What is patellar luxation in Pom puppies and why does it happen? Being a relatively small breed, Pomeranians are not known to suffer from severe health conditions. However, the same could not be said for their degenerative health challenges. If you have just purchased a Pomeranian puppy from one of your local pet stores or perhaps even taken in a stray Pomeranian, then you will want to read on as I discuss patellar luxation which can be a relatively common condition for this breed.
What is Patellar Luxation?
Patellar luxation is a condition in which the knee cap (patella) slips out of place. It is one of the most common orthopedic problems in dogs and occurs most frequently in small breed dogs, particularly Poodles and Pomeranians. The patella is a triangular bone that lies in front of the stifle joint or knee joint. The patella helps guide the motion of the leg and protects the knee joint from injury. When a dog has patellar luxation, its kneecap slips out of place and does not glide properly over the femur during flexion or extension of its leg (legs moving apart). The luxation may be intermittent or constant depending on how much damage has been done to the cartilage under and around the patella.
What are the symptoms of patellar luxation in puppies?
The symptoms of patellar luxation in puppies can include
- stiffness in the hind legs and difficulty with walking
- The pomeranian may be lame on one or both legs, especially when exercising or running.
- He may have a hopping gait as if they are trying to keep its knees together.
- The puppy may show pain if you touch the stifles or push on the kneecaps.
- The puppy may yelp when you move the stifles.
What are the consequences of Patellar luxation?
Patellar luxation is a condition of the knee where the patella (kneecap) slips out of its normal alignment in relation to the femur. It is most commonly seen in large breed dogs such as Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds.
Patellar luxation occurs when the ligaments that hold the kneecap in place become too lax or stretch out, causing instability in the joint. This can lead to chronic pain and discomfort for your dog. Which may cause him to limp or not use that leg fully when walking or running. It can also lead to permanent damage if left untreated.
It can vary widely in severity, from mild cases that are easy to correct with surgery and rehab, to severe cases where it will need surgery but it may not be successful due to permanent damage from lack of use or arthritis.
When do I need medical treatment for Luxating patellas?
Patellar luxation is a common condition in dogs that can cause lameness and pain. The patella (kneecap) is the bone that articulates with the femur (thighbone) to form the stifle joint.
In dogs, it is normal for the patella to move slightly in an anterior (forward) direction. However, when it moves too far forward it causes problems with walking and discomfort. When this occurs, treatment is necessary.
The severity of symptoms will determine whether your dog requires medical treatment or not. Mild cases may respond to conservative therapy such as special diets and weight management. More severe cases may require surgery to the correction of the deformity.
When is surgery required for this disease?
Most dogs with mild to moderate cases of patellar luxation will do well with conservative treatment. Vets recommend Surgery for dogs with severe or lateral luxation, for dogs with degenerative changes in the stifle joint, or for dogs with progressive arthritis resulting from instability.
The decision to perform surgery must be made on an individual basis. Vets will decide by seeing several factors like age, activity, and cost.
A Pomeranian suffering from patellar luxation is definitely a high-risk dog because of the possibility of debilitating injury due to joint degeneration. So it’s important that a Pomeranian owner knows all the details about the condition in general and their dog’s risk factors in particular, so they can start treatment early and be proactive in their dog’s overall health. We talked about treatment options and how you can prevent patellar luxation before. Today, we’re going to look at risk factors for patellar luxation in Pomeranians of which Pomeranian owners should be aware.
