Luxating Patella is when the knee cap in one or both legs dislocates and moves from its usual position. It is a particularly common ailment in small and miniature dogs such as terriers and toy poodles but is also seen in some larger breeds such as golden retreivers and some breeds of cat.

Luxating patella can occaissionally be caused by trauma such as a hard knock on the knee but is most commonly an inhereted disease in dogs.

Symptoms

Luxating patella is commonly seen in small dogs when they run holding one back leg up, this is often intermittent and can sometimes appear to just go away of it's own will.

This can leads owners to believe their dog simply has a sore foot, but if the condition keeps coming back then you should consult a vet. Limping and difficulty walking are also common symptoms. Lameness can occur in the most severe cases.

Prevention

Sadly there is very little that can be done to prevent Luxating patella but keeping the dogs weight down does seem to have some effect. Dogs that show signs of the condition can be helped by reducing the amount of strenuous excercise they put on the leg, such as reducing jumping.  

Treatment