What causes a popping sound in my dog's back leg when he walks?

I wonder if Pom Pom might have luxating patellas, which is an inherited problem that causes the kneecap to pop in and out of place. Sometimes a click could come from the hips as well. Even though she doesn’t seem painful it would be best to have your vet examine her - sometimes there are therapies that would be helpful to prevent problems like arthritis later.

Small breed dogs like Shih Tzus are prone to having luxating patellas, and this may be what you are seeing. They can range from only coming out of place with manual pressure all the way up to slipping out of place and locking up the knee. Depending on the severity of this issue, the vet may recommend just monitoring at home or surgery. Of course, there could be something else going on with the leg, and I am sure your vet will get to the bottom of it! Here is some more information on luxating patellas: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2448

I would definitely recommend taking him to your veterinarian for an exam. An abnormal gait and 'popping' could be a sign of hip dysplasia causing subluxation of the hip joint. Luxating patellas, or kneecaps that pop in and out of the joint would be another possibility. You have a few more options for treatment if these joint problems are caught early, so I'd recommend making an appointment soon.

What you're describing sounds like a condition called a luxating patella. This is when the knee cap slides in and out of its groove. This condition overtime can lead to arthritis and potential he predispose a dog to tearing a ligament in the knee. Your veterinarian maybe to do an orthopedic exam and tell you if this is the case.

Hi there. From what you describe, it certainly sounds like she may have a luxating patella. This is a common problem in toy breed dogs. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam to determine if this is the problem. If so, it may be able to be managed with anti-inflammatory medication if it's only causing minor, occasional problems, or surgery may be recommended if the problem is more severe.

Yorkies and other small breeds, can commonly have genetic problems such as luxating patella (knee cap) or lack of blood supply to the hip. It can move in and out of place depending on how bad it is. Sometimes there is a popping noise and they will often bunny hop when running. I would have your vet check the leg to be sure what the problem is as these can require a surgery to prevent further injuries and pain

I recommend to have Zeus examined today. Shifting leg lameness can indicate a few conditions like Lyme disease, panosteitis or an autoimmune condition. These conditions are all very painful and need to be addressed. I hope he starts feeling better quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.