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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.

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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.

Patella luxation (loose kneecap)

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.

Torn cruciate ligament

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.

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD)

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 fracture

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:

• It is necessary for your dog to be entirely sober. This means that he must not eat anything for at least 12 hours before the operation. This is to prevent him from vomiting during the operation, which can be very dangerous. However, you may allow your dog to drink water before the operation.
• Make sure your dog has been treated against worms and fleas.
• Let your dog out well before you bring him, but don't exercise him too much.
• Make sure your dog wears a well-fitting collar and bring a sturdy leash with him.
• Leave your telephone number with us so that we can always reach you.
• If your dog shows abnormal behaviour on the day of operation - such as vomiting, diarrhoea or drinking a lot - please report this to the vet nurse.

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.

Safety during dog operations

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.