Luxating Patella Surgery For Dogs
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Luxating Patella Surgery For Dogs: Taking Care Of Your Dog During Treatment and Recovery
Even though luxating patella isn’t an immediate problem that you have to get treated in the emergency room, it is still important to get your pooch tested for it or else it could get worse as time goes on.
Every dog needs to be checked for it since kneecap slippage affects dogs of various different sizes and breeds. But in particular small dogs and toy breeds are especially prone to luxated patella so if you have a small dog you should get it tested quite early on.
Breeders who know what they are doing are aware that the syndrome is a hereditary one, and they should know to get their new litters of pups tested around 6 weeks of age (usually before selling the pups to their new owners).
The Methods of Treatment Available For a Slipped Kneecap
A canine physical exam, as well as information about how long that dog has been exhibiting symptoms like limping and lifting his leg, will form the basis of the doctor’s diagnosis. In order to see how severe the condition is, the vet will take an X-ray of the thigh and the knee.
If your dog has Grade I luxating patella, meaning the least severe category of the problem, then treatment is not required. But you should keep watch of your pet’s condition in case it gets worse and later requires treatment. Luxating patella surgery for dogs with Grade II, III, or IV severity is the norm.
An orthopedic surgeon carries out the operation, which involves fixing the alignment of dog’s bone, tightening the joint capsule, and sometimes make the kneecap groove deeper.
If you suspect that your dog is suffering from luxated patella, there is no need to panic. But it would be wise to get in touch with your vet as soon as possible so you can get your furry friend checked out for a slipped kneecap. Your veteranarian will let you know if you need an orthopedic surgeon to carry out the surgery.
Don’t sweep the problem under the rug. If your dog has Grade II or III or IV luxated patella, it’s important to take the necessary measures to treat the problem before it gets worse. The worse the damage to the joint and bone become, the more difficult it will be to correct the damage in future surgeries.
Taking Care of Your Dog Post-Surgery
Post-surgery, your veteranarian will prescribe canine medicines such as pain killer and anti-inflammatories, which are usually taken for one week. Your dog will new lots of rest, and you should be prepared to allow your dog very little activity for about 1 week, possibly a little more.
If you need to take the dog outside during that time, keep him on a short leash to limit his movement and speed. When indoors, keep your dog inside a small room so that he doesn’t have a chance to run and jump, or otherwise cause damage to the knees with too much sudden motion.
Around a week after the operation takes place, physical therapy normally begins. At first you will need to take your dog on slow short walks, of around 5 minutes in duration. Swimming is also good, because it is good exercise with little impact on the joints. After about 6 weeks you should start being able to take your dog for regular long walks, and after 15 weeks full recovery is normally expected.
Canine luxating patella surgery is not the end of the world, but it is important to watch out for it and take the necessary measures because your beloved dog’s mobility is crucial for his quality of life.
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