Management Plan: Conservative management includes weight reduction, anti-inflammatory drugs, controlled exercise and client education, but is usually not successful if clinical signs are evident. Surgical options include: Recession Sulcoplasty-deepening the trochlear sulcus while preserving the cartilage surface. Trochlear Sulcoplasty-deepening the trochlear sulcus while destroying the cartilage surface. This is a poor choice for large breeds, but small breeds respond well. Recovery time for trochlear sulcoplasty is slightly longer than recession sulcoplasty. After surgery, active limb use is beneficial with trochlear sulcoplasty, but streneous exercise should be limited for 3 to 4 weeks preventing jumping. Because many of these breeds are very active, padded bandage support for 10 to 14 may be useful. Aspirin or phenylbutazone may be useful for 5 to 7 days post surgery. If the dog is not starting to bear weight by 4 weeks, active physiotherapy must be started. Swimming is recommend, but is not always possible. In addition, passive flexion-extension, 20 to 30 times, four times a day may be beneficial. Activities to encourage running, such as ball throwing, are also helpful. Taping a small plastic syringe cap or glass marble between the toes and metatarsal pad of the opposite limb may be useful to encourage weight bearing limb use. Placing the opposite leg in an Ehmer sling for several days may be done as a last resort to force leg use.