Luxating Patella Update

Remember a couple years ago when I wrote about my luxating patella? In 2007, I found out I had a Grade II luxating patella in my right hind leg. At the time we were faced with the decision as to whether I should have surgery to correct the issue. The choice to have surgery or not presented itself with certain risks and there seemed to be no win-win situation at the time. Not to mention, the surgery itself is expensive and rehab was going to be very challenging. At the time, my parents decided to wait to have the surgery and see how my leg progressed. Many dogs can have Grade II patellar luxation and be just fine. Others digress to have Grade III and Grade IV, both of which require corrective surgery.

Hearing this diagnosis has done nothing to change how I play. I still run hard, play rough, and jump off the back of the couch. During each trip to the veterinarian, my parents wait with baited breath for an update on my leg hoping it has not progressed to Grade III or Grade IV. Last week I went to the veterinarian for my annual visit, during which we finally heard the news we were waiting for. I no longer have a Grade II luxating patella.




I now have Grade I? Hold on, I have to shake the wax buildup and mites out of my ear...

Did I hear that right? How does a luxating patella just get better? All that jumping around I do and you'd have thought that for sure my leg has worsened. We asked the vet how this was possible, but we weren't clear on the answer. Something about fibromyalisis, growth development and growth plates. Apparently, I grew out of it.