Patellar Luxation is also known as luxating patella and quite a number of different dog breeds are susceptible to this condition. Luxating patella happens when the kneecap (patella) moves around or displaces in and out of place. This can eventually cause lameness and if left untreated the grooves in the bones will break down causing more frequency in pain and ultimately lead to arthritis. Genetics, malformation during development and trauma can contribute to this condition and smaller breeds are more prone to developing it than larger breeds.
Effects of this condition include:
- Sudden yelping when running
- Refusal to put weight on leg
Treatment: The most common treatment for Patellar Luxation is surgery. During surgery the femur is reconstructed so that the groove is better fit to hold the kneecap. Another procedure called lateral imbrication can be performed by tying the kneecap down to prevent divergence from the groove.
Some dogs most commonly affected by this condition:
- American Eskimo
- American Water Spaniel
- Australian Terrier
- Basset Hound
- Bedlington Terrier
- Border Terrier
- Boston Terrier
- Bull Terrier
This is only a short list of the dogs that are commonly affected by this condition and if you would like to see more click here.