Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Genetic link to kneecap dislocation in Toy Poodle puppies
By Maeda, Kazuhiro et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2019·Anicom Insurance, Japan·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Evidence of genetic contribution to patellar luxation in Toy Poodle puppies.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that about 20% of Toy Poodle puppies have patellar luxation (PL), a common knee problem where the kneecap slips out of place. The research showed that this condition is strongly influenced by genetics, especially among puppies from the same litter, where affected puppies had a much higher chance of having siblings with the same issue. This means that if you're considering getting a Toy Poodle, it's important to choose a responsible breeder who screens for this genetic condition to help reduce the risk of PL in future puppies.
People also search for: Toy Poodle patellar luxation symptoms · genetic testing for Toy Poodles · how to prevent knee problems in puppies
Abstract
Patellar luxation (PL) is one of the most common orthopedic disorders in dogs and a genetic factor is considered to play an important role in the development of PL. Genomic analysis has attempted to identify the genetic markers associated with the development of PL but only suggestive markers have been identified. Carefully selecting breeds with higher incidence rates of congenital PL as well as affected dogs with more severe symptoms are required, but such information remains limited to date. This study aimed to assess the genetic contribution to the development of PL in puppies. Using data on PL from 2,048 puppies of the nine common breeds in Japan, the association of PL grades between the limbs, breed, and sex as well as the concordance of PL between littermates were examined. A significant correlation was found between right and left limbs in PL grades in all the puppies (Spearman rank correlation coefficient (r)=0.91, P<0.001) and for each breed (r=0.81-0.93, P<0.001). In total, 20.3% of the puppies were affected. The inter-breed difference in PL prevalence was 2.1-38.1%, and Toy Poodles showed the highest prevalence rates. Littermates of the affected puppies with PL grade ≥2 had a 16.2-fold higher risk (P<0.001). Thus, these results suggest that PL in puppies is primarily influenced by genetics, especially in Toy Poodles. These data highlight the necessity of using a breeding scheme to decrease the prevalence of PL.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30745525/