A luxating patella in dogs is a fairly common orthopedic disease. But what do we mean by a luxating patella? And what does it mean for your dog if they have it?

Context Explanation

I’ve been a vet for eight years and ... Dr. Byron Misseghers, a veterinary surgeon at Puget Sound Animal Hospital for Surgery in Kirkland, answer’s this week’s questions. Question: My dog has been diagnosed with luxating patellas.

Insight Material

What does ... Q Our family is debating whether to have an elective surgical procedure done on our year-and-a-half-old minpin. Our veterinarian diagnosed luxating patellas on two of our dog’s knees dating back to ... We adopted a 1-year-old Pomeranian from a rescue group five years ago. He has had trouble with a luxating patella for more than a year.

Final Conclusion

Now, the vet says it is a Grade 3, and he needs surgery. He ... What is a luxating patella? A patella is a kneecap, and “luxating” means out of place or dislocated. So, a luxating patella is a kneecap that moves out of its normal location. The knee joint connects the femur (thighbone) and the tibia (shinbone).

Dr. Matt Miller explains the condition of luxating patella in dogs: what breeds are predisposed, what it looks like, and what to do about it. Luxating Patella in Dogs: What Is It, and How Is It Treated? Luxating patella in dogs is one of the most common orthopedic conditions, diagnosed in 7 percent of puppies.