Cooks Hill Veterinary Clinic: May Hero of the Month

Meet Ivy May and Bomba

Ivy May is a one-year-old, female desexed, miniature poodle. Bomba is a nine-month-old, female desexed, Lagotto.

Ivy May and Bomba both presented to us with limping on a hind leg, after a general health check with one of our amazing Veterinarians they were diagnosed with patella luxation. They both underwent a patella correction surgery this month, performed by the one and only Dr Darren.

Patella luxation is one of the most common orthopaedic condition in dogs occurring in nearly 10% of all puppies.

A luxating patella is a condition where the patella (kneecap) intermittently or permanently sits outside of the groove in which it should sit. When the patella is out of the groove it may cause an unstable joint and the dog often holds its back leg up. Over time, this constant moving of the kneecap can cause arthritis and pain.

The corrective procedure involves a general anaesthetic and orthopaedic surgery to deepen the patella groove to keep the patella in place.

During the recovery period of approximately 8-12 weeks, home care is extremely important.

After surgery homecare may consist of:

Crate or cage confinement for 10-14 days until sutures are removed
Room confinement and exercise restrictions for 6-8 weeks
No access to slippery flooring or stairs
- No playing with other animals, running, jumping
- Walking must be on a leash and controlled
Anti-inflammatory medications
A course of Cartrophen injections
Nutritional supplements for joint support such as glucosamine, fish oil or prescription joint diets