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Knee problems in your dog
If your dog is having difficulty to walk, it is very likely that he has knee problems and that he will need knee surgery. If your dog has knee problems it is important to intervene quickly. Knee problems in dogs never disappear on their own and can have serious consequences such as osteoarthritis. The most common reasons for knee surgery in a dog are:
Do you suspect your dog has knee problems? Please contact us. If you wait too long to intervene, there is a good chance the problems will get worse.
For information about our rates or the costs of a specific treatment, you can contact our vet clinic by telephone via 070 - 366 07 01.
Several knee problems can require knee surgery for your dog. It is important that the correct diagnosis is made; always contact us if you suspect that your dog has knee problems. We will take X-rays of the knees and carry out research into the stability of the knee. Based on the results, we will decide what is the best treatment for your dog.
Under the tab 'Knee problems in dogs', you will find an overview of the knee surgeries we perform on dogs.
There are several conditions in the knee that require surgery. It is important that the correct diagnosis is made; therefore always contact us if you suspect that your dog has knee problems. We will take X-rays of the knees and carry out research into the stability of the knee. Based on the results, we will decide what is the best treatment for your dog. Below you will find the most common causes of knee pain in dogs.
In the case of patellaluxation, your dog's kneecap is shot loose from the cartilage trench. The kneecap has an important function in the mechanism of knee bending. If the kneecap is loose, your dog will no longer be able to lean properly on this leg and he will become crippled. The animation below explains how the surgery works.
Knee problems in your dog can be caused by a torn cruciate ligament. This causes instability in the knee, causing the dog to limp. The meniscus or the collateral ligament of the knee can also rupture. It is important to remedy these damages in the knee quickly, in order to prevent osteoarthritis. For more information about a ruptured cruciate ligament in your dog, see our page about ruptured cruciate ligaments.
OCD is a disturbance of the joints in the knee, causing the cartilage to become loose. This disorder mainly occurs in places where there is a lot of bone friction. This can cause damage to the underlying tissue. In the case of OCD, it is often necessary to place a cartilage-bone graft.
Bone fractures in the knee must be treated quickly to prevent further damage to the bone. In many cases, surgery is required to place implants to secure the bone.
Once the diagnosis has been made and the vet has concluded that your dog needs knee surgery, it is important to be prepared for a number of things. We ask you to take the following points into account on the day of the operation:
Before your animal is anaesthetised, the vet will first carry out a physical examination. This will enable the vet to adjust the anaesthetic to the dog's blood values. The animal will then be injected with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers to promote recovery after the operation. Once the vet has established that your dog is physically well, he will place a braunule in the vein to which an intravenous drip can be connected.
After administering the anaesthetic, we will shave, wash and disinfect the area to be operated on. During the operation, your animal's breathing and heart rate will be monitored by means of monitoring equipment. This will also allow us to see if your dog may need extra anaesthesia. After the operation, your animal will be given an injection which will allow him to wake up calmly. As soon as your dog is fully awake, we will call you to pick up your dog.
Despite the fact that an operation is never pleasant, we will do everything we can to make it as pleasant as possible for your dog. Safety and pain management are always our priorities. That's why we always carry out a blood test before we put your dog under anaesthesia and keep an eye on the animal throughout the operation with an ECG device, a respirator and a capnograph. Your dog will also be administered intravenous fluids during the operation to maintain blood pressure and to be able to administer medication immediately in emergencies.
If necessary, you will be given a course of antibiotics and painkillers for your dog after the operation. For the first three days there will be a special bandage around the paw for protection. Use a collar (which you can pick up at the practice) to prevent your dog from licking his stitches. Three days after the operation, you and your dog will come by for a check-up. The vet will then be able to check whether the wound looks neat and tidy. For the first two weeks after the operation you will need to keep your dog on a leash so he doesn't overload his knee. After about two weeks your dog will fully load his paw again. This means that the pain will decrease and the stability will be improved. After about three months the knee will have fully recovered.
For more information about knee surgery in dogs, please contact us on 070 - 366 07 01.
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