I had the misfortune of purchasing an adult female Pomeranian from a Pomeranian breeder in Ohio who misrepresented her to me . It turned out that among other things she had bad knees .
That sent me on a quest to see if I could avoid that sort of thing from happening again .
Below is everything needed to make sure that any dog purchased in the future will be OFA Certified
Below is a Preliminary Evaluation Report Form Sample
Below is a Patellar Luxation Report Form sample
http://offa.org/pdf/plapp_bw.pdf
I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING ALL MY POMERANINS O.F.A. CERTIFIED
AND MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE MY PUPPIES O.F.A. CERTIFIED
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PATELLAR LUXATION DIAGNOSIS
Examination and Certification
The dog is examined awake (chemical restraint is not recommended) and classified by the attending veterinarian according to the application and general information instructions. The veterinarian then completes the application form indicating the the results of the dog's patella evaluation.
The application and fee can then be mailed to OFA. The attending veterinarian and owner is encouraged to submit all evaluations, whether normal or abnormal, for the purpose of completeness of data. There is no OFA fee for entering an abnormal evaluation of the patella in the data bank.
A breed database number will be issued to all dogs found to be normal at 12 months of age or older. The breed database number will contain the age at evaluation and it is recommended that dogs be periodically reexamined as some luxations will not be evident until later in life.
Preliminary Evaluations
Evaluation of dogs under 12 months of age is encouraged if the owner desires to breed at this age. The most opportune time to gather breeding data is at 6-8 weeks of age prior to the puppy's release to the new owner.
OFA FEE SCHEDULE
| Test Type | Age | Fee | Litter Rate | Kennel Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip dysplasia | > 24 mo | $35 | $90 | $15 ea |
| Elbow Dysplasia | > 24 mo | $35 | $90 | $15 ea |
| Hips + Elbows together | > 24 mo | $40 | $90 | $15 ea |
| Hip Prelims | 4- < 24 mo | $30 | $60 | $15 ea |
| Elbow Prelims | 4- < 24 mo | $30 | $60 | $15 ea |
| Hip + Elbow Prelims together | 4-24 mo | $35 | $60 | $15 ea |
| Hip/Elbow Follow-ups | > 24 mo | $15 | — | — |
| Legg-Calve-Perthes** | > 12 mo | $25 | $45 | $15 ea |
| Shoulder OCD | > 12 mo | $25 | $45 | $15 ea |
| Shoulder OCD + Hips &/or Elbows together | > 12 mo | $5 extra | No additional fee | No additional fee |
| Thyroid* | > 12 mo | $15 | $30 | $7.50 ea |
| Cardiac* | > 12 mo | $15 | $30 | $7.50 ea |
| DNA Registration fee (any)* | any | $15 | $30 | $7.50 ea |
| Patellar Luxation* | > 12 mo | $15 | $30 | $7.50 ea |
| Deafness* (Dalmatians see note below) | any | $15 | $30 | $7.50 ea |
| Sebaceous Adenitis*** | > 12 mo | $15 | $30 | $7.50 ea |
Litter Rates = 3 or more members of the same litter, submitted together
Kennel Rates = a group of 5 or more individuals, owned/co-owned by the same person, submitted together
* = Equivocal and Affected dogs no charge. Resubmit studies no charge
** = Evaluation fees for dogs determined by the OFA to be affected will be refunded. If the dog has an existing hip dysplasia certification, a Legg-Calve-Perthes certification is at no charge upon the submission of the Legg-Calve-Perthes from Hip Dysplasia Number form.
***The OFA does not charge a fee to enter abnormal SA results (the fee is refunded to the owner), or to enter resubmit results on previously tested clear or equivocal dogs. A number of owners have assumed that the OFA policy not to charge on resubmits applies to the labs as well. This is not the case. Please note, the laboratories/dermapathologists charge a fee every time they process a new sample. Please consult the lab prior to submission for their current fees.
Deafness note: The OFA will continue to register BAER Hearing Test Results for whole Dalmatian litters at no charge until further notice. The fees are being underwritten through a generous grant from the Dalmatian Club of America Foundation.
CANADIAN/FOREIGN FUNDS POLICY
Due to the increased bank processing charges imposed when cashing checks drawn on foreign financial institutions, the OFA charges an additional $10.00 fee for all payments drawn on a foreign bank. To avoid the additional charge when submitting applications from outside the U.S., please use one of the following methods of payment:
- Use checks or money orders drawn on US financial institutions.
- Use postal money orders.
- Use Visa or Mastercard. Please provide us with the credit card number, the expiration date, and the name as it appears on the card.
Patellar luxation
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When the patella slips out and goes to the inside of the leg, this is called "medial patellar luxation". This type of luxation is more common in the smaller breeds of dogs such as, toys and miniatures. In some dogs it may be seen in puppies as they begin to walk. In other breeds it may not be seen until later in life. Pugs will tend to have this particular type of luxation. A dog with luxating patellas may have a gait which is sometimes normal and sometimes abnormal, since the patella may slip in and out of place. When it is out of place, the affected leg is usually carried with the joint bent and the foot turned inward. 25% of cases are seen in both legs. If the patella slips out and goes to the outside of the leg, this is called "lateral patellar luxation" and is more common in large or giant breeds of dogs such as the Saint Bernard, Rottweilers, and German Shepards and is usually seen at between 5 and 6 months of age. It can be observed as a "knock-kneed" type of stance. The foot often twists outward as weight is placed on the limb. Both knees are almost always involved.
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| Diagnosis of luxation is made by attempting to push the patella out of the trochlear groove. The degree of luxation is graded between 1 and 4, depending on how easy it is to dislocate the patella and whether or not the patella returns spontaneously to the trochlear groove. The table below shows the grades of severity and the definition for each grade. | |
Grade I | Patella can be manually luxated, but patella returns to position when pressure is released. |
Grade II | Patella can be manually luxated or can spontaneously move to the side when the joint is flexed; patella remains luxated until it is manually reduced or the joint is extended and the leg rotated in the opposite direction of the luxation. |
| * Grades I and II - Dogs with these grades, intermittently carry their affected limb with the joint flexed. | |
Grade III | Patella remains luxated most of the time, but can be manually reduced with the joint extended; flexion and extension of the joint results in reluxation of the patella. |
Grade IV | Patella is permanently luxated and cannot be manually repositioned. The trochlear groove is either too shallow or is missing all together. |
| * Grades III and IV crouching, bowlegged, or knock-kneed stances are seen for either medial or lateral luxations. Most of the weight is transferred to the front limbs. Screening and Treatment: Post-op Care: This usually includes limiting exercise (especially preventing jumping) for 4 weeks and then gradually increasing active use of the affected limb. | |
This was an excerpt from the book, "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" 3rd Edition by James M. Giffin MD & Liisa D. Carlson, DVM with additional notes taken from "The 5 Minute Veterinary Consult" 2nd Edition by Larry P. Tilley and Francis W. K. Smith, Jr. | |
Patellar luxation can be seen in all breeds of dogs.
(1) Dislocation of the kneecap, mode of inheritance is unclear, thought to be polyenic (controlled by several genes), breeds affected; Pomeranian, Yorkshire Tenier, CKCS, Chihuahua, Poodle, Boston Tenier, Chow, Flug, and small breeds. This condition is fairiy common in some breeds.
(2) The patella is the kneecap and in dogs it can be luxated or dislocated causing lameness. It can be intermittent or recurrent and is characterised by a dog that is normal one ininate and carries its hind limb the next. No pain is felt and the dog will usually tolerate palpation of the limb but lameness is obvious if the dog is asked to use the limb. In most cases the dislocation is medial (that is turning inwards towards the centre) and in only a few instances is lateral (turning outwards). This is shown by a survey of 169 dogs reported by Endres (1977) in which 143 had medial luxation, 21 lateral and 5 had both. The patella can be manipulated into place but will usually be dislocated again and in this case will led to persistent lameness and abnormal movement. It seems that the primary &etiology is due to a shallowness or total absence of the trochlea (femoral groove). This causes the patella to slip sideways to he temporarily or permanently dislocated.
Priester (1972) has studied the sex, size and breed incidence of this problem in a population of 69,245 patients at an animal clinic of which 542 had patellae lexation. There appeared to be 1.5 times more problfms in females than mmales and small breeds (under 9kg adult weight) had some 12 times greater chance of the problem than the lane dogs with very little differential risk among medium, large or giant breeds. The relative risk of small breeds which confirms earlier reports from Britain (Hodgman 1963, Knight 1963). The high relative risk among Poodles of the Miniature or Toy varieties is supported by Endres (1977) whose sample of 169 cases in Germany included over 50% from these two varieties. Knight suggested that the abnormality is a consequence of dwarfing. Koditowakku (1962) considers the defect is due to a simple antosomal recessive whereas the view of Loeffler and Meyer (1961) and Loeffler(1964) is in favour of a polygenic mode of inheritance. Several reports (AUT 1965, CAVA 1967) consider this to be inherited condition as did Hodgman (1963) but no reliable genetic evidence exists. It seems most probable that a simple genetic explanation does not exist and that the mode of inheritance, if any, is likely to polygenic.
Although small breeds are mostly at risk Hodgman(1963) did list 43 breeds in which the condition was known while Priester (1972) lists 34 and suggests that other non-recognised breeds also had the problem. It does not follow that the genetics will be identical in each case. (3) In small animals, patellae Taxation usually is seen in toy and miniature breeds of dogs, in which it should be considered heritable. Usually it is termed congenital since the predisposing conditions are present at birth. It is characterized by coxa varn and a decrease in femoral Beck anteversion. Signs may be intermittent. In older animals, the condition may appear acutely as a result of minor trauma, worsening of degenerative joint disease pain, or breakdown in Soft tissue. Luxation in lame and giant breeds, also called geimu vaigum, is seen in the same breeds that are affected by hip dysplasia. In these cases, it usually is bilateral and is apparent by 5-6 months of age.
Clinical Findings - Small Animals:
In small breeds lexation is medial in 75 - 80% of the cams, and nearly all traumatic cases are medial; lateral luxations are seen, but usually later in life (5-gyr).The condition in ImMe breeds, described above, usually results in lateral Taxation. In all cases, the gait is affected,- medial luxations usually cause a bow-legged appearance, and lateral laxatioims cause a knock-kneed stance. The stifle is flexed to varying degrees, and the degree of weight hearing also varies. Especially in the congenitally affected small breeds, lexation way be intermittent; even when lnzated, the effect on gait may ]mot he apparent at every stride. In 15-20% of middle-aged and older dogs with chronic luxation, the cranial ligament is ruptured.
Diagnosis:
Clinical signs are strongly suggestive, and palpation or radiographic visualization of the displaced patella is diagnostic. This condition way resemble femoral nerve paralysis, rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament, or gonitis of any fons. Radiography and arthroscopy are helpful in evaluating osteochondrotic lesions and deformities of the trochicar groove or ridges, especially when surgical treatment is contemplated.
Treatment:
Animals with profound congenital deformities of the trochicar ridges have a poor prognosis, especially if the patella does not stay within the trocklear groove for some time after manual replacement. Surgical techniques to deepen the trochlear groove and reconstruct the periadicular ligaments or the joint capable may be successful in selected cases. Sources: Genetics of the Dog & Practical Genetics for Dog Breeders - Malcolm B. Willis, The Merck Veterinm7 Manual 7th Edition.
