Hypothesis 3

The patient has moderate tartar build-up on her 
teeth.  Through normal masticatory activity, 
bacteria penetrated the oral  mucosa, setting up 
a septicemic condition as the bacteria spread 
hematogenously.

Bacteria infiltrated the right stifle 
joint, causing an infection within the capsule.  
This set up inflammation and  fibrosis of 
the joint with fluid accumulation.  This fluid 
increased joint laxity, allowing 
for patellar  luxation.  Because the right 
stifle joint is so unstable, the dog has been 
trying to  compensate by  using the left leg.  
The overweight dog, placing most of her weight 
on the left  hind leg, caused  stress to the 
stifle joint.  This increased stress led to a 
higher pressure load on the joint, causing pain.

Additionally, an acute trauma roughly seven 
months ago, in which the dog fell off a bed, may 
have played a contributing role in exacerbating 
the initial, bacterially derived, joint 
inflammation.