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Luxation of the Patella

Luxation of the Patella, or dislocation of the knee-cap is a common hereditary problem with the Chihuahua. It is also unfortunate that most of the time the animal is older before it shows. It appears in varying degrees from minimal to debilitating. Very young dogs may compensate, but this can only make the dislocation occur in the other leg.

The dislocation is usually on the inner side, the ligaments become stretched each time it happens until the patella is rarely where it is suppose to be. When the dog is standing with a dislocation of the patella, the hocks on the hind legs will be straight and if severe will cause extreme pain.

Recent studies have shown that immediate treatment is recommended, rather then waiting until the dislocation has practically crippled the dog. Reasoning behind this is that while the knee is dislocated the entire body of the dog is compensating for it, causing deformations of many other skeletal areas.

There is a lot of information available on Luxation of the Patella in Hilary Harmar's "The Complete Chihuahua Encyclopedia".

For more information, concerns and questions contact your veterinarian.

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Velma’s Experience with Luxating Patella
by Jim Miranda
Velma, our one and a half year old Chihuahua is a very energetic and healthy girl. She is extremely curious and being long legged she is also a strong jumper. And like most Chihuahuas, does not believe she is a small dog capable of becoming injured. In her mind she is the size of a Great Dane and indestructible. For this reason when we go out, she is relegated to certain safe areas of the house and access to areas deemed unsafe are blocked by a gate which is twice her size in height. Well, one afternoon after arriving home we found Velma on the wrong side of the gate; somehow she managed to jump or climb over and injured herself in the process. She could not put weight on her right rear leg and cried out in pain when she tried. We brought her to the vet and were told she had a luxating patella.