I have recently suffered the distress of breeding a litter where 3 of the bitches have LPs. They haven't stopped growing yet and are improving with physio, but I am trying to understand how this happened. Both the bitch and the stud dog were tested and scored 0. I was hoping to breed from one of the bitches, but obviously I can't now. But I was wondering whether it was safe to breed from one of the bitches from a previous mating. Is there any proof that LPs are genetic and, if so, does it have to be in both the bitches and dogs lines for it to come out?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1524842/

Note the start of the second paragraph.   I'm assuming you are talking about the hereditary aspect.   PL can be examined and if there, confirmed.

Another link - again note the paragraph titled Cause....

https://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/orthopaedic/patellar-luxation/

There certinly is a standard vet grading system and is used bby OFA in USA as a bitch I sent to USA had hers certified (her owner liked to do the lot, hips ebows and patellas) https://www.ofa.org/diseases/other-diseases/patellar-luxation

I am surprised the BVA and KC don't run an official scheme, seems quite a simple test.

You would think so, wouldn't you? The BVA has runs testing schemes for hips and elbows but nothing for patellas, unfortunately.

Thanks for those links....neither of them point to a reliable test available in the UK unfortunately.

would think it is international grading like with elbows.

I had one who, after falling down a flight of outside stairs, went lame.   She was found to have injured her patella and was booked in for surgery.  However, on the day I took her in, the vet checked again and decided that surgery wasn't needed after all (amazing given he tended to be money-hungry).  I thought with patellas it had to be treated if/when there was a problem, not before (test?).

You can have xrays taken and sent to the OFA for scoring. They will accept overseas dogs not registered with the AKC or CKC

Yep, I am treating the patella issue with physio and is definitely improving. Just wanting to know, from a breeding perspective, how these things can be best avoided ie. reliable testing methods.

Thank you - that's interesting....didn't know patellas showed up on xray. Will look into it.

Just to add the one who fell down the steps was my foundation bitch and back of every one of my subsequent hounds.   I never had a pat.luxation problems in any of them.   I think I'd have heard from the owners of those we sold.

http://www.theveterinaryexpert.com/bones-and-joints/patellar-luxation-in-dogs/

Helpful?

When I planned to breed on from my FCR I was going to do a PL test, there are a few specialists in the UK (don't ask me names as they are long forgotten); but I got warned off doing it, as it can damage the joint if done incorrectly, apparently.  There is no official scheme but I think some breed specific databases run by individuals hold information on it.