Hi everyone.

Does anyone have experience of cockers with slipping knee caps?  2 years ago, my working cocker was found to have slipping knee caps, and until now it has never caused her any problems.  She is a very active little dog and loves to run around, but on a couple of occassions now one of her knees has slipped and caused her to yelp.  We have noticed that she has lost muscle on her back legs, so I'm working hard on building it up again.  I know every dog is difference, but I was wondering if anyone who has had dogs with this problem can the dog still lead an active life?  Maisie was due to compete at Crufts in agility - looking slightly doubtful now :-( 

Thanks Claire and Maisie

Joint problems are becoming more common in spaniels more so springers and is quite worrying! I have cared for a number of them having anything from exploding elbows to having no ball sockets!! One only has to speak to the orthapedic surgeons who specialise in this subject to see there surgerys are busy with spaniels :-(

I meant to add, im sorry your having problems but if it were me  Id want reffered to a specialist and have surgery to fix it xx

Hi,

Thanks for your speedy reply.  There is an orthapedic specialist at the vet surgery I take my dogs to, so will get her booked in to see him.  The other vets just tell me to keep her well muscled, but her knees have definitely got worse this winter.

 I have heard of this before in Working Cockers, I wonder just how prevalent it is??  One of mine bunny hops occasionally  but  she had a physical examination by my vet and appears to be OK.  Is it something which needs to be checked by x-ray / scans or whatever to be sure or is a physical exam sufficient?

I have also heard of it in one other working cocker, and to top it off Maisie also has a grade 2 heart murmur.  Slipping knee caps can be diagnosed without x-rays as the vet can feel/manipulate the knee out of position, and I first noticed it when she was trotting out in the garden that she would miss a step with one of her back legs.  She has never really bunny hopped, but I thought bunny hopping was more related to hips?  I am now going to take Maisie swimming to see if that helps her knees by building up stronger muscles, as she is quite weak in her legs. 

Hips are good, for a Cocker, 5/6. I think maybe I didn't describe it very well, more of an occasional dot and carry  favouring a back leg, sorry to mislead you!

i have a young bitch who has this problem.She is waiting to go for an operation, the vet says it is pretty straight forward. I put it down to an injury when she was a pup, she is also the only one out of the litter with this problem . She is expected to make a full recovery and be out beating next season .

Hi Bigwull,

Sorry to hear that your cocker has this problem also.  I would appreciate any update of your spaniel after the operation.  My spaniel has already got alittle arthritis in her joints, but having stepped up her exercise she is actually more mobile now and getting back to her normal active self.  Good Luck with your spaniel

Sorry to hear about your problem Rattym.
I have my self personal experieced it with my earlier WC. She had this problem, along with time alot of other problems, and sadly I had to put her to sleep. I have now a new WC, how is in her early age starts to show symtoms of something similar, but the patella is orthopaedic check OK, by one of the top orthopaedics here in my country. Still she is not 100 and she have started to loose muscles on here right leg ony 11 months old..
I am going back the 21, for another recheck to see what is causing this pain in here.

Good luck and I hope she will be ok

Hi Bosse,

Thanks for your reply, I'm saddened to read about your first cocker who had this problem and now possibly another cocker of yours with it.  If it is confirmed that your cocker does have luxating patellas (but doesn't require surgery) I have actually found an American article on the internet which has exercise suggestions on to help strengthen a dogs back legs specifically for dogs with luxating patella's - which I'm more than happy to pass on to you.  Good luck with your spaniel and fingers crossed she will be ok. 

Thanks, No it is not confirmed, actually for my new girl nothing is confirmed yet.

The orthopaedic has suspected OCD and other knee problems from time to time since october when we first was there. But she is/have also been truobled with panosteit. But she have now pain in her right knee-joint again so  the panosteit is not the hole truth.
Just got a call from the vet, and I have got a apointment already now on monday, and hope to get some answers then. Sadly I can just realise when have had now 2 WC with knee-problems and have talked with alot of people about it that the problem is bigger then it is offical in the breed. I really hope that more attention will be taken to this problem and that owners, breeders and everybody else that have interest in this lovely dogs try to find out the more.

I got a time before my appointment the 21st, and was back with my girl 2 days ago already.
The orthopaedic examined her again and they took several new x-rays of knees, femur bones and hips. he palpated the backlegs, both avake and sedated. The result was that there is nothing showing any faults on the knee it self. 

She is affected of some kind of inflammation on the femur bones, but not panosteitis since it have got worse and not better.

I am glad there was nothing wrong on the knee, especially since my last dog had so much problems with that, and now hope that the new drugs and muscle relaxing medicine together with strict rehab for 4-6 weeks shall help her.

Hi,

my "big" mixbreed Baja from spain had the same problem. (and its very unusual for such a dog)

she had the problem on both sides, but one was worse. we decided to operate the left side first, and see how it is after the surgery.

She had her surgery at about 12 months and another a few month later to take out the metal.
Baja is now 5.5 years old and never had some problems with her (both) knees again. she even makes agility in highest level in switzerland!

i hope your maisie will be healthy soon.

bye priska

Hi Bosse - Glad to hear your dog doesn't have luxating patella's - I hope she gets back to normal as soon as possible.

Hi Priska - thanks for your reply, and it was good to hear that surgery was a success for your dog.  Although I have been taking Maisie swimming which has definitely helped her I have now booked her in with a specialist to see if surgery could be an option for Maisie.  Otherwise I feel that this will only get worse for her and I don't want that.  If Maisie does have surgery I might contact you for aftercare advice - if that is ok?

Thanks

Hi,

I am a Canine Hydrotherapist and have seen a lot of this in smaller breeds. Hydrotherapy is an excellent non invasive treatment and once rehabilitated can prevent the need for surgery. If you are looking for a therapist in your area you can try the NARCH site, which will also give you more info.

Hope this helps. Jane

My OH got a ESS pup in December (after many arguments about testing etc he wanted a specific type and had very limited choice) from a KC acredited breeder.

She nearly died when we got her with colitus we had to completely re wean now at the age of 5 months has been diagnosed with luxating patellas on both legs. The leg just pops out with little or no manipulation and the right will with some.

Tatty is off to see the ortho on Monday but my vet is adamant that it is a heridatary condiiton and I have to now contact the breeder.

So you have my heart felt sympathy as it looks like Tat will have to have both legs done and be spayed at the same time.

I am gutted as she is such a lovely pup and I just want her to be fit and well.

The very best of luck let me know how you get on.