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possible patella luxation

Peanut

Peanut within the last couple of weeks has been holding up his right hind leg occasionally. This would happen and then a few minutes later her was ready to run, jump and play as if nothing was wrong. I was worried about patella luxation so took him to vet @ banfield and she did a physical exam and said his knee seemed fine, maybe it was just a strain. After about a week this is still happening about 2-3 times a day. The other day he did this when he hiked his leg to urinate. Is this something I should be concerned about or give him time and see if he heals? He is only 10 mths old and don't want him to be in pain. He does not wimper or anything when this happens. Does this sound like symptoms of patella luxation or maybe hip dysplasia?

Symptoms: Lameness

• Julie says:

  September 20th, 2008 at 12:25 AM

  You do not say what kind of dog Peanut is.  Patellar luxation is very common in small breeds.  Many small breed dogs have "loose" patellas when they are young and sometimes they will improve with age.  Your dog may have patellar luxation.  What you describe does seem to fit.  If the patella shifts out of place, the dog will feel this and be bothered enough to limp or hold the leg up.  If the patella shifts back into place the dog will walk and run again like normal.  Just because your vet did not feel a patellar luxation does not mean Peanut does not suffer from it.  Sometimes it can be very difficult to get a mild luxation to move when manipulating it.  That said, it is possible something else is going on, perhaps congenitally, given the dog's age.  Hip dysplasia is unlikely.  This normally occurs in older dogs.  If Peanut seems to be in pain, you should not wait it out, but giving it a week or rest and possibly some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory from the vet is acceptable to see if there is improvement.

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