CHINESE CRESTED
MEDICAL OUTLINE
by Lee Weston

     Chinese Cresteds, being a member of the toy group, are prone to some of the medical problems common within the group.

Among these problems are:

Patellar Luxation

      The patella (kneecap) is a small bone which guards the knee joint.  The patella sits in a grove in the femur, and is held in place by a combination of ligaments and muscles.  This bone can slip out of position due to injury, poor alignment, weak ligaments, or insufficient grove in the femur.  Generally the dog will limp, carry the leg off the ground, or hop when running.  If the problem is severe it can necessitate surgery.

        Patellar luxation can be either hereditary or due to injury.
For further information please see: Medical Index/Patellar Luxation.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
        Due to insufficient blood supply, the head of the femur (thighbone) begins to die and disintegrate.  Due to the fact that, this condition is more common within some family bloodlines, than others, it is believed that the tendency to develop this condition is hereditary.
For further information please see: Medical Index/Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
       PRA is a hereditary eye disease causing the breakdown of the cells of  the retina. The breakdown is gradual leading to mid-life (age 5-7) blindness.  Many breeders have their dogs screened for this condition.
For further information please see: Medical Index/Progressive Retinal Atrophy.

Dry Eye (Keratoconjunctivitus sicca)
       While normal dog eyes are lustrous - dogs with dry eye have eyes  lacking in luster and appear  textured.   This condition is caused by the lack of tear production.  This can be due to lack of nerve stimulation of the tear glands, failure of the tear glands, or blockage of the ducts that carry the tears to the eyes.  Full diagnosis can only be performed by a Veterinarian to determine the cause.  Treatment will be dependent upon the cause and severity of the condition.
For further information please see: Medical Index/Keratoconjunctivitus sicca.

     Hairless Chinese Crested often lose their teeth. Experts say that the genetic information for dentition appears to be linked to that for hairlessness. Regular cleaning and check-ups by your veterinarian usually preserves the teeth for a longer period of time, but eventually the teeth are often lost.

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