“2020 will be the year without vet visits”
Theme: Joints & Movement, Luxating Patella
On the day before New Year’s Eve 2019, Ruth’s hudad said, “2020 becomes the year without a visit to the veterinarian.” You might think that he jinxed it, unfortunately, you’d be right! On New Year’s Eve, Ruth jumped down from the last step to the yard and began limping, but the limp came and went. Sometimes she hopped on three legs, then walked normally again. Of course, we booked an appointment with the veterinarian, January 7th.
There, she got diagnosed with patellar luxation, and we were referred to an orthopedist in Sundsvall. On January 21st, we had an appointment at Evidensia Veterinärhuset. The days before were filled with anxiety about the possibility of her needing surgery. But as time passed, she got better and we noticed that her hopping on three legs decreased, which gave us hope that it might not be as bad as we thought.
When we drove to Sundsvall, we prepared for the worst, that she would need surgery, so it could only get better!
But it could get worse. One bad knee became two bad knees, with one knee needing surgery in a week and the other knee also needing an operation. Both knees have medial grade two patellar luxation, where the kneecap pops out on its own or when touched.
We are incredibly grateful for all the help we have received! We have had a wonderful support system and an incredibly professional team around us who have really done everything to give Ruth the best. We are very happy that we did the surgeries on Ruth and to see her feeling so comfortable in her body today. It was an incredibly tough time, with a lot of worry about something happening during the healing process. And a long period of rest that needed to be observed, and loads of rehabilitation. But with that I have developed, as I have learned so many new things. And I am absolutely sure that our relationship has grown even more thanks to this.
You operated on Ruth at a fairly young age. Didn’t you want to wait and see if she would get better?
Good question! But no. There was no possibility of building up Ruth’s muscles to help her patella, it was an operation that was required. If we had waited longer it would have been a more extensive operation. As for example, the groove in the kneecap is worn away, which means that a new one needs to be carved. The risk of arthritis also increases significantly if you let the dog have PL for a long time.
Today, you compete with Ruth, tell us a bit about it!
Yes, exactly! Training dogs is really a passion of mine. If I had the time I would spend whole days in the training hall or at the club! The plan was never to compete, as I have such a difficult time with my performance anxiety, but eventually the competition brain took over and today Ruth is the second Pomeranian in the world to become a Trick Dog Champion. We have also competed in shows where she has received very nice critiques with Excellent and CK. Last year we started competing in rally obedience. In our first competition, we got a full score, first place, and were immediately moved to the next class. In our backpack, we only have four competition days in rally obedience, but we also have four first places and this year our goal is to start in the advanced class and get that title!
I have also planned to compete in obedience, but we have had some trouble with the retrieve block when Ruth dropped it during training and it hit her in the face. After that, she didn’t want to carry it. But we are working on it and seeing what happens! I would also like to compete in tracking. I want a lot, and I have a lot of plans. But the absolute most important thing is that Ruth is doing well and enjoys what she does!
How fun! Do you have plans to get more dogs?
Actually, I have one more dog, Hedda. Hedda is a ten-month-old Keeshond. I would like to have one more dog as well, but that’s in a few year or so!
When you’re not spending time training, how do you like to spend your time together?
Rest is important, both me and the dogs need recovery! These days, we like to relax at home, go for walks where the dogs can run freely and explore the surroundings. We massage, clip nails, groom their fur, stretch and do various things that we feel like doing!
We like to go into the forest or up in the mountains. Being in nature with the dogs is something we all appreciate 💛
Do you think it’s good to give supplements to dogs?
I give supplements to both Ruth and Hedda. Ruth I feed supplements to support her joints as much as possible. And then I give them for her coat and skin. Hedda I feed supplements for preventative purposes and also for her coat and skin. I want to give the dogs the best possible conditions, that is why I support them from the inside. I think it’s good to do what you can, so I definitely recommend giving supplements. It can not only help with joints and coat, but also with issues like digestive problems, allergies, and stress.
Patellar Luxation
A Luxating Patella means that the kneecap (patella) is displaced (luxated) from its normal position.
Common symptoms include lameness, the dog taking skipping steps, or a typically “knuckling” gait. Some dogs show very little or no symptoms at all, and for an untrained eye, it can also be difficult to detect. Patellar luxation is especially common among small to medium-sized breeds but can also occur in larger dogs.
The most common form is when the kneecap luxates inward, medially. The other form is called lateral, and then the kneecap luxates outward.
- Grade 0 = Normal
- Grade 1 = Patella can be luxated manually but returns spontaneously to its normal position.
- Grade 2 = Patella can be easily luxated either manually or spontaneously and can remain luxated.
- Grade 3 = Patella is permanently luxated.
Swedish Kennel Club’s general recommendation is that only dogs with normal knee joints should be used for breeding. And a dog with clinical symptoms of patellar luxation is never suitable for breeding, regardless of the degree found during examination.
If you suspect that your dog has patellar luxation, we recommend that you contact a veterinarian for an examination.
If your dog is found to have patellar luxation, consult with a veterinarian on how to proceed. A physiotherapist is also good to be in contact with, as they can provide advice and exercises tailored to your dog’s specific needs.
