Patellar Luxation In Pugs

Patellar Luxation is a defect affecting the knee and many consider this to be the most common orthopedic ailment in Pugs. It is thought to be hereditary so it is one of the questions to ask a breeder if this condition is present in any of the dogs he has bred. Pugs with this condition should not be a part of any breeding program.

The knee is very complex. The patella, which is the name for the kneecap, is part of this joint. The knee, sometimes called the stifle, connect the thighbone, called the femur, to the lower portion of the leg. The lower portion of the leg is made up of the tibia and fibula. Proper alignment is critical for proper mobility for your Pug. When something is out of alignment the condition becomes known as Patellar Luxation.

The knee, or patella, is positioned in a groove and held in place by the quadriceps tendon. The knee will normally slide up and down with motion as the quadriceps muscle is flexed through your Pug’s movement. A problem occurs when the groove that the knee sits in is too shallow or the tendon that holds the patella in place is unable to keep the joint stable in movement. The knee will move inward and eventually pop out or luxate. Although Patellar Luxation is a medical term sounds very complicated, it basically can be thought of as the knee popping out when your Pug walks. Keep in mind, that your veterinarian should be consulted in these cases and we are not qualified to give medical advice here. Our goal is to give you an idea of what’s going on with your little friend.

As we noted before, Patellar Luxation is very common in Pugs and there is actually a grading system to categorize the severity of the condition. Grade One, the least severe, classifies those cases where the symptoms are intermittent and the Pug seems to favor the leg only occasionally. After a few steps the Pug seems to be walking normally. With Grade Two the condition becomes more frequent. A rubbing within the joint starts to be more pronounced and can result in arthritis. In Grades Three and Four the condition is present all the time and the knee is permanently displaced. The difference between these two stages is whether the Pug can put any weight at all on the leg. If he can’t it is considered Grade Four. This will normally require corrective surgery to restore normal mobility and relieve the pain. Early treatment also has a better chance of preventing the development of an arthritic condition in your Pug.

What About Natural Healing?

Natural healing or alternative medicine can certainly aid in controlling the pain associated with this condition but we know of no natural cure for. We are, however, strong believers in taking a natural approach when it comes to Pugs and believe there are many benefits to alternative medicine or natural healing in helping to control the pain associated with Patellar Luxation in your Pug.