There is a genetic component to luxating patellas. You need to get x-rays and talk to your vet. Remember that younger dogs recover from surgery much faster than older dogs. The patellar ligament should slide within the patella groove . Luxating patellas (ligament slips out of the groove) are due (1)...

You need to get x-rays and talk to your vet. Remember that 4-year-old dogs recover from surgery much faster than 10-year-old dogs. The patellar ligament should slide within the patella groove . Luxating patellas (ligament slips out of the groove) are due (1) to a weak patellar ligament (stretches too...

[quote user="maggiespet"]You seem very knowledgable on this topic. Are you in the medical field? Another question...without x-rays, why would the knee be the diagnosis. My first thought was that it was her hip. [/quote] Nope, I am not in the medical field. I had a terrier with a luxating patella...

[quote user="maggiespet"]Now she never seemed to be in pain (no whimpering or yelping) but for a while she had great difficulty sitting and/or rising, climbing steps and hills and would hold her leg up when in a calm mode. [/quote] Many dogs are very stoic and will not whimper or yelp unless...

[quote user="jennie_c_d"]They may not be bad enough that she needs surgery [/quote] It is possible that some type of brace could help. There is a lot of work being done in that area. http://www.woundwear.com/product3.cfm http://dogbrace.com http://www.orthopets.com/devices/index.html How much...

[quote user="bdbull"]When he was moving her leg, her knee cap slid to the side and then back again. [/quote] This is a "luxating patella". Here is a recent thread discussing them: http://community.dog.com/forums/t/65379.aspx?PageIndex=1 There are links in that thread that show internal...