Luxating Patella in Dogs: A Complete Guide (2024)

A luxating patella in dogs (i.e. a kneecap that slips out of place) has the potential to limit your dog’s mobility and cause pain over time. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby explains why patellar luxation occurs, the grades of patellar luxation, and how best to help and support your dog with a luxating patella.

Do you ever watch your dog while he or she walks? For some of us, it’s interesting to think about the science behind how our four-legged friends move from place to place. Slightly more weight is placed on the forelimbs compared to the hind limbs, but in general, all four limbs are used for things like walking, running, and playing.

But what if your canine companion suddenly picks up one of the hind limbs for a few steps then puts it back down again? At first you may wonder if he or she could have stepped in something. But could it be a sign of a bigger issue with the leg like a luxating patella?

What is a luxating patella in dogs?

As the name might imply, a patellar luxation occurs when the dog’s patella (i.e. kneecap) moves (i.e. luxates) out of its normal anatomical position. Once the patella luxates, the hind limb cannot fully extend. This most commonly results in your dog holding the leg up while the knee is in a flexed position. If the patella pops back into position, the dog can begin to use the leg more normally again.

The patella can slide medially (going toward the inner surface of the leg) or laterally (going toward the outer surface of the leg). Luxating patella can affect one or both knees in dogs. It is also one of the most common orthopedic conditions in veterinary medicine.

To further understand how luxating patella affects a dog’s mobility, let’s review the anatomy of a dog’s knee.

Dog knee anatomy

The knee joint (i.e. stifle joint) is the space between the femur (i.e. thigh bone) and the tibia (i.e. shin bone). There are several important ligaments that help to keep the bones lined up with one another when your dog walks.

One such ligament is called the cranial cruciate ligament. This firm band of connective tissue starts at the back of the femur, crosses the joint, and attaches to the front of the tibia. It is the ligament that is affected by a torn ACL in dogs. There are also three fibrous sacs called joint capsules that enclose the stifle joint for protection.

The patella is located inside of the large tendon that comes down from the quadriceps muscles. These are the big muscle bodies that surround the femur, making up a large portion of your dog’s thigh. The quadriceps muscles help extend your dog’s hind limb, making the leg perfectly straight. Then, when the muscles relax again, the knee can bend.

When a normal dog’s hind limb is fully extended, the patella rests in the trochlear groove. This is a small notch within the part of the femur that is closest to the knee. As the limb flexes, the patella will slide in a downward direction. Because the patella is inside of the patellar tendon, it should stay on track as your dog’s knee continuously flexes and extends.

However, in the case of a luxating patella, the kneecap will deviate from its normal up-and-down pathway by popping out of the trochlear groove. This tends to occur when:

• The trochlear groove is shallow
• The femur and/or tibia are rotated or bowed abnormally (i.e. malformed)
• Soft tissues (i.e. cruciate ligaments or joint capsules) surrounding the patella are abnormal
• Quadriceps muscles are too tight or patellar tendon is too loose

What causes a luxating patella?

Most likely, multiple factors contribute to the anatomical changes listed above that allow the patella to luxate. They may include:

• Traumatic injury (i.e. falling or being hit by a car)
• Genetic predisposition in certain breeds—which is why dogs with luxating patellae should not be bred
• Bone conformation abnormalities that develop as a dog grows

When a luxating patella occurs, it is important to think of it not as a solitary disorder that occurs in a vacuum. Rather, it probably comes from other musculoskeletal problems that affect the alignment of the hind limb. Some of these include hip dysplasia in dogs, angular limb deformities, and disorders of the quadriceps muscles. Conversely, bone changes and painful osteoarthritis in dogs can come from weight-bearing stresses as a result of the patella luxating all the time.

What are the predisposing factors?

While any dog can have a luxating patella, there are some identifiable risk factors. One of them is breed. Medial luxating patellae (i.e. where the kneecap deviates inward) are very common in toy breed and small breed dogs. These include Yorkshire Terriers, Boston Terriers, Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, and Miniature Poodles.

Lateral luxating patella seems to occur more frequently in senior small breeds or young, large breed dogs. Breeds predisposed to a lateral luxating patella include Chinese Shar Peis, Flat-Coated Retrievers, Great Pyrenees, and Akitas.

Another predisposing factor is having luxating patella in one leg. As it turns out, there is a 50% chance that the opposite knee will have the same problem.

Your dog’s body condition score (BCS) and diet as a growing puppy are also important factors. Being overweight as a puppy applies extra stress to bones and joints, which can predispose a dog to orthopedic issues. Also, if your puppy’s diet does not provide the correct levels of vitamins and minerals for bone growth, this can lead to limb malformations that can increase the risk of a luxating patella.

What are the types and grades of luxating patella in dogs?

Approximately 75% of dogs with a luxating patella will have a medial patellar luxation. The remaining 25% of dogs will have a lateral patellar luxation. In some cases of lateral luxation, the dog may also have a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament.

During a physical examination, your veterinarian will grade your pup’s luxating patella based on the location of the patella when the leg is at full extension. There are four grades of luxating patella, and they are as follows:

• Grade I—The patella is in a normal position. The vet can luxate it but it returns to the correct position as soon as the vet releases it.
• Grade II—As the knee flexes and extends, the patella will pop in and out of position. The vet can luxate the patella and then manipulate the limb to get the patella to return to the trochlear groove.
• Grade III—The patella is out most of the time. The vet can move it back into position but it pops out again immediately.
• Grade IV—The patella is permanently out of position and the vet cannot push it back in place again.

What are the signs of a luxating patella?

As you can imagine based on the different grades of luxating patella, the signs can be variable. Sometimes, dogs with a Grade I luxation are initially asymptomatic. Alternatively, it is fairly common for dogs with a Grade I or II medial patellar luxation to suddenly skip or walk on three legs when the kneecap luxates. After a moment, they may resume a normal stance if the patella pops back into place. This can occur intermittently or continuously. It may also be temporarily worsened if your pup jumps up on something and lands wrong.

Initially, lower-grade luxating patellae may not be very painful, but they can lead to painful health problems over time. Puppies with severe medial patellar luxations (Grade III or IV) tend to develop a bow-legged stance due to the abnormal forces across the stifle joint. The resulting joint instability contributes to cartilage damage and the development of osteoarthritis early in life. These dogs tend to be consistently, rather than intermittently, lame.

Dogs with lateral patellar luxations often have more trouble moving around than those with medial luxations. They may also have a knock-kneed stance (i.e. knees deviate inward).

If you are wondering “Why is my dog limping?” or you have any concerns with your dog’s gait or stance, please make an appointment with your veterinarian.

How does the vet diagnose a luxating patella?

At the appointment, your vet will probably start by getting a history from you, watching your dog walk, and performing an orthopedic exam (including manipulating the patellae). Your veterinarian will diagnose and grade the luxating patella based on the instability or movability of your dog’s kneecap.

Higher-grade luxating patellae are generally easier to palpate on exam. But it is possible to detect Grade I or II luxations as well. In some cases, your vet may recommend light sedation for your dog in order to perform a more thorough orthopedic examination.

Typically, your vet will primarily use the orthopedic exam to diagnose your dog’s luxating patella. However, there are cases where he or she may recommend advanced imaging. Your vet may use X-rays to evaluate the bones that make up the stifle joint. Or, he or she may recommend a CT scan to assess the soft tissues within the joint.

If your dog is going to undergo surgical correction of the luxating patella or will be on pain medications long term, your vet may also recommend additional diagnostics such as blood work and urinalysis. These tests help ensure your dog is healthy and able to tolerate the medication or procedure.

What is the treatment for a luxating patella?

As alluded to, there are several treatment options available for dogs diagnosed with luxating patellae. Many of these options are dependent upon the grade of luxating patella and how often you are noticing clinical signs. For example, dogs with Grade I and II luxating patella may respond to conservative treatments. However, dogs with Grade III and IV luxating patella (or significantly painful dogs with a Grade II luxation) may require surgery. But they can still benefit from some of the medical treatment modalities too.

Non-surgical options for patella luxation

Some of the medical options for managing patellar luxations include:

Pain medication

Most vets will prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication for pain control. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as carprofen and firocoxib can help with pain by reducing inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding the patella. If your dog has liver disease in dogs, kidney disease, or another reason that NSAIDs may be contraindicated, your vet may end up recommending other pain medications such as tramadol for dogs or gabapentin for dogs. However, these medications may not be as effective as NSAIDs.

Luxating patella dog supplements

Your dog could also benefit from joint supplements for dogs. My personal favorite is Dr. Buzby’s Encore Mobility™ hip and joint supplement. It combines the unique benefits of green lipped mussel for dogs and New Zealand deer antler velvet for dogs. Together, these ingredients can help reduce inflammation, provide joint building blocks, and improve your dog’s comfort.

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Luxating patella dog braces

There is limited information on the benefits of dog knee braces for luxating patellae. Since cruciate ligament tears can occur in patients with luxating patellae, dog knee braces may potentially decrease the risk by supporting the limb and keeping the femur and tibia in alignment. The efficacy of dog ACL braces (for after a tear has already occurred) is controversial, so please consult with your veterinarian before deciding to order one.

ToeGrips for dogs

I recommend Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips® dog nail grips for many of my patients with luxating patellae. Any time a dog has an orthopedic issue, it changes the limb mechanics. This can make it difficult for the dog to navigate on slick surfaces.

ToeGrips can be a game-changer for dogs who are struggling to get traction. Additionally, the extra security that ToeGrips provide allows a dog to walk more confidently and decreases the risk of becoming injured by slipping and falling.

Weight management

If your dog is overweight, your vet may make some recommendations to help your dog lose weight. Excess bodyweight puts more stress on the joints which leads to more pain. When a dog gets back to an ideal body condition score, he or she is often able to move around more comfortably.

Regular low-impact exercise—Should you walk a dog with luxating patella?

If you are wondering, “Should you walk a dog with luxating patella?” the short answer is “Yes!” Dogs with a luxating patella can greatly benefit from walks. Since weight management is a big part of the non-surgical treatment of luxating patellae, daily walks can help burn excess calories. However, it is possible to overdo it on the exercise. Running and jumping can accelerate the wear-and-tear on the cartilage that covers the ends of bone, thus speeding up the development of arthritis.

Even if you pursue surgical treatment for your four-legged companion, walking will be an important part of his or her recovery. In the initial two weeks of healing, your vet surgeon may limit your dog’s walking habits. Once two weeks have passed and adequate healing is confirmed, the doctor may tell you to gradually increase activity. This is because thigh muscles tend to atrophy (i.e. shrivel) if full weight is not placed on the limb (think about how astronauts living on the International Space Station have to exercise daily to prevent muscle weakening).

Additional therapy modalities

There may be other treatment modalities that your vet will recommend such as:

• Luxating patella dog massage — deep tissue massage may help with muscle contracture and lymphatic massage is useful to help reduce inflammation after surgery
• Physical therapy — to ease muscle tenseness, build muscle, and improve mobility
• Acupuncture — for pain relief
• Laser therapy for dogs — to reduce pain and inflammation
• Underwater treadmill for dogs — to help with weight loss and build muscle strength
• PEMF therapy for dogs (pulsed electromagnetic field therapy) — for pain relief

Luxating patella dog surgery

Dogs with a Grade III or Grade IV luxating patellae often need surgery to keep them comfortable and mobile. Additionally, while early intervention with medical management may help prevent a Grade II luxation from worsening, it isn’t always successful. Sometimes, the trochlear groove may wear down over time, causing the luxation to progress to a Grade III. Or a dog may become significantly painful even with a Grade II luxation. In those cases, it may be time to consider surgical correction.

Some general practice vets may be able to perform luxating patella surgery. However, because knee surgery is not a common procedure, your vet may refer you to a small animal orthopedist who is boarded through the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS).

There are several different surgical techniques that the surgeon may use for dogs with luxating patellae. The technique selection will depend on the severity of the luxation, your dog’s size, and if there is additional structural damage inside the knee. If both knees require surgery, the surgeon may choose to correct both at the same time if the patient is young. For older dogs or for those with other health issues, the surgeon may choose to separate the procedures by eight weeks or more.

Lateral imbrication surgery

For mild cases, the surgeon may recommend a lateral imbrication (i.e. lateral reinforcement). This is a simpler technique where the vet will tuck or tighten the joint capsule surrounding the patella on one side to prevent the patella from luxating. In some cases, the vet will also loosen the capsule on the other side so the patella doesn’t get pulled to that side.

Trochelar modification surgery

Another option is to deepen the trochlear groove so that the patella can stay within the groove instead of luxating. In order to keep cartilage safe during surgery, the surgeon will remove a slice of bone from underneath the cartilage. Then he or she will put the cartilaginous part back into place. This preserves the cartilage’s ability to help the ends of the bone glide over each other and absorb shock when the dog moves.

Tibial crest transposition

Dogs with a bow-legged stance may need a tibial crest transposition or tibial tuberosity transposition (TTT). This procedure involves removing the tibial crest (i.e. tibial tuberosity) where the patellar ligament attaches and then pinning it back in a new position to correct the abnormal forces across the joint.

Ridgestop™ implant

In some cases, the surgeon may select a newer technique which involves the use of a Ridgestop™ implant. The procedure involves using a small curvy metal plate to increase the height of the trochlear groove ridges. This keeps the patella from slipping out of place.

Dogs may require a combination of these approaches as well, and this is not an exhaustive list of surgical options. The best way to know what sort of surgery is right for your dog would be to consult with a board-certified veterinary surgeon.

To learn a bit more about some of the surgical options and the decision making process you can also refer to this article from Vet Times, Canine Patellar Luxation Part 2: Treatments and Outcomes.

Luxating patella surgery recovery

For the average luxating patella dog, surgery recovery can take six to eight weeks. This can sometimes be shorter if the surgeon used the lateral imbrication technique. On the other hand, recovery can also take longer than eight weeks if the dog needs physical therapy.

As a general rule of thumb, a dog should be able to bear weight on the limb after two weeks. If he or she is still not using the limb properly after one month, physical therapy may be a good idea. However, this can vary between procedures. It’s wise to ask your surgeon what to expect in your dog’s particular case.

Initially, strict crate rest or confinement to a large pen is necessary following surgery. Your dog’s surgeon may also use a cast or bandage material to protect the surgery site and prevent excess movements.

After the first two weeks, light walking may be acceptable, but dogs should not be permitted to walk off-leash. Running and jumping are also prohibited. Again, please follow your surgeon’s instructions about exercise as they will be tailored to your dog’s exact situation.

When proper surgical aftercare is used, the success rate of luxating patella surgery in dogs is quite good. According to the ACVS, more than 90% of dog owners are happy with their pup’s mobility post-surgery. This percentage decreases slightly for large breed dogs, usually because they are more likely to have lameness that is multifactorial. For most dogs, the chances of an infection are quite low, and the odds of implant failures or recurrence of joint instability are lower still.

Talk to your veterinarian about luxating patella options for your dog

The good news is that, as you can see, there are many options available to help a dog with a luxating patella. It doesn’t have to spell the end of your dog’s ability to participate in activities, especially for dogs with a Grade I or II luxation. Even if your dog has a higher grade luxation, there are a wide range of surgical options which are generally quite successful.

If you see your dog limping or walking “funny,” be sure to bring it up to your veterinarian as soon as you can. Prompt identification of luxating patellae can lead to faster treatment. Plus, early intervention may help prevent future joint pain. Together, you and your vet can do everything possible to set your dog up for minimal pain and maximal enjoyment of life.

Does your dog have a luxating patella?

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