Charlie needs Surgery

she has Grade 3 luxating patellae. A luxating patella occurs when the knee cap moves out of its natural position. Initial symptoms include occasional limping, an intermittent skip in the gait, sudden loss of support on the limb, abnormal sitting posture with the knee placed outward; all of which are usually intermittent.

Grade 1 is the least severe and the knee cap easily slips back into place on its own whereas Grade 4 means the knee cap is actually stuck and fixed outside its normal resting position in the groove of the femur.

Grade 3 or 4 luxations normally require surgery as greater pain or discomfort will be involved, along with reduced function of the leg or associated damage such as a cranial cruciate ligament rupture.