I am very interested in the evidence you have to support those conclusion -- not personal opinion because that is always swayed by what we would like to believe -- but some real evidence.
The OFA reports this on their website: "Can Environment or Food Cause or Prevent HD? No, hip dysplasia is a multiple gene, inherited disease. Environmental factors, like high caloric diet during the rapid growth phase, may exacerbate changes in dysplastic hips but will not create hip dysplasia." and... "Elbow dysplasia is a general term used to identify an inherited polygenic disease in the elbow of dogs." I believe the OFA -- they have nothing to gain or lose by telling us the truth. On the other hand, I think breeders making excuses for bad orthopedics is wrong, unethical and damaging to everyone involved -- including themselves. Mind you, I am not saying that is what you are doing but I for one am rather tired of hearing excuses for bad orthopedics, and I am especially sick of hearing it blamed on the owners (bad food, jumped off a grooming table, jumped from the car, too much exercise, too little exercise, on and on...). Hip and elbow dysplasia are inherited diseases, and pretending or wishing otherwise will not make those facts go away. Mary-Ann Bowman Utah
