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Orla first came to The Ralph following a 10-month history of lameness in her right hind leg. Her carers also mentioned that she was sometimes seen “bunny hopping” on that leg – a sign that something wasn’t quite right.

On examination, our orthopaedic surgeon, Pablo, diagnosed her with luxating patellas in both hind limbs, with the right side being more severely affected. Luxating patella is a condition where the kneecap slips out of its normal groove in the thigh bone, causing discomfort and instability.

Pablo recommended surgery to correct the luxating patella in her right hind leg. For her left leg, a more conservative approach involving physiotherapy and hydrotherapy was advised to strengthen the muscles and support the joint naturally.

Orla’s surgery went very well, and her carers soon noticed a gradual improvement in her lameness. At her re-examination, Pablo found that while Orla was still slightly lame on her right hind leg, her radiographs showed that the bones had healed well and the patella was within the groove. However, it appeared she had developed patella desmitis – an inflammation of the ligament that holds the kneecap in place. To address this, Pablo recommended removing the implant used during her initial surgery to stabilise her patella.

Meanwhile, Orla became a regular with our Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation team, attending weekly hydrotherapy sessions.  Hydrotherapy is fantastic for strengthening the muscles around the stifle (knee) joint, particularly after surgery when these muscles can weaken. The buoyancy of the water also makes movement easier and less painful, improving joint range of motion and overall strength.

Orla has been an absolute superstar during her sessions – always very excited to see our Hydrotherapist, Melissa!

Twelve weeks after her initial surgery, Orla returned to have the implant removed. She was discharged the following day with instructions for two weeks of restricted activity, after which she could gradually return to her normal exercise routine.

Orla returned to hydrotherapy four weeks after her surgery with noticeable progress. Her range of motion had significantly improved, and she was very happy to be back on the treadmill. The swelling in her stifle had also decreased following the removal of the surgical implant!

We’re thrilled with how far Orla has come and can’t wait to see her continue to go from strength to strength!

💬 “We have felt very supported by the whole team at The Ralph. As soon as you walk into the building, the staff from reception, admin, finance, through to surgery and physio, plus all the care assistants, have been wonderful. I would recommend The Ralph to anyone” – Orla’s Carers 💙

Thanks for learning about Orla’s story. For regular team and patient wholesomeness, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Take care!

Team Ralph 🐾