Can dogs grow out of luxating patella?

When we happily welcome dogs to become a member of the family, we begin a journey full of love and companionship. We watch them grow up from ignorant puppies, and every moment of their growth is engraved in our memories. However, health problems follow them everywhere. When a dog is diagnosed with patellar luxation, the question of "Can dogs grow out of luxating patellar luxation?" weighs heavily on the hearts of every owner like a boulder. ​

The patella, or kneecap, plays a key role in the complex and exquisite movement system of a dog's leg. It is like a precisely running gear, located in front of the knee joint, and tightly connects the femur and tibia with ligaments, helping dogs walk freely, run happily, and jump lightly. Under normal conditions, the patella slides smoothly in the groove of the knee joint. Every movement is coordinated with the contraction and relaxation of the leg muscles, which is coordinated and smooth, providing stable support for the dog's daily activities. But once the patella is dislocated, the originally orderly movement rhythm is broken, the patella is out of the normal track, and the dog's legs will immediately become abnormal. ​

When puppies are young, their bones and body structure are still in the process of development, just like clay being molded, with a certain degree of plasticity. In very rare cases of mild patellar dislocation, if the degree of dislocation is very mild and the dog's own repair ability is strong, as the bones and muscles grow stronger, there is a theoretical possibility that the patellar dislocation will improve on its own. But this situation is like a sweet rain in the desert, which is extremely rare and requires many strict conditions to be met. Most of the time, once a puppy suffers from patellar dislocation, the condition is like a snowball, gradually worsening over time. ​

When the dog grows up, the body structure is fixed, and the bones and joints no longer have the elasticity and plasticity of the puppy. At this time, the hope of self-healing of patellar dislocation becomes increasingly illusory. When patellar dislocation occurs, the abnormality of the dog's walking is clearly visible. Perhaps the dog will suddenly lift one leg without warning, stay in the air for a short time, and be afraid to land; or perhaps the dog will obviously limp when walking, and every step seems difficult and cautious. These abnormal postures are the intuitive expression of the dog's physical pain, which hurts the owner's heart. ​

From a professional medical perspective, there are deep reasons why patellar dislocation is difficult to heal after the dog grows up. Patellar dislocation is often accompanied by abnormal bone structure, such as the femoral trochlear groove is too shallow to provide a stable "slide" for the patella; tibial torsion changes the normal mechanical structure of the leg. These structural problems are basically fixed after the dog becomes an adult, and the body itself lacks the ability to repair such complex bone problems. Moreover, the dislocated patella is like a wild horse that continues to impact the surrounding ligaments, muscles and articular cartilage. Over time, these tissues are overwhelmed, inflammation breeds, wear and tear increases, and even tears occur. The normal function of the knee joint is severely damaged, making self-healing almost impossible.​

The moment the dog's patellar dislocation symptoms are discovered, the owner's heart is filled with anxiety and heartache. We can't help but fall into self-doubt, reflect on whether there is any negligence in daily care, and worry about how much pain the dog will suffer next. But in this difficult time, calmness is the key, we must act quickly and actively seek solutions. ​

In the field of pet medicine, a scientific and effective treatment system has been formed for dog patellar dislocation. The treatment plan varies according to the degree of dislocation. For dogs with mild dislocation, conservative treatment is a common method. Giving dogs appropriate non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can effectively reduce pain and inflammation and relieve their discomfort. At the same time, combined with physical therapy, such as gentle massage, promote local blood circulation; warm hot compresses, relieve tense muscles; systematic rehabilitation training, strengthen leg muscle strength, and improve joint stability. Although these conservative treatments cannot completely cure patellar dislocation, they can delay the deterioration of the disease to a certain extent and improve the quality of life of dogs. ​

In the face of moderate to severe patellar dislocation, surgical treatment is often a better choice. The surgery aims to correct the abnormal bone structure, get the patella back on track, and firmly fix it in the groove of the knee joint. Common surgical methods, such as femoral trochlear groove deepening, deepen the trochlear groove through delicate operation to create a more suitable "track" for the patella; tibial tubercle displacement, adjust the position of the tibial tubercle, and optimize the mechanical distribution of the leg. This type of surgery requires extremely high veterinary professional skills and clinical experience, and requires precise operation under a microscope. After the operation, the dog will usher in a long recovery period. During this period, the owner's careful care and strict compliance with the doctor's instructions for rehabilitation training are the key to the dog's recovery. Every time I accompany the dog for rehabilitation training and every time I give the dog medicine, it is full of the owner's deep love and earnest expectations for the dog.

When the dog grows up, patellar luxation will hardly heal on its own. This is a helpless but must-face fact. But even so, we must never give up easily. Regardless of whether we choose conservative treatment or surgical treatment, as long as we fight side by side with the dogs and give them adequate care, professional treatment and patient rehabilitation care, we will be able to help them relieve pain and regain health and happiness.