Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike1975  Gemy here is a very interesting article for Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease. http://www.akcchf.org/news-events/li...update0110.pdf
Since a recessive gene may be involved, it is impossible to know if a clear dog (with no clinical signs) is a carrier. There is no method for detecting carriers of the disease. Assuming that it is recessive, the presence of even one puppy with LCPD, shows that BOTH parents are carrying the recessive LCPD gene.
So both the sire and the dam should be excluded as carriers. This also shows that the whole litter may carry the recessive gene.
Anyway... Lets hope in our lifetime that there will be a genetic test for LCPD |
I second the hope of a genetic test for LCP in our lifetime. I suspect that it is not just one recessive gene but several genes - which makes it even more difficult to find. And makes it a *crap* shoot to understand who in any puppy litter might be carrying the recessives.
I also wonder if it is actually associated with a boney disorder instead of a failure of the arterial walls to develop normally. This is of course will make a difference on where in the genome researchers target their research. If it is an arterial wall problem why only on the femoral artery supply? Why aren't other arteries affected? Perhaps it is a local blood pressure regulation problem? Just thinking aloud.
I also find it curious that it seems to be limited to small breed dogs - why?
In the same way HD is much more prevalent in larger breed dogs - why?
Mike I don't know if you have PennHIP qualified vets in Greece, but look up PennHip, it is an early diagnostic tool for HD, and many breeders here are going with this method. I have not researched yet if PENNHIP methodology would also catch early signs of LCP but it would be good to find out. You can test as early as 3months old.
Before breeding any YOrkie I believe they all should have offa certifications on hips, this way you do know if you have a breeding dog affected. How-ever LCP should start to show up around 7-8months old but that is no guarantee, as some dogs only exhibit clinical signs at over one year old and older dependent upon the progression of the disease. The clinical signs start off subtly, mild limping etc.
If you do Xrays at around one year old, even if there are no overt clinical signs, there should be evidence of the disease........ This way before you breed at least you know your dog is clear of LCP, but of course that doesn't mean they don't carry the recessive gene(s).