Patellar luxation: palpation of the kneecap
Description
For patellar luxation (PT), the breeding programmes approved by DWV use palpation of the kneecap as the examination. It assesses whether the kneecap (patella) can be moved out of its normal position. The breed profile shows whether this examination is mandatory or recommended for the breed.
How the examination is carried out
Age: at least 1 year. Frequency: once.
How to read the result
The result is a grade from 0 to 4. Grade 0: no luxation. Grade 1: the patella can be luxated by hand, but returns to its normal position when released. Grade 2: the patella luxates when the knee is flexed or manipulated by hand and only returns after the knee is extended or the patella is put back by hand. Grade 3: the patella is permanently luxated and can be put back by hand, but luxates again spontaneously. Grade 4: the patella is permanently luxated and cannot be put back by hand. The grade of the most affected knee counts as the final grade. In most breeding programmes the breeding advice is positive for 0 with 0, 0 with 1, 0 with 2 and 1 with 1, conditionally positive for 1 with 2 and 2 with 2, and the other combinations are subject to a breeding ban.
Breeds for which this screening is recommended
We are rebuilding the health information for each breed from the official breeding programme of Dierenwelzijn Vlaanderen (Animal Welfare Flanders). Until then, you can find the mandatory and recommended health tests for this breed in the breeding programmes under the Flemish Breeding Decree (Fokkerijbesluit). View the official breeding programmes
