(VetRehab)Luxating Patellas (long)

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Hello Group:I have a client with a 3 1/2 yr old male Toy Fox Terrier. He is a highly competitive and highly successful agility dog. I've noted in the past mildly luxating patellas ( one knee was about a Grade 1, the other kind of a 1 1/2). I could not physically displace either patella, but noted the looseness to the owner. The owner has noted one incidence of hitching stride during an agility run, otherwise no clinical evidence of a problem. No lameness, no soreness, no heat, etc etc. This winter she noted he will hold one hind leg up in the back yard in deep snow on frigid days( she lives in MI). The dog's conditioning routine is impressive. He does treadmill, ball exercises, stretches, pupilates core work, etc etc. Owner is highly motivated, as is the dog.

Owner recently went for baseline radiographs of hips and knees, and the orthopedic surgeon she went to said the dog needed surgical repair of his patellas immediately. There are no radiographic changes to his knees, but the surgeon noted the laxity of the knees. He would not comment on the confirmation of the hindlimbs, but insisted surgery was a must. Owner is now appropriately concerned, and asking me what she should do.

So, here are my questions to the group:

for the surgeons out there, would you "prophylactically" fix this dog's knees, in hopes of extending his agility career? What criteria do you use for when it is time to fix the luxations?

For the rehabbers in the group, how successful are you rehabbing the elite canine athlete to resume previous levels of success after patellar surgery?

I am very interested in your responses, feel free to answer on or off list. Thanks

Kathy Topham, DVM, CCRT, VSMT

Pawsitive Results

Mantua, OH