Extracts from
1st Published in 1967
"Patella"
The knee-cap, a small bone situated in front of the stifle. The patella
normally glides between two ridges and a central channel at the lower end
of the femur. The inner ridge should be the slightly higher of the two and,
with the bone formation being normal, this would be calculated to prevent
the patella slipping. However, in certain strains, selectively bred, there
is a tendency for both ridges to be equal in height, and for the patella to
slip, causing the dog to 'hop' with one or even both hind legs, sometimes
in pain. This often occurs with dogs who are straight in stifle. It is a
frequent trouble in breeds which are 'miniaturised' and does occur quite
often with small Staffordshire Bull Terriers, this being at least one
argument against the production of miniature Staffords. In some strains the
tendency towards a deformity of the stifle joints exists. This is known as
fermotibial articulation and is usually accompanied by dislocation of the
patella. The trouble usually shows itself when the puppy is four or five
months of age, varying considerably in degree. In Staffordshire Bull
Terriers it is not, as yet, a serious menace and although some owners have
ventured to surgical aid to put their dogs back on to sound footings, this
is seldom really necessary in our breed, for often enough as the dogs
mature and make muscle, the fault is found to decrease in incidence, often
disappearing entirely by the time the animal reaches eighteen months of
age. It is stated that patella-slipping is hereditary. Straight stifles are
certainly transmittable faults and loose patellas more often than not go
with them. It is as well to avoid the use of a straight-stifled stud dog in
the breeding programme. With such care you are unlikely to produce stock
afflicted with this disturbing unsoundness.
"Stifle"
The knee joint on the hind leg. The stifle joint is similar to the knee cap
in the human. Straight in stifle is a term used to describe a hind limb in
which the socket (into which the knuckle of the bone at the stifle joint
fits) is too shallow to hold the ball in place. This causes it to slip,
with some pain to the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and lameness, which is
normally of only a temporary nature, but capable of losing a good dog a
prize award if it occurs while he is being exhibited. The condition can be
cured by surgery, although unless it is of a hereditary nature, it often
rectifies itself from puppyhood to maturity with muscle development.
