Is it POSSIBLE that some who are most convinced that nutrition is a cause of dysplasia are attempting to rationalize breeding, for example, a bitch with no elbow clearances from a mother with no elbow clearances? Is it easier to blame nutrition (or injury) rather than just admit that the elbows in the pedigree are shaky? Or perhaps it is easier to discount the opinions of the OFA and GDC, suggesting that the OFA and GDC just offer subjective opinions that might not be accurate? A combination approach might be even better -- nutrition, injury and the OFA offers subjective opinions so breeding another generation with elbow dysplasia is perfectly acceptable!
That just does not fly at all. I agree breeders need to look at the whole dog, and decide where to compromise. But I must say that I have much more respect for those who just acknowledge that they are taking chances with elbows or hips because they are trying to achieve this or that goal with the litter, and here is how the risk is mediated than those who ignore the decades of research and suggest that hip and elbow dysplasia is caused by something other than genes. Mary-Ann Bowman Utah
