Luxating Patellas - You should know! (Video)

[Kristi]

I hesitate to post this because I don't want to start an argument but I think it needs to be brought to light!

For those who think LP is entirely visual...and a "terrible thing for a dog to endure"...

You should be aware...dogs can run around perfectly fine with it with NO visual signs, and that is why testing is a MUST! Breeders need to be aware of this too! I did a survey and over half of breeders ONLY test if they think there may be a problem!

Here is Ivy, with grade 3 in both rear legs,...if I hadn't told you, you would NOT have known...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nre94GRVqBA

I showed this video to a judge this weekend and asked what he thought of her rear movement and he said that it was "good, not lacking drive"...so I said "do you think its a bit stiff?" and he said "no, I don't see anything to be concerned with there.". So...?? Then I told him she has grade 3 lp and he was SHOCKED. Another person I showed the video said she has better rear movement than many of the dogs she sees in the ring.

TESTING IS A MUST....Luxating patellas are not always visual, or painful or troublesome for the dog. In fact, many dogs live their entire lives with it with their owners never knowing.

[Paula]

Excellent post, Kristi. It's really important that people understand that just because a dog has LP it does NOT mean it's in pain or can't use their limbs properly. It really is entirely an individual thing. It bothers me to hear people think that LP means automatic surgery. It is a hard surgery, as we know, and I really don't think it's always necessary.

As most of you know Pip has LP in both back legs and they pop out quite easily, but he is totally fine. He skips once in awhile, but that's it. I would not touch his legs, in fact I think it's even possible surgery can sometimes make things worse.

To touch upon something else that bothers me. You will often have people say surgery will prevent arthritis. That is not entirely true. We have to realize that once you open the leg up and do surgery on it, it's also very possible down the road the trauma from the surgery can cause arthritis as well. That is why everything must be weighed.

If a dog is using their limb fine, I personally think it is almost always best to leave it alone. Just my opinion.

[Sarah]

Ah fab post Kristi!!!! She does look stiff to me but it maybe coz I know?

[Kristi]

I think its cuz you know and are looking Sarah - b'c to me she's always moved like that and her knees were deffo in when I 1st bought her. Smooths do look different when they move compared to longs b'c there isn't the fur gliding along haha.

I just think it is incredibly important to be checking for this problem because to me Ivy is a perfect example of a dog that could have EASILY been a part of a breeding program if someone was not actively checking breeding stock.

[Sarah]

I sticky it

She moves different to mine. Leilani may as well be a smooth ATM lol so I suppose I care to her it prob doesn't help that I know she's got lp I agree.

[Chloe]

from the side view u can def tell her movement isnt right

[Kristi]

Well shes not in a full gait, cuz we are just going about the kitchen, she is always so hyper and at full speed outside though that I can never get a good video, so that could be it too, she is just going the speed we are going, but either way I don't care for her front movement its just off and you need both rear and front to compliment to get a visually appealing movement I think the general thing is to me she uses her legs perfectly fine.

[Kristi]

Sept 11, 2011 17:16:56 GMT Chloe said:

from the side view u can def tell her movement isnt right

We are not talking about quality of movement necessarily here, but rather the fact that she moves perfectly fine with no indication of pain. What makes her movement look off is the front, IMO, not the rear. But many people do not even understand movement anyway, especially if they are just breeding for pets.

She has no reach. Plenty of drive. Unfortunately I can't just video her rear lol!