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Yorkie Illness
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Home Remedies
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Your puppy at home
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LIST OF COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS IN YORKSHIRE TERRIER (YORKIE'S HEALTH ) |
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| Patellar luxation/Luxating Patella in Yorkshire Terrier |
Luxating patella is a condition relatively common in small breed dogs, like yorkies.
Miniature breeds and small breeds of dogs, like yorkshire terrier have a 4-8 times higher risk than other races to get this problem.
There are several types of luxation and several degrees of severity for luxating patella. Depending on the diagnosis, there are various surgical techniques that can effectively treat the luxating patella.
The pattela or kneecap
The patella, or kneecap, is one of three bones that come together at the knee joint. All of these bones have a layer of cartilage at points where their surfaces come into contact. The patella is the small bone that lies before the knee. It is a small triangular bone with its tip directed towards the tibia. The patella is also enveloped by a tendon. This tendon connects the quadriceps muscle of the thigh to the shin bone (tibia) below the knee.
The Kneecap allows the flexion and extension of the knee.The kneecap when the knee is extended, is above the trochlea. Knee flexion causes the engagement of the V of the kneecap in the V of the trochlea.
What is a patella luxation
In cases of dislocation(luxation), the patella leaves the femoral trochlea and is positioned on the external face of the femur.
The kneecap slides up and down a groove on the end of the thigh bone as the knee bends. This groove is called the trochlea. The kneecap is designed to fit in the center of this groove, and slide evenly within the groove. In small dogs, the kneecap is sometimes pulled towards the outside of the knee. As this happens, the kneecap does not slide centrally within its groove.
That result in an increase or a decrease of the member . That cause the dog to have a limp member because he is no longer able to rely on its leg totally or partially.
Each patella instability causes damage to the cartilage of the patella (kneecap = chondropathy).
The Luxation is the real instability that is very different from the potential instability. It is very different since it is base on other factors of instability found with complementary tests (radios, scanners, etc. ..) made because of a painful knee.
What causes patellar luxation?
- Traumatic Origin: often caused by a rupture of patellar tendons.
or
- Congenital origin: often the result of a trochlea which is not quite hollow associated with laxity of the patellar tendon.
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This disaese is classified in 4 grade depending obn the severity:
| Grade 1 |
Occasional Luxation.
That kind of luxation can appears occasionally. The patella of the dog move a few moments, but the situation returns to normal by itself.
The kneecap can be moved out of place manually but will fall back into its natural position once the manipulator lets go.
The veterinarian can alsorepalced the patella manually. The pain occurs only when the luxation occurs.
The anatomic alignment of the stifle is usually normal here, with the patella luxating only when pushed out of the socket.
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| Grade 2 |
Frequent patella luxation taht did not fall back in the right place by itself.
The frequency of luxation increases, becoming more or less permanently.
the kneecap does not move back to its normal position when the manipulator lets go. These dogs are likely to progress to arthritis development and should be considered for surgery to prevent conformational damage. There is some controversy over whether grade 2 dogs should have surgery.
The patella luxates frequently upon flexion of the joint but can sometimes get back to normal without manual healp .
The dog relieves his leg but is occasionally above its weight. During palpation by a veterinarian, a feeling of creaking may be felt in the joint. At Grade 2, osteoarthritic degeneration may begin to appear.
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| Grade 3 |
Luxation requiring frequent manipulation to replace.
The luxation appears each time the animal rests its weight on the leg but the ball is back in its place. The surgery must be done relatively quickly, especially in cases of young dogs to avoid certain distortions during growth.
The patella is out of place all the time but can be manipulated back into its normal position manually (though it will not stay there).
The patella luxates upon flexion of the joint and remains luxated until returned by manual pressure.
The patella is permanently dislocated but can be reduced manually with the limb extended.
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| Grade 4 |
The luxation is permanent, impossible to put back the bones in place.
The patella is not only out of place all the time but cannot even be manipulated back into place by hand.
The patella luxation is permanently dislocated and cannot be manually reduced.
Such a dog has extreme difficulty extending his knees and walks with his knees bent virtually all the time.
Early surgical treatment is strongly recommended.
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SOLUTION/TREATEMENT
A surgical treatment is not necessary in every individual with this condition.
Usually, the last 3 grades require surgery to regroove the trochlea and to tighten the ligaments of the joints.
Unoperated dogs eventually develop osteoarthritis that will settle more quickly if the patella luxation is significant.
A correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment offer a success rate of 90-95%, allowing the dog a pain-free normal use of his member.
Early detection of luxating patella has several advantages. You will reduced the discomfort and pain caused by the patelle luxation.
About 95% of dogs with luxation have also abnormal anatomic structure of the joint.
If these disorders are treated when the dog is young, some progressive deformities can be avoided. Some breeds, like yorkshire terrier and other small breed dogs are also known to be prone to patellar luxation.
Treatment consists of reducing anatomic defects that lead to luxation and to thighten or loose ligaments in the joint.
Surgery can alter both the affected structures and the movement of the patella. The groove at the base of the femur may be surgically deepened to better contain the knee cap.
Dislocation of the patella can be surgically treated effectively, allowing a normal life without pain for your dog.
The key to successful treatment lies in diagnosis and treatment of the disease relatively quickly.
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