Teddy has grade 1 LP and the vet said that 99% of all small dog breeds have LP and jumping does not cause or exacerbate mild instances of LP. Additionally, the vet advised me that whilst they wouldn't recommend letting Teddy jump from stairs or the back of the couch, this was due to his size and not LP which should not get worse as a result of jumping from the couch, for example.
All species, as far as I know, are prone to hereditary health issues both physical and mental and as there are not always known causes then all issues cannot be avoided. There is no guarantee that LP won't be inherited and there is no guarantee that it will be as my understanding is that there is only higher prevalence that is not always as a result of lines but include other factors like breed, size etc.
So, I do understand your frustration but I'm not sure there is a singular answer. But, like you, I wish everyone was a responsible breeder so that instances were few and far between. My parents still think it's okay to buy a dog from a newspaper. Education is so difficult when we try to attempt to teach those unwilling to learn. |