Luxating Patella in Dogs

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Take a quick look at the photo below. The knee on the left is a drawing of a normal knee; the one on the right shows a luxating patella.

In simple terms, here is how it works: Every time the knee bends the patella moves up and down. The darker area behind the patella highlights the trochlear groove which is a concave area of the femur that allows the patella to slide up and down.

Sometimes the kneecap slips out of this groove (right side of photo) this is the condition called luxating patella. One good example of this happening is when a dog is running or at play and all of the sudden you hear it yelp and observe the dog holding its back leg up for a few moments. The kneecap pops out of position which causes the dog pain. Some dogs can 'click' the kneecap back into place on their own and go on about their play. Then there are those dogs that have so much trouble with this condition they require surgery to correct it.

Primarily congenital, luxating patellas occur mostly in small or toy dog breeds, because their trochlear groove is too shallow, hence the kneecap has trouble staying in position. Also known as Medial petellar luxation or MPL, this condition can affect one or both knees and usually worsens overtime causing lameness.

Some of the small dog breeds typically affected by this disease include the: Pomeranian, Bichon Frise, Toy Poodle, Chihuahua, Boston Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier, Pug, and yes... the Miniature Schnauzer.

Symptoms & Treatment of Luxating Patellas

Symptoms of Patella Luxation

Most symptoms, unless severe, will not be detected without x-ray, however your Veterinarian will be able to feel the kneecap and its movement during a regular examination.

• The easiest symptom that you may detect was mentioned previously: It will be a yelp while running or skip in the dog's step.
• You may also notice that your dog is having a hard time walking or even an unwillingness to move about freely.
• More severe degrees of damage include toes pointing inward or a bowlegged appearance.

So what can you do?

5 Tips to Avoid a Luxated Patella

1. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. Just make sure he doesn't overdo it.
2. Don't let your dog get fat. Keep your Miniature Schnauzer on a balanced diet and avoid extra weight which puts too much stress on the dog's joints.
3. Don't let your dog jump on and off the furniture, etc... Assist your dog when necessary or make use dog ramps and pet steps.
4. Keep your dog's nail trimmed. This will prevent your dog from snagging on items that could cause him to jerk his knee causing luxation.
5. Consider the help of supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin which help repair and maintain healthy joint tissue.

Treatment for Luxating Patella

Patellar luxation is graded on a scale from I to IV (IV being the most severe). Depending on the severity, surgery will be needed to correct the disease. Since the disease can progress over time, in order to prevent severe lameness later on, early detection is important.

Some find relief with the use of natural joint support. It provides a safe, effective alternative that may help relieve aches and discomfort caused by arthritis, injury or surgery, and the stiffness of old age.

Only Natural Pet Lubri-Ease Plus Joint Support Dog & Cat Supplement 90 Tablets A joint support product line with formulas to aid connective tissue health, eases discomfort or stiffness and support joint mobility.

The above natural joint support formulas offer key joint support ingredients to help pets stay active and maintain joint health.

The three key factors for a good joint support product are:

• Joint-building compounds, like Glucosamine and Chondroitin to supply joints with materials for repair and maintenance of healthy joint tissues
• Antioxidants, including Ester-C and Vitamin E, to reduce the joint-damaging effects of free radicals
• Inflammatory response support, offered by herbs like Boswellia and Yucca, to ease discomfort and reduce the impact of inflammation on joint deterioration

Only Natural Pet Lubri-Ease formulas have all three factors and all the ingredients listed above, which include the essential factors most often recommended by veterinarians to support connective tissue health and ease symptoms of stiffness in joints.

Early detection of patella luxation can increase your dogs chance for a successful surgery. If you believe your Miniature Schnauzer has this problem please consult with your veterinarian.

Go from Luxating Patella to Miniature Schnauzer Health

Related Topics:
★ Schnauzer Dog Care
★ First Aid for Dogs

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