes require cutting the leg bone and inserting bone plates), unless Sampson has severe bone deformities, it’s generally not impossible to still surgically correct it successfully. Would you consider getting a second opinion from a veterinary orthopedic specialist?
My pup just turned 1 year a week ago. She was diagnosed with Medial luxating patella grade 2 on left rear leg. Vet recommended surgery asap describing how the longer we wait the more damage can be done. We are concerned that she is still so young and worried because she does not cry or Yelp when the kneecap pops out. It happens a few times a day. She just hope for second and then right back to walk or play. She is so hyper and I am worried about long recovery. Is it imperative that it is done now and not a year from now? So many conflicting reports. Just want to do what is best for her
Hi Jennifer, sorry to hear about your little girl! My first thought is to seek a second opinion on her condition, which I highly recommend to anyone who is considering orthopedic surgery for their dog. This has nothing to do with your vet’s expertise or judgement, it’s simply to get another viewpoint. This would give you more data points in helping you make the decision whether to have surgery now versus later. And if both vets recommend the same course of action, you can have more confidence in that decision. I’m not sure what breed or size your dog is, but if she’s a small dog, even if they are very active small dogs tend to heal a little more quickly and are easier to manage post-operatively than large breed dogs. Small dogs also develop more quickly when it comes to their bones and joints, so if she’s a small breed she would be old enough for the surgery – but I would still recommend getting a second opinion as to the grade of her luxating patella and when the best timing for surgery might be. The second vet should be able to use the x-rays and any other diagnostics taken by the first vet, so they should just need to examine her and provide you with another opinion. Good luck!!
Hi there! Loved your article about fluxating patella. I have a toy poodle who is going into surgery tomorrow and of course I am scared. She has a grade 3-4. On New Year’s Eve she jumped down from the top of the couch which is her usual perching spot and next thing I knew she was walking on 3 legs. I have waited over a month and she has improved, but she rarely jumps up on the couch anymore which leaves me to believe that she is in pain. This being said, if having the surgery will improve her life, I am going to do it. I want her to be able to run, jump, play and take walks with me like she used to do. BTW, she is 9 years old. Hoping I am doing the right thing because SHE is my everything!
Thanks so much, Tammy! How is your little girl doing after her surgery? I know she is still in the recovery process, but hopefully she is feeling okay and on her way to a full recovery! 🙂
Hi. I am taking my dog, Zoe, to our vet today. She has luxating patella, I’m not sure the grade yet, but she won’t bear any weight on her leg. Anyway, I’m concerned she may need surgery. She is a 10 year old Cavalier Spaniel who has a heart condition with a cough, Syringomyelia, and some seizures. Do I really want to put her through this type of surgery and rehab? I’ve been trying to find stories of anyone who has had an older dog… I would love a great outcome, but don’t want her to suffer more than she needs to.
Hi Michelle! What did your vet say about Zoe? Due to her heart condition and syringomyelia, she is definitely in the higher-risk category when it comes to anesthesia. I had a Cavalier with a heart condition also, and it’s definitely a different ballgame when it comes to making decisions about anesthesia. I’m curious to hear if your vet had any non-surgical treatment options?
Hello! Our 2 year cavapoochon has been diagnosed with grade 2 LP in both her hind legs. The right seems to pop out more often and surgery has been recommended. The surgeon also gave us the option of doing both legs at the same time. He said the recovery is a little tougher but with her being a smaller breed and young she should do fine. What r your thoughts on doing both legs at the same time? Is there a higher chance or reinjury since she does not have a good leg to help support her weight?
Hi Seannin! This is a great question, as having surgery on both legs at the same time is a relatively new concept and I haven’t seen much data yet on how successful it is vs. having each leg done separately. However, I have read from very credible veterinary sources that in smaller dogs, it can be performed on both knees at once with a successful outcome. Since your dog was diagnosed as grade 2, which is relatively mild, she may be a better candidate for having both done at once. To be safe, you can always get a second opinion for additional input.. it never hurts to get another viewpoint, especially from a veterinary orthopedic specialist. Good luck, and please let me know what you decided and how she does!
My 10 month old puppy was just diagnosed with Luxating patella and the vet recommended an anti inflammatory as well as restricted activity for two weeks but everything I read says he should keep moving. I’m confused do I restrict his activity or not. Thanks
Hi Darlene! Because your puppy is so young, it makes sense that your vet wants to wait and see how his knee continues to develop before making any further recommendations. Because puppies are so active, I would recommend closely following your vet’s advice and restricting his activity for the 2 weeks just to see if it helps and to keep his kneecap from continuing to slip out of place. Good luck, and hopefully his condition is mild and will be manageable without surgery!
My chiuweenie is just over 1 year old. She is the most playful dog you have ever seen yet she tends to hop and lift her back left leg when she is walking fast. She never crys from pain and is constantly jumping up and down no problem. I took her to the vet to see why she was limping on just the left back leg occasionally. The vet said she had a stage 3 LP on the left leg and a stage 1 on the right. My question is if the left leg is so severe at a stage 3 why is she not crying or whimpering? How is she still able to be as playful as she is if the condition is this bad?
Hi, my 8 year old yorkie was diagnosed with grade 2 LP in both legs. He doesn’t have lameness and I am scared to death about the surgery. I was wondering if in the case a dog doesn’t have lameness, the surgery is still the only option. Please, I very much appreciate it if you could help me to clarify this. I want the best for my dog and that is why I am not totally sure about surgery and all the painful recovery while my dog looks happy now.
Hi, My one year old lab / pit bull mix (62 lbs) was diagnosed with luxating patella in the right rear leg. He began limping about 2 months ago, and we thought it was from running around. The swelling didn’t go down off to the vet he went they put him on Rimadyl to reduce the swelling. Now they have diagnosed him with luxating patella, Stage 3. They highly recommend surgery to correct this and said he would recover in 4-12 weeks. I am just so scared for him to do the surgery, and it appears there is nothing they can do right now. They started him on Dasquan and salmon oil. Would you recommend the surgery, will it happen to the other leg?
Hi, Sandra! Did you wind up getting your dog the surgery? My rescue pup (german shepard/chow mix) was diagnosed with luxating patellas @ 1 year on both hind legs. Surgery was recommended for both. We just got the surgery done on one leg last week and will need to wait until that heals before the next one is performed. It was and is very scary and requires a lot from the owner post op. He is confined to a crate and can only go out by leash for potty breaks. He also was given about 5 different medications, so although frustrating I hope we have provided him with the best chance for a long and pain -free life. Hope your dog is doing great.
Hi, my 8 year old yorkie was diagnosed with grade 2 LP in both legs. He doesn’t have lameness and I am scared to death about the surgery. I was wondering if in the case a dog doesn’t have lameness, the surgery is still the only option. Please, I very much appreciate it if you could help me to clarify this. I want the best for my dog and that is why I am not totally sure about surgery and all the painful recovery while my dog looks happy now.
If your baby is already grade 2 the pain and lameness will come! To help you decide, both legs have LP, so if both deteriorate, he will not be able to walk!
My Gina had it in her left hind leg, hence, she was able to get around on her three other legs. However, she is already developing it in her right! In addition, her left developed Arthritis (not curable). I wish my Vet would’ve diagnosed this 5 years ago. I would’ve got the Surgery Immediately! Keep in mind, there is a window when he will remain a candidate for surgery. Ask your Vet how long Surgery is an option!
Research this condition, so you know exactly what you both are facing.
Good Luck!!
6 Years ago my then female 12lb CHUG (Chihuahua/Pug) Gina aka The Weasel had puppies. Everyone that saw them want to touch them. So, she kept moving them. I decided to clear out a closet put her puppies there. I then placed a narrow piece of wood, in the doorway so she jump in and out to tend to them. One day while jumping out she hit her leg during a jump, on the wood.
For the next 6 years her the bone in her knee would me & I wouldn pop it back, easily. 6 months ago she came to me to pop it back but I couldn’t & she screamed in pain, for the first time ever! I was horrified. She began limping, I knew we were in trouble! Without an x-ray my Vet of her entire life said Luxating Patella! Wait What? Never heard of it! He recommended either surgery, pain + anti-inflammatory meds, or amputation! I lost it! No brainer-Surgery! First referral I was quoted $3,500 I didn’t click with the surgeon or the staff! Another family members Vet, referred us to, Mississippi State University School of Vetinary Medicine! During her first diagnostic exam, she was an excellent candidate for surgery & they kept her & scheduled her surgery for the next day! The surgeon could not give me a price because there are 4 to 5 different surgeries, which is determined during surgery! I was told to pay a deposit = to 75% of $3,000. Her surgery went excellent & she was released the next day, with post op instructions, medications, an e collar ( cone), and I got hugs. Total cost $1,985.00. Today, I brought my Weasel home & her recovery will depend on me! I will be switching Vets because he knew her knee was popping out all those years and never saw it as a problem.
People, check with your States, School of Vetinary Medicine! It will be cheaper & you’ll get the best skilled & Talented, Doctors, Surgeons!
I am considering adopting a dog from a rescue organization – he is a 2 year old terrier mix, 6 pounds. In the description it says that he had “surgery on his knee as the tendon kept slipping.” I’m assuming this is a luxating patella (does that sound right from the description)? I do not know how long he has had it, what grade it is, or whether the other leg seems to be affected (all questions I will be asking). Is there a likelihood of future problems if this went on untreated for too long? And are there any other questions I should ask, or things I should be aware of? He looks like a great fit for me, but after recently losing my furry companion of 16 years, I’m not ready for another heartbreak any time in the near future.
Luxating Patella…To operate or not?
My 3 year old miniature dachshund fell off my couch 2 weeks ago. He had lameness in his rear left leg for a short period and then proceeded just to limp. I took him straight to the vets who identified he had a luxating patella, most likely born with it but the fall exacerbated it. She gave me anti-inflammatory medication and was told to let him rest.
A few days later I noticed the lameness was becoming frequent when he was walking on my floorboards or outside on uneven surfaces. I took him to an orthopaedic surgeon for their opinion. He went through some options with me and we decided to give it a week to we if he improves.
After a week he went from having severe lameness to just the occasional hopping. I have kept him on rest in his crate and only very small on lead walks around my house to help him build some strength back in his leg. When he walks on the carpet or non slippery surfaces he seems to be ok. He’s definitely not using his leg the same way but it doesn’t seem to bother him too much. There are times when he will stop and turn around to bite his side towards his affected leg. His hopping only seems to occur if he loses grip on the floor boards and at a faster pace.
I called the surgeon last week who advised to either let’s see how we go over the next week or to operate. I chose to give it one more week to see if he stops hopping around when on slippery or uneven surfaces. I have noticed an overall improvement but the occasional hopping was never there before the fall.
My question is….am I just delaying the inevitable as his knee won’t be the same again and long term he will face further issues? I’m afraid due to his breed they have so many potential health issues with their backs and hips and with this is knee not being how it use to be will it potentially increase the risk?
Hi there – firstly, thank you for writing this and for being so active in your replies. Our 11 month old mixed breed (according to DNA tests, mostly German Shepherd, German Pointer, Belgian Malinois – with some giant breeds such as Cane Corso and Caucasian Shepherd thrown in) has just beed diagnosed with LP. Her left leg pops out relatively frequently (last week, it was every day but this week not at all). Her right leg has shown no symptoms as yet but the vet says both are stage 2 and require surgery. My question is given her young age and the presence of some pretty big dogs in her genetic make-up, would you advise waiting until she’s fully grown before surgery (this would mean waiting another 6-8 months)? I don’t want to risk t getting worse but equally want to ensure she’s set up for the most successful post-op outcome.
My dog just had bladder stone surgery and now after surgery the vets office tells me that she has la uxating patella . She definitely didn’t have this before surgery. Is it possible when they tied her legs down they caused this? Very frustrated and feel bad for my dog …..
Hi. My cavoodle Bonnie is 16 months old & she has been diagnosed by 2 vets with a luxating patella. Both vets have recommended surgery saying that it is grade 2/3 (grade one in the other knee) – she is booked for surgery in 2 weeks time, on the bad one only. However reading online what defines grade 3 – it cant be ? as she has never ever displayed ANY symptoms whatsoever ? it was only picked up when she went in for her annual shot. She is the most active dog running/jumping with her twin brother, I seriously have never seen a dog jump so high. I am not disputing that she has the condition but I am really having a hard time putting her under the knife in what seems to be a perfectly healthy dog showing ZERO symptoms & I am terrified of the thought of the 3 months recovery with her brother crying at the crate wanting to romp around the house. I definitely want to do the right thing for her…………don’t know what to do ?
Hi, Alan. My dog was diagnosed with a grade 2/3 on both legs. As someone who had to get the luxating patella surgery done on both of my pups legs, I completely understand. In my pups case, he showed signs so I took him to the vet and he was diagnosed in the 1 leg. The luxation/pain increased and started happening on the other leg too, so to ease his discomfort the decision was made to perform the surgery on leg 1 a year ago and leg 2 about 3 months ago. The cost and aftercare are a big consideration, it is not an easy process. Since your dog is not showing any symptoms my advice to you is to consult an orthopedic specialist for a free consult and see what they have to say. Also, my dog wasn’t showing signs on leg 2 and then all the sudden he was. It happened very quickly. Since your dog is young, like mine, the sooner the surgery is performed to correct it the less of a chance they will have to wear down the cartilage and suffer from permanent joint damage. An expert is the way to go to clear up any questions/concerns you have.
Hello Camille, thank you in advance for your opinion. My little Maltese is scheduled for surgery on both luxated patellas in May, by which time she will be 1 year and 9 months old. She is vivacious “covid puppy” so we are having a hard time socializing. Now that she is getting a bit better at being with dogs, I am worried that having to keep her from playing with other dogs for 2 and half months will set her back a lot. I am considering postponing the surgery hoping she will be calmer later on and would have enjoyed playing with other dogs for a while and become a better socialized pup. Due to work conflict I would have to wait a whole year, to next May, at which point she will be 2 years 9 months. Do you think it is a good idea to postpone the surgery until then? Thank you
Hi Yurima! My first question would be, how is your puppy feeling? Is she in any pain, or having trouble walking and/or playing? When the vet diagnosed her luxating patellas, what grade was she? Sometimes you can postpone surgery in some cases, but I think that’s a question your vet can probably answer better than I can…you wouldn’t want to postpone it for too long if she is feeling discomfort or if the luxation is more severe. I would definitely ask your veterinarian what his or her opinion would be on waiting…sometimes you can postpone this type of surgery if the condition is very mild, but a year might be too long depending on what her knees look like and the fact that both are affected.
Good luck, and please let me know how it goes!
Thank you so much for getting back to me. I asked the surgeon via email, awaiting response. She is a 3/4 on both knees but so far it does not seem to bother her. I will let you know what the surgeon’s response is. Thank you again for responding to my query.
Hello Camille
My 18 mos Cockapoo was dx with bilateral luxating patella Grade 2 at 6 mos. At the time she’d jumped off the sofa and hit a hard object on the floor.
Since recovering the fall she’s had little or very rare hopping.
We had follow up Jan this year and different surgeon ( the first moved ) called her a Grade 3.
Bilateral MPL is recommended.
I’m so anxious. We have another Cockapoo and they play continuously.
How do I not precipitate emotional damage on both with the restrictions for so long.
It’s also pretty frightening to think of the pain a happy little girl will be subject to doing this surgery.
Your thoughts?
Just adopted a 7 yr old tiny Chihuahua with a severe orthopedic issue. His front legs/paws are bent under. They are frozen in that position and he can only hobble on his front ‘knees’.
Any advice on options? He weighs possibly 4 lbs tops.
Hi. My 2 year old Corgi\jindo cross, Ivy, had 2 patellar luxation surgeries last year. The latest one, her right one, completed in Nov 2021, seemed to be healing fine until about 2 months ago. Every time Ivy gets up from laying down for a while, goes for a long walk, plays with her sister, she begins to limp in pain. Sometimes not even putting her paws down while walking. Could this be pin migration? Our is there other reasons this could be causing her pain?
Thanks in advance!
I’m not a Dr, but can you get stretchy leg braces that might give support where needed?
My previous Jack Russell (Podge crossed the rainbow bridge in 2010) ended up having surgery on both knees over time and was well after both. It was Cushings disease that ended up taking his life aged 11. My now 9 year old Jack x Chihuahua little girl (Poppy) is today limping and not showing signs of her patella popping back into place. She’s been hop and skipping for a while but we didn’t put 2 and 2 together until today when she stopped walking very confused why her knee wouldn’t work! Looks like a trip to our vet is in order on Monday.
Update after visiting our vet – it’s not a luxating patella! She’s torn her ACL. I guess surgery will be on the cards once we get her pain under control. Poor baby !
My 5 year old ChinesecCrested has a grade 1 or 2 luxation according to my vet. He has been very active in lure coursing. I’m thinking we should stop that until surgery. Should I be looking for a specialist to perform surgery?
Hi, my little Emmy 16 months old is due to have her luxation patella surgery in October. I was wondering if purchasing a doggy wheelchair would be helpful for her recovery so she could still go out and about for a bit of longer walks? Thanks Midi
Hi, maltese was a 1 and 9 months when she had both back knees operated at the same time. From my experience you do not need to buy anything, much like with people, they should only give you back your dog when she can stand and walk, even if just a little bit, enough to do her business. It gets progressively better, from there. Just a bit of patience and love will do. I do not know how big your Emmy is you might need a brace or just a long scarf or towel to hold her back legs for support for the first few days, but again only if you are doing the two legs, dogs can stand and walk on 3 legs if they need to.
Hi, my Yorkie is 12.5: years old and has Luxating patella on back left leg. Since we rescued her 2.5 years ago, she doesn’t do steps, jump on furniture. She spends most of her day laying on couch or in her bed. That leg will go out especially after she has been laying on it…she seems to favor laying on that side. When it happens I kind of massage her knee area and she then can walk. If she is outside…she runs like a wild rabbit! No problems. She can walk up our steep driveway with no problem. I give her Nordic fish oil every day. I just ordered a red light therapy. Do you think the light will help? She never cries in pain. What do you think?
Thank you so much for this article about luxating patellas. We rescued a dog in January and just learned that she requires surgery. She has a Grade 3 in one leg and a Grade 2 in the other. I really haven’t noticed any of the usual symptoms and wouldn’t think anything was wrong with her if I didn’t know. She had X-rays at our regular vet and again at the orthopedic vet. She is scheduled for surgery tomorrow and I am not doing well. We lost our cat and two of our dogs last spring and I think that has impacted my ability to see this properly. I keep questioning if I am doing the right thing especially since I see no symptoms other than a possible reluctance to jump. I’m just not sure since I haven’t had her very long. I have read that I am doing the right thing but this article really helped confirm that for me. I’m still a nervous wreck but at least I feel like I am doing the right thing for my sweet girl. Besides the surgery itself, the long time in a crate is what is most upsetting. She is a calm dog who likes to sleep a lot so maybe that will work to her advantage. Thank you again.
Hi Linda, I just now saw your comment, how is your dog doing after surgery? Hopefully all went well! I certainly sympathize, even after all these years I am always nervous whenever any of my babies need to go under anesthesia too! Hopefully she is recovering nicely, and it’s good that she’s a calm girl, hopefully her recovery period will be uneventful. Please keep me posted! 🙂