Answer

Hi there,
I'm assuming that "Maltese knees" mean your pup has luxating patellas, or "trick knees." These are not just seen in Maltese; it is a fairly common problem in most small breeds of dogs. The problem is that the groove where the knee cap slides up and down isn't deep enough and the muscles attached to the kneecap are strong and pull the knee cap (usually) toward the center and out of the groove.

In many of these dogs you would never know they have a luxating patella (or 2). They run, jump, and play with no problems. Sometimes if the kneecap slips out they will kick that leg backward, trying to get it to slip back in. Long-term (years) these knees are more prone to arthritis, but for the most part the dog really doesn't have any problems.

However, for some dogs, the knee cap moving out of joint is painful. These dogs will limp, hold that rear leg up, cry out, or not want to jump. These are the ones which should have surgery. The surgery consists of deepening the groove to hold the kneecap in place more securely. It costs around $700-1000 (depending on the area of the country and the surgeon).

Sometimes the problem isn't with the kneecap itself, but the cruciate ligaments (the tough bands that help stabilize the knee joint) tear. This may also need to be repaired surgically.

So as far as your pup, if she doesn't seem to be too bothered by her knees going out on her (and some owners are able to move and massage the knee cap back into place), then I would just monitor her for any pain. If, however, she is already limping and painful on one or both knees, I would definitely consider surgery. She has a long life ahead of her and the sooner you can correct it, the better off she'll be.

Please let me know if you have other questions (or if "Maltese knee" is something completely different!)
Dr. Scarlett

Expert:	vetlori
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Answered:	12/14/2008

Dog Veterinarian

I am a practicing small animal veterinarian with 13 years experience.