What is Kneecap Dislocation?
A patellar luxation occurs when your dog’s kneecap is dislocated or slides out of its normal position. Dislocated kneecaps are usually due to a congenital defect, but can also be the result of trauma. This condition is the most common in young, small, or toy breeds, including:
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Pomeranian
- Chihuahua
- Boston Terrier
- Pekingese
- Papillons
- Jack Russell Terriers
- Maltese
- Miniature Poodles
Certain large breed dogs are also predisposed to the patellar luxation, especially if they suffer from hip dysplasia. Treatment alternates according to the severity, or grade, of the luxation, but the prognosis is typically good.
The kneecap can dislocate for a variety of reasons, usually because of a congenital defect that prevents the patella from staying seated in its groove. Many cases of patellar luxation are mild and do not require surgical treatment, though, in more severe or persistent cases, surgery will be needed to prevent future complications.Kneecap Dislocation Average Cost
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Symptoms of Kneecap Dislocation in Dogs
Symptoms of patellar luxation vary according to the severity of the condition and include:
- Limping or lameness
- Reluctance to place weight on the limb
- Discomfort
The clinical signs are often intermittent and sudden. Your dog may exhibit an irregular gait for a few steps, usually with one limb raised from the ground, before resuming a normal walk.
Types
There are two types of patellar luxation in dogs: medial and lateral:
- Medial luxation, which is the more common form, occurs when the dog’s joint slips towards the opposite leg. This prevents the dog from extending its knee normally though often times the kneecap will slide back into position by itself after a few steps.
- With lateral luxation, the kneecap slips to the outside of the leg, away from the body. This form of patellar luxation tends to impact the dog more severely and is more common in large breed dogs, where hip problems may lead to misaligned bones in the legs.
Causes of Kneecap Dislocation in Dogs
Patellar luxation transpires when the kneecap slips out of the groove in which it normally sits. This groove is shallower in many small or toy breed dogs, such as Chihuahuas, Maltese, and Yorkshire terriers, resulting in a genetic predisposition for the condition. A kneecap can also become dislocated as a result of trauma, and there has been a rise in occurrences in larger dogs, including Akitas, Boxers, and Golden Retrievers.
Diagnosis of Kneecap Dislocation in Dogs
Most cases of patellar luxation in small dogs are diagnosed early on during a veterinary examintion. If the kneecap is dislocated at the time of your office visit, the veterinarian can easily diagnose the condition with a physical examination of the affected limb. The diagnosis can be confirmed via x-rays, which also help determine the extent of the condition and reveal the shape of the bones.
Patellar luxation is often graded based on severity, with levels ranging from 1 to 4. With grade 1 luxation, the kneecap sits normally but can luxate under slight pressure because of the shallowness of the groove. Grades 2 and 3 are more severe though the joint can typically still be replaced manually. A luxation is classified as grade 4 if the joint sits outside of the groove at all times and will not stay seated if replaced. Treatment depends on the severity of the luxation, so it is important that the veterinarian receives enough information to grade your dog’s condition appropriately.
Treatment of Kneecap Dislocation in Dogs
Treatment varies according to the grade that the veterinarian diagnoses.
Supportive Treatment
If your dog is diagnosed with grade 1 luxation, surgery is not typically recommended. Instead, you can help prevent the kneecap from sliding out of place with regular exercise and supportive nutrients. It's critically important to reduce stress exerted on the knee by ensuring that your dog is at a proper weight for its size, and strengthen the muscles surrounding it through daily exercise. Nutritional supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin, provide support to the joint and its surrounding tissues.
Surgical Treatment
Surgery is usually recommended for luxated patellar graded 2 or above and is necessary for grade 4. There are different types of operations available though the goal is always to replace the kneecap to it's suggested, normal position and prevent future slipping. This can be accomplished by deepening the groove in which the patella sits or by tightening the joint capsule to prevent slippage. In more severe cases, the leg bones may need to be rotated back into the correct position as part of treatment.
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Recovery of Kneecap Dislocation in Dogs
Most dogs recover fully once the kneecap has been replaced though you will need to restrict your dog’s activity until the surgical site has healed. Provide a quiet place where your dog can rest, and make sure that it doesn’t bite or chew at the incisions. If the veterinarian prescribed antibiotics as a preventative measure against infection, be sure to administer the full course.
Your dog will most likely begin to use the affected leg again in one to two weeks following surgery. If your dog is still reluctant to place weight on the leg several weeks after treatment, contact the veterinarian, and ask how you can retrain your dog to use that leg. Many dogs benefit from physical therapy after surgery. Follow-up exams may be necessary, depending on the treatment. In all cases, continue to monitor your dog for signs of a displaced joint, as the condition may recur or arise in a different knee.
Kneecap Dislocation Average Cost
From 27 quotes ranging from $800 - $5,000
Average Cost
$3,000
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Kneecap Dislocation Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Mixed (Likely a Border Collie, Cattle Dog mix)
Arlie
2 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Shows No Obvious Pain
Loud Popping Noise
Knee Giving Out
Ever since my dog has been a puppy, think 8 months or so, one of her knees has popped when she stands up from laying down for an extended period of time. !5+ minutes I would guess. Recently, her knee has been popping every single time she stands up from laying down. She does not show that she is in any discomfort at all when this happens, not even holding her leg up. I mentioned it to my vet as soon as I noticed it when she was younger but the vet was not concerned. She just turned 2 and this week I started to notice that her knee was giving out on her every now and then. She has also started to hesitate when going onto a higher area (bed, couch, car) and instead of jumping, she will climb. My dog is a very fit dog, I have always made sure she was not overweight. Is it safe to do muscle building exercises? Should I supplement her food?
March 24, 2018
1 Recommendations
If there is a luxating patella, the ligaments are ‘loose’ which allow for the patella to jump out of the groove; muscle building and supplements are not going to help this. Most of the time surgery is required in severe cases when luxation is often and it is causing pain or discomfort; you should return to your Veterinarian for another examination. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
www.acvs.org/small-animal/patellar-luxations
March 24, 2018
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Maltese mix
Prince
3 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Limping
Hello! My dog was sprinting the other day and he tripped over one of his toys. After that, he held up his right hind leg for a few moments and started to walk a bit oddly but he neither yelped when he injured his leg nor he is when he walks or runs on it (and I can't tell whether he's in pain or not! He eats and plays normally too and does not seem to be in any distress whatsoever!). As time passed, one cannot clearly tell whether he walks differently, only sometimes (but even then not always) when he walks up stairs or jumps down from beds and sofas (which we try to prevent him from doing..) he doesn't like to use that leg, after he runs too fast (after which he holds up the paw for a second and then continues), or sometimes he has some trouble walking backwards? His vet said that he needs surgery for a dislocated patella but (we will get a second opinion anyways) because otherwise his leg will shorten with time?! I was wondering whether it is necessary to put him through the stress and pain of surgery even though he seems fine most of the time! Is there any chance his kneecap will slide back by itself? :( Thank you very much in advance!
March 10, 2018
1 Recommendations
The patellar will go in and out of the groove itself in some cases (there are different grades of severity), it is likely that sometimes the patellar pops back into place and Prince can walk normally and other times it luxates causing him to limp and have trouble walking. Surgery is usually the best option especially when the patellar pops out regularly which would cause pain and with time the ligaments may stretch making the issue worse. Visit another Veterinarian for another opinion, it is good to get another view point especially if you are unsure. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
www.acvs.org/small-animal/patellar-luxations
March 10, 2018
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Teacup Yorkie
Koa
6 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Swelling
Shaking
Limping
Holding Leg Straight
Hopping
Im not sure if anyone else has had this odd issue but my teacup yorkie fell off my bed and yelped and began to lip. He was taken to the vet imidatley and they did their thing but from what I am hearing from my mother the vet did nothing at all when it comes to his patella and just said, "Both of his knees are dislocated and charged us $500. I was wondering about what to do if both of the patellas are not right right.
Feb. 10, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. Patellar luxations are common in small breed dogs, and can cause instability in the knee. The luxations can range from very minor to quite severe, and treatment ranges from not needing any treatment, to pain medications and joint supplements, to surgical repair of the knees. Without examining Koa, I'm not sure where he lies in that spectrum - it would be best to follow up with your veterinarian and ask what degree his knee problems are, if he needs ongoing medication, or if you need to consider surgical repair for him. I hope that he is okay.
Feb. 10, 2018
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Mixed (perhaops corgi, begal, basset)
Sandy
3 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Holding Leg Off Ground After Sprint
Less Activity, More Sitting
My dog had surgery for an anterior luxating patella. After surgery she still refused to keep the leg down. We had her back to orthopedic who said that he felt the pin needed to be removed, so more surgery to have pin removed. Still not better. Any advice as to what our next step might be. We have lost confidence in vet who recommended the surgery in the first place.
Jan. 12, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. It is actually somewhat common for dogs to not use that leg after surgery, as they have been painful on that leg for so long that they just often prefer not to use it, and have gotten used to getting around on the other 3 legs. Since I haven't examined Sandy, I can't comment for sure that the surgery site is healed and that she should be using the leg at this point, but if your orthopedic surgeon felt that the surgery was healed after the pin was taken out, you can do some physical therapy to help her start to use the leg again. It would be a good idea to have her examined, either by the orthopedic surgeon, or your veterinarian, to make sure that there aren't any problems with her muscles that need to be addressed, and if everything is okay, they may be able to refer you to a physical therapist who can give you exercises to strengthen that leg and get her to start using it again. Things like walking up stairs can help, as that is hard to do on three legs. I hope that she returns to normal function soon.
Jan. 12, 2018
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Kneecap Dislocation Average Cost
From 27 quotes ranging from $800 - $5,000
Average Cost
$3,000
Get a free pet insurance quote in less than 60 seconds!
Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
