Should You Walk A Dog With Luxating Patella
Walking your dog is a great way to get some exercise, but what do you need to know if your dog has luxating patella? This condition can make it difficult for your pet to walk and run properly. In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about this common condition, including how it affects dogs with different grades of patella luxation.
What Exactly Is Luxating Patella?
The patella, also known as the kneecap, is a bone located in the stifle (knee) joint. It protects the tendon and muscles that control movement of your thigh. There are 3 ligaments that hold the patella in place: medial collateral ligament (MCL), lateral collateral ligament (LCL), and cruciate ligament.
The medial and lateral collateral ligaments run along each side of your dog’s stifle joint to keep it stable during walking or running. The cruciate ligament runs down through where they meet at midline—this is what keeps them from shifting out of place during walking or running activities.
The tensor fasciae latae muscle wraps around your dog’s hip area to help stabilize him while he moves his legs forward when walking or running on hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt sidewalks where there isn’t much give underfoot yet still provides support so he doesn’t trip over himself due to improper footing conditions (such as uneven ground).
A Guide to Patella Luxation Grades
There are six grades of patellar luxation, ranging from mild to severe.
- Grade 1 (Mild)
Patellar luxation is considered grade 1 when the dog has partial patellar subluxation, meaning that the knee normally locks but can dislocate at times with stress or jumping. The symptoms may include intermittent locking and/or a clicking sound when walking or running. The patella will slip back into place after it pops out, but may not be completely locked in position; this can cause the dog discomfort and pain once it’s back in its normal alignment. For example: “I had to take my dog back to the vet because he was limping around like crazy! Turns out his knees are just popping out every now and then!”
- Grade 2 (Moderate)
A grade 2 patellar luxation occurs when there is moderate instability caused by recurrent dislocations without complete dislocation (the kneecap doesn’t come all the way down). This type of instability can lead to chronic wear-and-tear on surrounding joints, eventually causing arthritis if left untreated for too long—but don’t worry! A physical examination from your veterinarian will determine whether your pet needs surgery immediately or whether you should expect some temporary pain management before scheduling an appointment for surgery steps later on down this journey together.”
The Difference Between a Partial and Complete Luxation of the Knee Cap
There are two kinds of luxation, complete and incomplete. A partial (or incomplete) luxation is when the patella is dislocated to one side, but not completely out of place. A complete luxation occurs when the kneecap becomes completely dislocated and shifts away from its normal position. This can be very serious because it can cause damage to your dog’s knee joint in addition to putting him at risk for arthritis later in life.
Should You Walk a Dog With Luxating Patella?
Whether you should walk your dog with luxating patella depends on a few factors. If your dog is older, then it’s suggested that you take shorter walks and avoid long hikes. If your dog is young, try to keep walks under 30 minutes—especially if they haven’t had any previous injuries or surgeries. However, if you have an older dog who has had surgery and is now healthy again, then you can consider taking longer walks with them!
When it comes to walking your dog, you need to consider luxating patella and its impact on your furry friend’s health and lifestyle.
When it comes to walking your dog, you need to consider luxating patella and its impact on your furry friend’s health and lifestyle.
Let’s start with the basics. Every breed of dog is different in terms of their mobility, size, temperament and overall energy levels. If you have a puppy or senior dog that has had surgery for luxating patella then this will affect how much exercise they can do at any one time.
What about other factors? The type of surface you walk on will also play a role in how much exercise your pet needs each day as well as how long it takes them to recover after surgery (if applicable). A smooth surface such as grass allows dogs to move more freely than concrete which can be difficult for dogs with arthritic joints like those affected by luxating patella.*
Luxating patella is a disorder that impacts the health and lifestyle of dogs. It can either be partial or complete, but both are serious conditions that require immediate treatment from your veterinarian. However, there are some ways to help make sure that your dog’s quality of life is not affected by this condition. For example, make sure that you give them regular exercise in order to avoid obesity and other health issues such as heart disease or diabetes mellitus type 2 which might result from excessive weight gain over time (which could also cause luxating patella). In addition, consider purchasing shoes or boots made specially for animals who suffer from luxating patella as they will provide extra support while allowing mobility while walking around outside so long as they fit properly due to not being too tight or loose on feet/legs when worn with socks underneath them (not just wearing shoe size equivalent footwear because they don’t know any better).
