Patellar luxation is a common orthopaedic condition in dogs, particularly small breeds, causing pain, lameness, and reduced mobility if untreated.
Dogs with luxating patella experience intermittent pain and sudden loss of limb function during luxation episodes. Chronic inflammation in affected joints leads to progressive arthritis. Untreated severe cases cause persistent lameness and significant quality of life reduction. Surgery stabilises the joint and prevents arthritis progression. Welfare-responsible breeding programmes screen parent dogs for patellar luxation to reduce inherited disease prevalence.