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Dog hip dysplasia and dislocated kneecap: What are my options?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Yorkshire Terrier | Male | unneutered | 3 months and 13 days old | 4.2 lbs

He is suffering from hip Dysplasia and his knee cap is out of his groove

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

Published on August 2nd, 2018

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Hip dysplasia is an orthopedic condition that sometimes require surgery though some cases can be managed with medical therapy and physical therapy. In most cases though, surgery is needed at some point. With the knee issue, you may be referring to patellar luxation which also most of the time requires surgery when it is severe enough though comfort can be improved with pain control and anti-inflammatory medications. I recommend that you have Coco evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!

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    Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on November 30th, 2018

    Luxating patella is very common in small breed dogs. It can cause arthritis, and there is a surgery to address it if your vet tings Doudou is a good candidate. https://www.petcoach.co/article/luxating-patella/ As for the dislocated hip, he needs to surgery to replace it or to have the ball of the femur amputated (called a femoral head ostectomy - FHO). It sounds drastic, but is a very common surgery. The muscles of the hip/but will keep the joint in place, and, once healed, he should look completely normal when walking. You should discuss all available options with your vet, since the best one depends on the individual pet and their medical history. https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-most-common-orthopedic-injuries-in-dogs/

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