Q&A

How long does it take for a dog to recover from luxating patella surgery?

How long does it take for a dog to recover from luxating patella surgery?

Total recovery time from patella luxation is normally 8 – 10 weeks. Following the surgery, your dog may be non-weight bearing on the leg for several days. Swelling and bruising are common and so anti-inflammatories and pain relief are dispensed.

When should a dog have surgery for luxating patella?

Surgery is typically recommended for dogs with low-grade luxation (1-2) that show frequent clinical signs or for dogs with a higher grade (3-4). When surgical correction is performed early, the prognosis is very good, and most dogs go on to lead normal, active lives.

Is luxating patella painful for dogs?

Most dogs with patella luxation (with the exception of some grade 1’s), experience pain at some point during their life. Your vet will be able to prescribe pain relief such as NSAID’s to give as necessary.

How long will a dog limp after TPLO surgery?

Size Of Dog And Post Operative Limping All dogs should spend the first seven days, at least, in a confined space where they will not be jumping on and off of furniture or sliding across the floor. Regardless of the weight of the dog, all dogs need rest after surgery.

Should you walk a dog with luxating patella?

Luxating patella in any dog should ALWAYS be treated. Left untreated, the movement of the patella back and forth in and out of the patellar groove will wear down the cartilage in the knee and eventually cause bone-on-bone contact, which can be extremely painful and cause permanent damage to the joint.

Is it OK to walk a dog with luxating patella?

Surgery is not always necessary for this condition. Many small dogs live their entire life with luxating patella and it never results in arthritis or pain, nor does it interfere with the dog’s life.

What can go wrong with TPLO surgery?

The tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) is one of the most common surgical procedures used to treat cranial cruciate ligament disease in dogs. Complications occurring during or after TPLO can range in severity from swelling and bruising to fracture and osteomyelitis.

What do you need to know about patellar luxation surgery?

What Is Medial Patellar Luxation (MPL) surgery? The surgery is performed to correct the luxation, or “popping out” of the kneecap (called the patella). A luxating patella is caused by a congenital malformation which creates abnormal forces on the kneecap, causing it to slide out of the groove (called the patellar groove) in which it normally sits.

What to do if your dog has patella luxation?

If a dog with patella luxation is showing signs of pain, has developed the luxation due to knee trauma, or has difficult walking, then surgery will be needed to correct the problem. While there is no way other than surgery to correct a patella luxation, you can support your dog’s knee health through the use of joint supplements.

What kind of knee cap is a luxating patella?

Luxating patellas are knee caps that slip out of the groove that they are designed to stay in. The femur, which is the large upper leg bone, has a groove down the middle that the knee cap and its associated ligaments sits in.

Can a stifle joint reduce luxation of the patella?

Grade III. Grade III – the patella remains luxated most of the time, but can be manually reduced with the stifle joint in extension. Flexion and extension of the stifle results again in luxation of the patella.