My Dog Has a Luxating Patella: What Is It and How Can I Help?

Have you ever heard of a luxating patella in a dog? It may sound like some sort of hover-craft out of a sci-fi movie, but the truth is patella luxation is a serious condition that affects many a dog. In fact it’s one of the more common causes of dog lameness.

It’s basically a loose kneecap (more on this below), which is why the condition sometimes is referred to as a ‘trick-knee’. Though believe us, this is the kind of trick no dog should have to do.

What is a luxating patella?

You might be asking yourself what is a luxating patella beyond a loose kneecap. First, let’s confirm that your patella is your kneecap and luxate means ‘dislocate’. So when you put these two words together they add up to a dislocated kneecap. Ouch!

As simple as that was to explain, in reality it’s no simple matter. Just imagine taking a step and having your kneecap swivelling off to the side. Not only is it painful, it can be costly to treat.

Ideally the condition is identified before it gets harder to treat, and more costly.

Signs of a luxating patella in your dog

As mentioned, a luxating patella can cause lameness in dogs. The condition may not be apparent right away, yet the sooner you (or your vet) identify the condition the better. Here are some telltale signs to watch out for:

• Limping
• Hopping
• Stiffness
• Walking differently

So now that we know what luxating patella in a dog is, let’s look at why it happens in the first place…

A closer look at the condition

The kneecap/patella is a floating bone that’s the shape of, well… a cap. It faces forward and sits between a stretchy muscle above and a stretchy tendon below. Kind of like buckle on suspenders that stretch so you can move and bend your knee. As you bend the patella goes up or down, which is exactly what you’d expect.

You wouldn’t want your precious patella shifting to the left or right when you bend your knee. Your thigh bone has a perfect groove that keeps it in the middle. Sometimes this groove is off-kilter and your kneecap can pop to the side. Eeek! Here’s a video that shows exactly what we mean:

What causes a luxating patella?

A luxating patella is usually a genetic condition, though it isn’t exclusive to dogs. Luxating patella affects dogs, cats and humans.

While it can affect dogs of all sizes, the most commonly affected are those that fall into the Toy dog group.
These include:

• Boston terrier
• Chihuahua
• French bulldog
• Miniature poodle
• Pomeranian
• Pug
• Shih-Tzu
• Yorkshire terrier
• Lowchen

*note this isn’t an exhaustive list

Find out what dog group your dog (or the dog you hope to get) falls into in our article on Active Dog Month.

Tips for treating a luxating patella in a dog 

Depending on the degree of luxating patella, treatment may consist of physical therapy, exercise, pain medication, and weight management. It’s important to find exercises that reduce pressure and weight on your dog’s joints.

Exercise management

Read all about exercising dogs without walking for some safer options. These exercises are great for limiting pressure for a wide range of genetic musculoskeletal conditions. Like, for example IVDD in Dachshunds and other dogs as well as hip dysplasia in dogs of all shapes and sizes.

Weight control

There are so many simple and furbulous ways to help your dog get on top of their weight. The more ideal your dog’s weight is for its body the less pressure it will feel on its joints. Having a fat or obese dog can also lead to many other health concerns, like diabetes in dogs. We’ve compiled a list of weight management options from a vet expert in our article on National Pet Obesity Day.

Grade 1 and 2 luxating patella are often managed like this, but grade 3 and 4 generally require corrective surgery.

Pet insurance covers so many conditions 

Discovering your dog is living with a luxating patella can take an emotional and financial toll. The costs may be prohibitive, with surgery, medication and veterinary overnight stays easily climbing to thousands of dollars. You never want to have to choose between treating your dog and balancing your bank account.

Conditions like a luxating patella in your dog is just one of many reasons to consider getting a dog insurance plan. Not only will you get a broad range of benefits with PD Pet insurance, but we also offer our customers FREE pet insurance for one or more months. Click for more below.