A luxating patella is something that can happen to owners of miniature or toy dogs. Most vets will advise you to have surgery if this happens.
There are many natural remedies that can be used to treat your dog’s hereditary problems, and they don’t require surgery.
Patella means kneecap. Although dog kneecaps may not be as obvious as human ones, they are all there. The patella of your dog is almond-shaped. It is located at the knee joint where the tendon from the quadriceps muscle groups joins with the top of your shin (tibia).
The “extensor mechanism” is composed of the quadriceps muscle and the kneecap with its tendon. They are normally aligned. The groove is where the kneecap moves up and down when your dog extends or flexes his knee joint. This groove is known as the femoral groove.
To luxate is to remove a joint or dislocate.
A luxating patella refers to a dislocated or displaced kneecap. It moves out of its normal groove. It is very similar to a trick knee in humans. It causes your dog to be unable to move his knee properly.
For a non-luxating patella, research your breeder
Ask a breeder about certification of their breeding adult if you are looking to purchase a puppy. Breeding dogs with congenital luxating Patella should be avoided.
You can also search the OFA Records Search feature to do your own research. You can search for potential parents and relatives of your puppy by name, part name, breed and disease type. You can also search for kennel names. This will give you some insight into how the disease has been handled by the kennel.
All dogs that pass the OFA screening test with normal results are included in the online searchable database.
Dogs with abnormal results can only be added to the database if their owner has approved it. If a dog is not in the database, it means they have not been OFA-screened or they have had abnormal results.
Although OFA clearance does not guarantee that your puppy will not develop the condition, it can help to reduce the risk. It does increase your chances of avoiding the condition.
You can avoid luxating patella by taking steps if you already have a dog or cat that is prone to it. You can follow the steps below, How to Manage Luxating Patella Without Surgery.
Is Luxating Patella Painful?
Your dog won’t feel pain when you luxate patella. Grade I luxating patella is not usually painful. It is possible to manage Grade I luxating patella with exercise and diet.
As the kneecap slips out of the groove, luxating patellas with a higher grade can cause pain. Frequent luxation can cause cartilage damage and structural changes. This can cause your dog more pain.
Exercises To Help Luxating Patella
These exercises are recommended by Dr Julie Mayer, a canine rehabilitation veterinarian. These exercises will strengthen the muscles and increase stability in the knees. The patella will be less likely to slip if the quadriceps muscles are strong and there is a taut tendon.
- Move your dog from a sitting to a standing position several times.
- If your home has stairs, preferably carpeted, let your dog use them to climb and descend three to five times per day. You could also have your dog walk up and down a steep hill, zig-zaging across it.
- Teach your dog how to crawl in an army. Slowly lure your dog forward by luring him with food. Encourage him to keep his rear ends down.
Walking on cavalettis (a series or raised bars placed in a row) promotes the extension and flexion of the stifles. - Leg weights can be placed above the hock to help your dog walk or exercise. This will provide resistance and increase muscle strength.
- Swimming or underwater treadmills can strengthen the surrounding knee structures. The buoyancy and muscle strength that water resistance provides make it an easier workout.
