A Vet Answers: Why Dog Knees Are So Important
I wanted to know more about dog knees, so I reached out to a Veterinarian. Dr. Jordan Turner is a practicing veterinarian working with dogs and cats.
“Dogs do have knees, and they’re very similar to human knees. It can be hard to see where a dog’s knees are because the anatomy of their legs is different from a human’s. The main difference is that dogs stand on their tiptoes, and their heelbones are above the floor.”
“To find a dog’s knee, look at their leg from the bottom up. The first main joint is the ankle, with the heel bone pointing backward and upwards. Keep going, and you’ll find the knee, which just like ours points forwards.”
How many knees do dogs have?
Dogs have two knees – both in the back legs. The front legs are considered to have elbows.
An interesting fact is that all four limbs are considered to be legs because they contacted the ground during movement. For humans, our arms don’t generally touch the ground when we walk or run.
If they did, our arms would also be called legs. So a human crawling actually has four legs!
Dogs are lucky that their front limbs are considered legs. Despite having way less muscle than the back legs, the front legs support around 2/3rds of the dog’s body weight. The more muscular jumping back legs get a manageable load of around 1/3rd of the dog’s weight.
The back legs are muscular, though, and have a driving force that can allow jumping and rapid movements.
Steps to Avoid and Treat Dog Osteoarthritis
Obesity or excess weight plays a large role here. Again, it couldn’t be more important to ensure a healthy, nutritional diet! In fact, diabetic dogs are at a higher risk for osteoarthritis, which can arise from a poor diet.
Medically, treatment is designed more to control symptoms, rather than provide a cure. Surgery may be recommended to relieve your dog’s symptoms. Physical therapy is often recommended and can be very beneficial. Your veterinarian may prescribe medications to treat the pain your dog is experiencing.