Have you ever noticed your dog 'hopping' on one of their back legs, or not moving away smoothly as he or she gets up and walks? This strange behaviour may be caused by an unstable kneecap or 'patella'. Patella luxation is a common orthopaedic condition in small dogs in Hong Kong but can also occur in some larger breeds. It involves dislocation of the patella out of its normal position, thus preventing the knee from extending properly. Instability can result in pain and sometimes persistent lameness. Whilst mild cases may not need surgery, clinical cases can benefit from simple surgical procedures. Affected patients that have early surgical intervention can continue to live a normal, active and pain-free life and surgical correction will greatly lower the risk of associated knee injuries.

At Concordia, our team has extensive experience in treating dogs with this condition. The outcome following surgery is good with high success rate and complications are rare. Fan Woon and Fluffy are two of the many patients. They had operation on both legs within one month. It has been hugely rewarding to see them being able to walk so well by 2 weeks after surgery!

If you suspect a trick knee in your dog, seek your vet immediately. Early treatment will help keep the puppy strong, and is effective in preventing secondary knee problems.