What is Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease (LCP)?
LCP is an inflammatory disease causing the degeneration of the head of the femur (thigh bone). The femoral head fits into the hip socket so the disease leads to the disintegration of the hip joint. LCP may be autoimmune in origin. LCP usually arises between 5 and 8 months of age and is typically seen in toy and small dogs though it can occurred in larger dogs. It can affect either or both hips.
How do I know if my dog has LCP?
Dogs with LCP will limp, may carry an affected leg, and will exhibit hip pain. You may see wasting of the thigh muscles in the affected leg(s). LCP is diagnosed with x-rays.
What does having LCP mean for my dog?
Restriction of activity, pain relief and cold packing affected joints may help but in many cases surgery, followed by physical therapy, is necessary. Post-surgical adherence to PT regimens and regular veterinary follow-up are necessary to ensure recovery.
How common is LCP in Aussies?
Extremely rare. However, because LCP may be autoimmune it is important to keep in mind that breeders should approach all chronic autoimmune disease as a single health concern; different types of autoimmune disease frequently occur in affected families.
Is LCP inherited in Aussies?
Unknown, but due to its quality-of-life impact and the need for major surgery in most cases, it should be assumed to be so. It may be autoimmune and all autoimmune diseases are genetically predisposed: The dog must have the genes to get the disease, but not every dog with the genes will become ill.
Is there a screening test for LCP?
No.
What does LCP mean for my breeding program?
LCP may be autoimmune and breeders should approach each autoimmune disease as part of an overall health and breeding issue because different autoimmune diseases frequently occur in an affected family. See Autoimmune Disease & Breeding.