How Apollo Animal Physiotherapy Can Help Your Dog With Luxating Patella Feel Comfortable, Stronger And Happier

It can be a worrying time after discovering your dog’s diagnosis of luxating patella. We can help you feel supported, and provide you with our knowledge and information to guide you through the steps of rehabilitation that can help improve your dog’s quality of life.

We can help your dog regain strength, comfort, and mobility while preventing further complications and reducing compensatory patterns.

What is Patella Luxation?

In a healthy knee, the patella sits in a groove on the femur and glides smoothly as your dog moves. In dogs with patella luxation, the patella pops out of place, either to the inside (medial) or outside (lateral) of the leg. The degree of luxation is graded from 1 (mild) to 4 (severe) with a mild patella luxation occurring intermittently and reducing into place. More severe grades occur more often, and in grade 4, the patella can sit permanently out of place.

What secondary complications can occur from luxating patella?

Due to the abnormal movement of luxating patella, secondary osteoarthritis can occur in the knee joint. This can cause pain, swelling and reduced mobility. Arthritis is not reversible, but luxating patella can be supported. Therefore it is important to rehabilitate the luxation before osteoarthritis progresses.

Abnormal strain on the knee can also predispose dogs to cruciate rupture (known as ACL in humans). This complication may require corrective surgery, particularly in larger dogs. However intense rehabilitation is required in all dogs.

Strain to local joints can occur such as the hips, and hocks (ankles) as well as the other hind limb. Compensatory patterns can lead to overuse of forelimbs, and increased muscle mass and high tone which can be painful when moderate.

It is important for us to manage the luxating patella, and prevent or manage any secondary complications during your dog’s rehabilitation programme.

Stories from our previous pet parents:

“Laura and Heidi have been brilliant with our mini dachshund Tassel who was diagnosed with Patella Baja . She is quite an anxious dog but they have worked hard to build a relationship with her and calm her down. Tassel has now had 3 sessions and there is a noticeable difference in her ability to walk . We were given regular daily physio exercises for her and loaned a K9 fit bone to do them on. We are very impressed with the service provided and outcomes so far.

We are amazed at the difference physio, laser and aqua therapy has made to Tassel. Her leg muscles are more visibly defined and most importantly she rarely limps anymore. Before on walks she would start to limp within minutes and often needed to be carried. Now although her walks are time restricted to 25 minutes and building, she walks well and steady. She is so much happier and is once again playing and greeting other dogs without becoming aggressive towards them. Laura and Heidi have done a fantastic job on her and built a rapport with Tassel who no longer resists going for treatments and in fact enjoys her physio routine at home as well . Very happy pawrent and customer.

Tassel has returned to Apollo for Laser therapy as the cold , damp weather was affecting her legs again. Needless to say Laura and Ellie got her back on her feet again and she is back to her usual happy self”

“I have been taking my french bulldog puppy to Apollo for just over a month now, as he is suffering with luxating patella’s in both knees.
He has been doing weekly hydro sessions and fortnightly therapeutic sessions along with daily home exercises and I am so amazed at the progress he has made already
I cannot thank Laura and Johanna enough for all their help and support so far!”

If you’ve noticed signs of kneecap instability in your dog, or they’ve already been diagnosed with patellar luxation, we’re here to help.

What Can You Expect from a Physiotherapy Plan?

At Apollo, we begin with a comprehensive assessment, followed by a custom-made treatment and exercise plan. This may include:

Manual therapy for pain and soft tissue support
Hydrotherapy to build muscle without weight-bearing strain
Targeted strengthening and core stability exercises
Home exercise guidance for continued progress
Home management advice to make your home as comfortable for your dog
Regular re-evaluations to track and adapt treatment

How Can Physiotherapy Help?

Rehabilitating for luxating patella focuses on improving joint stability, muscle strengthening, balance and coordination. We use evidence based therapies to help your dog feel comfortable, and stronger.

Pain management and comfort

We incorporate manual therapies such as various massage techniques including myofascial release, and trigger point therapies. Joint mobilisations helping improve blood flow, nutrition and local pain relief to the joint enhancing circulation and soft tissue function and extensibility. We also have modalities including laser therapy and PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy) depending on your dog’s specific needs. We also offer hydrotherapy in our under water treadmill, the benefits of water for pain management have been extensively researched. Our therapists can talk you through how beneficial hydrotherapy can be for your dog’s pain management.

Muscle Strengthening

Muscle strengthening is the next most important goal of patella luxation stabilisation. The quadricep muscle keeps the patella within the groove. If this muscle becomes weak, the luxations occur more frequently. With support of the quadricep, gluteals and hip flexors, the joint is supported, stronger, able to take impact and concussion and more stable.

Realignment Through Muscle Balance

Muscle tone is equally as important as muscle strengthening. Patella luxation can occur from muscles becoming unbalanced, and unaligned due to tightness which can cause more frequent patella luxations. If the muscles around the patella become more balanced, more aligned, this can improve patella tracking and reduce luxations.

Improving Gait and Movement Patterns

Dogs with patella luxation adopt different gait patterns as a method of avoiding discomfort, and often avoiding patella luxation. You might notice your dog “skip”, or walk with an awkward gait, this can happen due to temporary luxation of the knee cap, and dogs will “skip” or walk differently until the kneecap returns back into place then your dog appears to walk normally. Skipping may not be a sign of pain, but a way to manage the joint dysfunction. Abnormal gait patterns put strain on other joints and soft tissue, resulting in secondary compensations therefore improving gait patterning, reduces load of other joints and improves mobility of the knee without luxation.

Supporting Post-Surgical Recovery

If your dog has had surgery to correct patellar luxation, physiotherapy is essential to regain strength, range of motion, and function. Your therapist will create a post-operative plan to target specific areas of discomfort, reduced mobility and strength to regain strength back in your dog to return back to previous activity.

Restoring mobility, one paw at a time