Medial Patella Luxation? Experiences please.

[Anonymous]

My small mixed-breed dog was diagnosed with this (knee cap pops in and out of groove). Vet referred me to an orthopedic specialist to have her evaluated. Told me if it's severe, she would need surgery, otherwise she is at risk to tear the ACL or have arthritis later on. She is only one year old.

Has anyone experienced this with their dog? Apparently it is extremely common in small breeds. What treatments did you follow and how was the outcome?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We have a Chihuahua who has this. They told us to limit his activity (as if that's possible) he did tear his acl, but I don't know how related they were. He loves to run and when it happens he hops on three legs for a few steps then he's back to normal. We moved to a house with a much smaller yard, but when we had the space he could catch birds that's how quick he is!

[Anonymous]

OP here. PP with the Chihuahua, did you have to have surgery for his torn ACL? If so, how did it go?

The vets are pushing for surgery, but it's only stage 2 and I think I'm going to just watch her closely at this point and hold off on the 3,000.00 surgery - which may or may not really be necessary.

Any other experiences with this would be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Our 22-lb terrier mix was diagnosed with this last year. It is indeed very common in small breedsShe was skipping when she walked, to greater and lesser degrees. At the time I had a lot going on (my mom was dying) and so I ignored it for awhile and walked her shorter and shorter distances (figured she should take it easy, it must hurt).

After life settled down a bit I got a referral from our vet to an orthopedic vet at VOSM in Annapolis Junction, an amazing facility. They evaluated her and dx'd luxating patella. (I think she was Stage 2 but am not 100% sure.) In any case the vet thought surgery was unnecessary and could be avoided by means of doing two-part physical therapy: First, a minimum of one (preferably two) 40+-minute walks/day involving as many hills and stairs as possible, the idea being to strengthen her leg muscles so that she relies on the muscles (upper leg ones) and not that joint for most of her hind leg movement. (As it turned out then, "taking it easy" on her was exactly the wrong thing to do.) Second, hydrotherapy, which entailed her walking on a treadmill in a partially-filled fishtank-type warm water tank at VOSM (I know, crazy). The resistance involved in water-walking is beneficial to the joint. We did it 1x/week because as a practical matter, getting to this place 2x/week was just not going to happen.

I can't recall how many weeks we did this PT but I think it was maybe 6-8 weeks? It was very effective - her leg muscle grew substantially and over time she skipped far, far less. She still skips, but much less than she used to. We can't manage two 40-minute walks every day, but we try to get in as many vigorous/uphill/up stairs walks as much as we can so that the problem stays at bay.

We do not plan on surgery unless we absolutely must do it and that doesn't appear to be the case, at least not in the foreseeable future.

[Anonymous]

I'm the pp with the Chihuahua and he did have surgery. The ligament was completely torn. Since then he's been good. We had issues post op getting him to use the fixed leg since he got around so well on three legs but that passed. I wouldn't have operated just for the luxating patella at that stage. Hydrotherapy was suggested, but our dog was too scared of water for it to help