need a bit of help

So i have been noticing for a while that sometimes when mimi walks she doesnt always bend her back legs, she does when she is running and jumping and when we go out for walks but today i was just watching her playing with her toys and i notice she has a little bit of a wobble at the back 'knee' area, i ran to tell my mom to see if i was just imagining it but then mimi realised she was getting more attention so just sat down and waited for a treat lol, but i am a little bit worried now about this wobble, i know there are some problems they can have with their 'knees' but i suppose i just dont know what to think until i can get her into the vets. Has anyone seen this before and if it has happened to you is it something i should be worried about?? I just think because her legs are so skinny that i can see it more than if she had bigger legs maybe. Please help.

Sounds like luxating patellas to me. My cav, Bella, was diagnosed with bilateral luxating patellas at age 16 months. She looked like a bunny when she ran! Its called the "bunny hop", and most dogs with LP do it! Its uncomfortable for them to bend their legs, because the kneecap pops out of place. When she sat, she would keep her legs stretched out straight. We had surgery done 2 yrs ago and it was the best thing we have ever done for her! She is completely normal now, and can run and jump like crazy without pain!
They grade the luxation, depending on the serverity. Both of Bella's knees were grade 4/5, which means severe. I recommend a vet visit. If left untreated, eventually arthritis will set in, and be even more painful. Good luck!

thank you, i think if she does have lp then i may have caught it early because even though she does do her bunny hop she can still run normally and she sits normally too. I havnt heard her cry when getting off the furnature or anything but i have had her booked into the vets tomorrow morning just to get her checked out, i am just a little shocked that she may have a problem at just 10 months old.

That's actually the most common age at which it is diagnosed -- usually between 4-5 months and a year as the knee develops. Well spotted and good to have it checked and assessed to see whether it will need surgery. There are lots and lots of threads on patellas and the surgery if you search the board and also some information in the health library.

Generally you will want to really restrict her activity, no running up and down stairs, jumping on/off furniture, limited running. Sometimes if you restrict activity the knee will settle and heal without needing surgery -- but also if it does need surgery the regime will be quite restrictive. That can be really challenging with young dogs as they so often are when diagnosed -- the hardest time to keep a puppy calm! -- so reading some of the old threads will give you lots of info and ideas and support if this is the diagnosis.

Let us know what the vet says.

My Ebony just had surgery for Luxating Patella. Hers was a grade 3, so already advanced. She also has it on her other leg but only grade 1. She is doing great 5 weeks after surgery and she has started Physio. When I took her to the Physiotherapist for the first time he told me that she has lost 50% of her muscle. He gave me exercises to do but very important is to do heel walking. After just two weeks of 5 minutes three times a day heel walking she has improved a lot especially on the other leg that is a grade one, he explained that it is important to tighten up the muscles on that leg as well as this will help the other leg not to get any worse.

Very important, look for a good orthopaedic surgeon. My vet was going to do it first but i am glad i looked for someone that specialises in this operation.

we had the vets appointment today and they have refered mimi to the ortho for next friday for a consult and xrays, but the vet says she definatly has lp in her right leg and she was unsure about the left but if she has then it is only very minor, but she said it was obvious when she felt her right leg what was wrong. I will keep you all updated.