What Is the Stifle on a Dog?
Reader Question
What is the stifle on my dog
Answer from Our Team
The stifle is a dog's knee: the joint on the back leg where the thigh bone (femur) meets the shin bone (tibia), with the kneecap (patella) at the front. It sits fairly high on the back leg, close to the belly, which is why many people don't recognize it as the knee.
It's held together by the cruciate ligaments inside the joint and cushioned by two pads of cartilage called the menisci.
See dog knee problems for a labeled diagram.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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