Luxating Patella

Question
Hello,
My dog Charlie who is a little over a year old has been diagnosed with luxating patella. I read an answer you gave to someone who's parents dog had a hind leg that the dog did not walk on and you recommended glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM. In your experience does that help with luxating patella? I am looking into all possibilities to avoid surgery....Thanks, Angie

Answer
Glucosamine/chondroitin is good for bones and joints, particularly in older or very active dogs.

A luxating patella has to do with the ligaments surrounding the patella. For whatever reason, they are not holding the patella in place. Glucosamine/chondroitin wouldn't be much help for that, I expect, but you could give it a try and see.

At a year of age, your dog has a long life ahead of him and at his age, he would recover from this surgery very, very quickly. You really should have it done as soon as you can. He will have a lot more problems with his patella when he gets old if you don't, and I can guarantee that you will regret not having the surgery done when it would have been so much easier on him now.