Re: RE: HD and lateral LP in Berner puppy [1 Attachment]

September 3, 2010

I would radiograph the knees if not already done and also hips to confirm that

he is dysplastic. Is this dog neurologically intact? A dog that has only a

grade 1 MPL and a dysplastic hip typically can walk fairly well. Even dogs with

grade 3 to 4 MPL and dysplastic hips can walk in my experience. I would look

for another cause such as ACL damage or another cause for hind leg dysfunction.

Mark Parchman, DVM, DACVS, CVA, CCRT

HD and lateral LP in Berner puppy

>

> I need some advice from the surgeons on line or anyone who has had

> experience with a case like this. It is a 5 month old Bernese Mtn Dog

> diagnosed with bilateral HD (R side worse) and bilateral lateral

> luxatingpatellas. L patella is a grade 1 and the R side is grade 3

> progressing to a

> grade 4. The surgeons originally suggested surgery at 6 months of

> age (for

> the patella) but now have put the owner off and want to re-evaluate

> at 6

> months and decide. The owners are doing swimming twice weekly,

> daily pROM

> exercises with some very simple and easy strength exercises. The

> dog is

> allowed to walk around the yard at her own pace. There was some

> improvementwith stamina, some muscle development and decreased pain

> until recently but

> has now suffered a setback from unknown causes. The dog needs help

> to get up

> most of the time and more frequently loses control of the R rear leg

> followed by the L rear leg. When I watched her trying to scratch

> her ear the

> other day she had good ROM at the hip but unable to ext/flex her

> stifleenough to actually make contact.

> I feel surgery would benefit her but given her age is that likely

> to cause

> more problems long term?? Any advice would be welcome.

>

> Tracey DVM, CCRT

>

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