PET OF THE MONTH – August 2026!
Pet of the month for August goes to this gorgeous girl, River!
River came to visit us after her owners noticed she was experiencing lameness in her hind legs. Dr Hali examined River and found that she had a luxating patella, meaning her kneecap was moving out of its normal position within the groove of the knee.
Luxating patellas are relatively common in dogs and can range from mild cases that are managed conservatively through to cases that require surgery. When the kneecap repeatedly slips out of position, it can cause pain, lameness and, over time, contribute to arthritis and other changes within the knee joint.
Due to River’s symptoms and the severity of her luxating patella, she was booked in to come back to the clinic for further investigation. River was placed under a general anaesthetic so we could take detailed X-rays of her hind legs and properly assess her knees.
Once the X-rays were completed, River then went through to surgery for her patella repair. The aim of the procedure is to help keep the kneecap securely in its correct position and improve the stability and function of the knee.
Everything went well for this beautiful girl, and River recovered from her anaesthetic smoothly.
River has been such a brave girl throughout her treatment, and we are so pleased to be able to help get her back on all four paws!
A big thank you to River’s wonderful family for recognising that something wasn’t quite right and getting her the treatment she needed.
Well done, River — you are a very deserving Pet of the Month!