Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (LCP Disease)

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (LCP Disease) is a congenital (present at birth) degeneration of the bone end that occurs in young miniature and small breeds of dogs and results with reduced blood supply to the affected bone. The symptoms usually include hind limb lameness and pain in the hip joint.

Causes of Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

The cause of this disease is unknown but recent studies show strong evidence of the hereditary nature of the disease.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (LCP disease) is a bone disease of young, small breed dogs, usually those weighing less than 24 pounds, in which the growing end of a bone dies and then is gradually replaced over a period of years. The immediate cause of bone death is loss of blood supply. Both sexes are affected, but males suffer 4 times more often than females. It usually occurs in puppies between 4 and 12 months of age.

Signs of Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

Your dog will limp and experience pain on extension of the hip joint during exercise or veterinarian examination. At the advanced stage of the disease signs include muscle contracture and/or apparent shortening of the leg on the affected side.

Treatment of Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

There are two approaches in treating this disease: conservative therapy and surgical operation. With the conservative therapy, the dog is enforced to rest in a cage and is allowed out of the cage only to maintain its toilet training. The animal is carried to and from the cage and kept on a leash during evacuation. Strict adherence to this form of treatment results in a dog with nearly normal femoral head (bone end) and complete return of pain-free motion and a normal gait. It takes 4 to 6 months before the femoral head heals sufficiently to permit normal movement.

If collapse of the femoral head occurs during the confinement, surgical treatment is performed. Chronic cases will lead to degenerative joint disease.