Dog Patellar Luxation Surgical Correction and Prevention

Patellar luxation is a common orthopedic condition in small breeds, and surgical correction prevents progressive joint damage and chronic pain.

Key Facts

Patellar luxation is the most common orthopedic condition in small-breed dogs, affecting up to 7% of toy breeds
Grades 1-4 describe severity - Grade 1 occasionally luxates and reduces spontaneously; Grade 4 is permanently luxated
Toy Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, and Pomeranians have the highest prevalence
Chronic medial patellar luxation causes cartilage wear, cruciate ligament damage, and secondary osteoarthritis
Surgical correction is indicated for Grade 3-4 and Grade 2 with pain or progressive joint damage
Surgery involves deepening the trochlear groove and repositioning the tibial crest to realign the patella
Most dogs return to excellent function after surgical correction with appropriate rehabilitation

Welfare Considerations

Uncorrected patellar luxation causes intermittent episodes of the knee giving way - affected dogs may skip on three legs briefly. Over time, chronic cartilage damage causes progressive pain and lameness. Early surgical correction in appropriate cases prevents this progression and preserves long-term joint health and comfort.

What You Can Do

Have any small-breed dog with intermittent lameness or skipping evaluated for patellar luxation
Discuss surgical timing with your vet for Grade 2-4 cases - earlier correction prevents secondary damage
Maintain appropriate body weight to minimize joint loading in predisposed breeds
Provide rehabilitation therapy after surgery to rebuild muscle support around the corrected knee
Avoid selecting breeding animals with patellar luxation to reduce the trait in future generations