If you’ve been thinking about bringing home a toy breed, you may have already heard of Legg-Perthes Disease in dogs. Before you decide to abandon your dream of owning an adorable little pup, through, you should arm yourself with knowledge. Learning about this disease may ease your fears and prepare you for the possibility of your dog developing this condition. The more you know, the more empowered you’ll feel as a toy breed Dog Owner!
Legg-Perthes Disease basics
Legg-Perthes Disease in dogs is a medical condition in which one of the back femurs degenerates in the hip socket. While the effects are concerning and severe, proper care can lead to full recovery. In fact, as long as the degeneration is caught early and the dog is able to undergo surgery, dogs suffering from this disease typically go on to live happy, healthy lives without impairment.
Legg-Perthes Disease in dogs tends to stick to toy breeds less than a year old. Nevertheless, it’s important for everyone who will be around dogs to be able to identify the signs of this condition. After all, this condition can show up in rare cases in other dogs, as well.
Read on to learn more about what Legg-Perthes Disease is, how to detect it, and what you can do if your pup develops the disease!
What is Legg-Perthes Disease in dogs?
Legg-Perthes Disease is sometimes called Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, aseptic necrosis of the femoral head, or avascular necrosis of the femoral head. While our focus is on dogs, it can also manifest in humans. With this condition, the head of the femur (that round part at the top of the bone that fits into the hip joint) doesn’t receive the necessary blood supply to stay healthy and strong. With the interrupted blood flow, the bone tissue starts to wear away, affecting the protective cartilage between the bones in the hip socket.
Remember that Legg-Perthes Disease is separate from Hip Dysplasia, which tends to present in older dogs and large breeds.
As you can guess, this is a very painful process which only becomes more uncomfortable over time. Dogs suffering from Legg-Perthes Disease will tend to favour that leg and eventually stop using it completely. The lack of use can cause muscular atrophy and deformation of the leg.
What are the symptoms?
Long before a dog goes into full lameness and muscular atrophy, there are signs to look out for that will signal Legg-Perthes Disease. Especially if you’re bringing home a new puppy or will be helping to take care for a young toy breed, keep an eye out for these symptoms:
- Sensitivity in one back leg. A dog may yip or whimper when they put pressure on this hip or constantly try to shift weight over to the other side of the body.
- Obsessive grooming of the affected leg. Dogs with Legg-Perthes Disease will often lick or chew the painful area. Constant licking can sometimes be linked to other health concerns that you can read about in our article, Why Is My Dog Constantly Licking Its Paws?
- Changes in mood as the result of chronic pain, from aloofness to aggression. Dogs with this disease may lash out when you try to manipulate the affected leg.
- Abnormal movement in the hip joint. You’ll be able to tell that the leg doesn’t have a smooth range of motion upon manipulation. There are also frequently popping noises or a grating sound.
If you notice any of these signs in any dog, regardless of age or breed, make sure to get them to a veterinarian right away. The best results, and least amount of suffering for the dog, comes from early treatment.
Which dogs are most affected?
As there have been rare cases in which Legg-Perthes Disease in dogs have stemmed from injury or trauma to the leg, it shouldn’t be discounted from any dog breed. However, the vast majority of cases are genetic, and there’s pretty clear data about who is most likely to be affected.
In particular, small toy breeds are most at risk. And, it’s most common to see the disease manifest within the first year of life. Any time after about 2 months old, when dogs start bearing weight on their legs, Legg-Perthes Disease can develop. Most cases are caught around 10 months of age.
In a 2009 study, veterinarians in Brazil found that the breeds most prone to develop Legg-Perthes Disease included the Miniature Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, and Miniature Pinscher. These four breeds accounted for 82% of the 46 cases included in the study.
What can be done about Legg-Perthes Disease in dogs?
Fortunately, when detected and surgically corrected early, Legg-Perthes Disease will not have lasting effects on a dog. That said, your pup will need to undergo physical therapy, especially if there has been any amount of muscular atrophy, to build strength back into the leg.
There are no treatments as effective as surgery for Legg-Perthes Disease in dogs. Pain medication and rest will not reverse the degeneration, although it may be appropriate for dogs that cannot undergo surgery.
As this is a genetic disease, there aren’t too many precautions that you can take to prevent it. Just make sure to check in regularly with your vet and share any observations about your young pup.
When leaving your pup with a dedicated Pet Sitter, make sure they know about Legg-Perthes Disease in dogs. With the help of your dog-loving community, you can feel confident that your doggo won’t suffer from this disease!
