Re: [PyrNet-L] Care, Health: Luxated patella/Growth

[Stephanie W <srwhitney@earthlink.net>]

Hi!

We had a Newfie years ago with such severely luxating patellas that at 12
weeks she could not run a few steps without falling down & had to have surgery
by six months old.  There was no way you could miss the proble.  A friend of
mine has a Wolfhound who was dignosed with luxated patellas at about 8 months
because my friend noticed an occasional limp when she played hard.  She took
her to a specialist who diagnosed the problem and explained that luxated
patellas are classified as "degree" 1 through 5.  Her puppy was a 3, being the
lowest level that they would perform surgery on.  He said that they can just
live with lesser degrees without requiring surgery.

I just wanted to point out that this is not a "you have it and require
surgery" or "you don't have it and you're fine" kind of thing.

Stephanie (don't remember if I said that I've resubscribed after a long
absence and am now hoping for my first Pyr)