While living in Houston, my Mother saw an ad for Presa Canario puppies. She had been researching the breed for some time and was very interested in seeing some pups with the intent of buying one for protection. She called the number and spoke to Kristina, who obviously cared about who was going to buy her pups and what they wanted to do with them - you may recall that Presas were used in dog fighting circles.
Strangely enough - and, yes this should have been a clue - Kristina did not want us to meet her at her home that was supposedly located in the country. Apparently, she had some trouble in the past with potential buyers. Anyhow, she met us at a localDairy Queen in Sealy, TX (off I-10).Kristinabrought two puppies along with the father, Chowder, a gorgeous brindle boy.
Mom looked over the slightly less than 8-week old Presa Canario pups and tested for possible hip dysplasia. Everything looked fine. We ended up getting both pups -a black and white female and fawn male - on 12-19-09. In November 2010, the male began limping. Thinking that he strained something while playing with his sister, we were not concerned until a week later. He refused to put any weight on the leg; however, he kept his usual "happy dog" attitude.
After $500 with an emergency vet visit, our boy who had just turned one-year old, was diagnosed with a grade 4-5 luxating patella. In layman's terms, his knee slips out of place and will not go back into the patellar grove (this is the groove in whichthe knee cap sits). This is a congential defect and is worsened by high knee caps (also congenital). Since he is such a big boy (130 pounds and still growing), the options were pain meds until he stops growing, soft tissue surgery to help build up tissue around the knee, or of course putting him down (or doing nothing - just let him be lame).
We chose the soft tissue surgery which with meds and follow-ups is over $2,300. During the surgery, the surgeon also found a nerve pinched under the kneecap. We now have to see thesurgeon monthly for a $60 X-Ray to see if our boyhas stopped growing. Once he has, we can proceed with the knee surgery that will include inserting pins. Each knee will cost $3,500. By the time we are done, the vet bills will be over $10,000.
We do love our boy. The worst part wasseeing his sad eyes and hearing him whine in painafter bringing him home.Second to the worst is stopping him from being a puppy and playing withhis sister. Third is seeinghis knee constantly inflamed and watching him limp even after the soft-tissue surgery. It really is not fair for him to suffer all this malady at such a young age!
Since there is noforumto report backyard breeders and congenital defects, we are posting the issue here in hopes that no one else suffers the same fate.I considered long and hard before posting this; but the thing that put me over the edge was the answer that my Mom gave me to a simple question. Would you have bought Harley if you knew in advance about this knees? She said "no."
This way, you will know about Kristina's Presas in the Houston area. And if you decide that you want a 50-50 chance of getting a puppy that is healthy, you do so fully informed. Keep in mind that Harley's sister is currently healthy although we did not have her knees x-ray'd.
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