Patella Luxation
What is the Patella
The patella is your dog's kneecap. It normally sits in a groove at the front of the knee and slides smoothly up and down as the leg bends and straightens. Patella luxation is when the kneecap slips out of that groove, either towards the inside of the leg or the outside.
When it slips, the knee can't work properly for a moment. The leg locks or skips, then often pops back into place on its own. It can affect one knee or both.
What causes a Patella Luxation
Most patella luxation in dogs is something they're born with rather than an injury. The groove the kneecap sits in is too shallow, or the structures around the knee don't line up quite right, so the kneecap doesn't stay where it should. Because of this it often shows up in young dogs, though milder cases might not get noticed until later.
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It's far more common in small breeds, but larger dogs get it too. Less often, it can follow a direct injury to the knee.
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The condition is graded from 1 to 4:
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Grade 1 — the kneecap only slips out if pushed, and goes straight back. Often causes no obvious signs.
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Grade 2 — the kneecap slips out now and then on its own, then returns. This is where the skipping limp usually shows up.
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Grade 3 — the kneecap sits out of place most of the time but can be pushed back in.
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Grade 4 — the kneecap stays out of place and can't be returned by hand.
Signs to watch for
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A skip or hop in the back leg, then back to normal walking
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Holding a back leg up for a few steps before using it again
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A little kick-out of the leg, as if shaking something off
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Stiffness, especially after rest or hard exercise
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In worse cases, a bow-legged or crouched stance and ongoing lameness
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The classic sign is the on-and-off skip. Many dogs aren't in obvious pain when it happens, which is why owners sometimes don't realise anything is wrong for a while.
Why It Matters
Every time the kneecap slips, it rubs where it shouldn't. Over time this wears the joint and leads to arthritis, and the muscles that should hold the knee in line get weaker. A grade that's left unmanaged can also get worse.
How it's managed depends on the grade, your dog's size, and how much it affects them. Milder cases are often managed without surgery, focusing on muscle strength, weight and joint support. Higher grades may need surgery to deepen the groove or realign the knee. Your vet or surgeon will guide that decision, and rehab supports the recovery either way.
How we Help
Rehab helps whether your dog is being managed without surgery or recovering after an operation. The aim is to build the muscle that holds the kneecap in place, keep the joint moving comfortably, and reduce the chance of it slipping.
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The treatments we usually use for patella luxation are:
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Hydrotherapy — exercise in water builds the muscle around the knee while the water takes the weight off the joint, so your dog can work the leg without the full load of standing on land.
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Laser therapy — used to ease pain and inflammation around the joint and support healing.
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Targeted exercises — movements matched to your dog's stage and grade, to build strength, improve balance, and help the kneecap track properly.
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We build the plan around your dog and adjust it as they progress. If your dog has had surgery, we work alongside your vet or surgeon's instructions.
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If you think your dog might have a patella problem, talk to your vet first for a diagnosis and grading. Once you have that, we're happy to help with the recovery.
