I bought a chocolate labrador in January this year from a "reputable breeder".  This week she has been diagnosed with elblow dysplasia.  This has proved to be most upsetting for my whole family seeing our beloved pet is such pain.

According to my vet this is a result of breeders trying to erradicate hip dysplasia, fair enough I thought until I researched the condition some more.

I have found out that this is an entirely preventable condition by proper breeding practices and good nutrition, by adding vitamin C to the diets of pregnant females and puppies from birth, even when the condition is hereditary.

I wonder how may of these "reputable breeders" are aware of how easily preventable this painful condition is, and how many of them actually use this basic form of preventative treatment.  I pressume not too many as the problem is so common (according to my vet) - I guess it lowers  profit margins for breeders, and reduces the need for expensive insurance and vets fees if this condition is prevented.

I am so very dissappointed in how even "man's best friend" seems to have been exploited by greedy people.

Hi guest,

I am really sorry to hear that your puppy has elbow dysplasia. It is particularly upsetting, because you would have bonded with the puppy already and it can be so painful.

I get a feeling from your post that you are angry and I guess that's understandable, but I am sure that there are very many good reputable breeders that know their lines very well, which is important not to taint all breeders with the same brush.

The problem with popular breeds like labs and goldens, is that I guess there is more breeding of them and as a result more things can go wrong.

I think the best thing for you to do is to speak to your breeder about this. S/he will need to know this and ensure they no longer make that mating and perhaps tell other owners from the same litter (although, perhaps this won't happen). This will ensure that owners have the pups insured in the case of veterinary care.

All the best and try to keep positive - life is hard as it is,
Patty

Hi Im so sorry to hear you have to go through this with your puppy, Patty is corect you have to tell the breeder to make sure s/he is aware of it and can avoide it next time, this may have never happend to the breeder before.

We have just had a litter and one puppy in it had bladder problems with the tubes going into the bladder and things like the bladder was to far back and a loose spincta (sp?) so there was dout the operation would work or not, we done scans and x-rays to find out this then let her go on tuesday, she was 16 weeks, the only reason we didnt sell her was because she was dribbling wee, otherwise she looked as fit and healthy as the others! its just a one of thing we are told its not hireditary..it broke me up, so i do no how you must be feeling at this time just remember when puppys are young things cant always be noticed until they are older.

I no you are blaming the breeder but it cant always be the breeders fault, sometimes the worst things do happen to the good breeders and the ones that mess around get no trouble. Just think how much breeders go through as well, to try there best to breed lovely puppys, fit and healthy, with all the tests needed done on the parents, sometimes it dosent go that way we want it to. Thats just my opinion, i hope i havent come across nasty, if so i dont mean to at all!

Good luck with your puppy,i no its hard but be strong for him/her
Fiona

Hi
very sorry to hear about your puppy.

I do feel though that you are looking for someone to blame, while it may help you feel better it really does not help your poor dog.

I find it surprising that you feel that displacia can be avoided by simply adding vit C to a diet - it cannot, vit c will aid the production of cartilage in growing joints, however it will not prevent displacia in a genetically predisposed dog, it may lessen the symptoms, it may also help to reduce the chances of displacia occuring from environmental factors.  Eg your own animal husbandry may have contributed to the development of this problem in your dog, unsuitable diet, incorrect exercise, slippy floors, bumps and knocks etc etc, so much can cause this horendous problem - not all of it due to breeding. 

It is also worth remembering before you throw yet more stones at your breeder that two dogs with zero elbow scores can produce puppies with displacia, i am sure that your breeder will be as devistated as you are to learn that your puppy has this problem.  Please talk to them about this they may be able to offer much valuable advice.

Sharon