Knuckles

This is our puppy, Knuckles. She came from a litter of two that we bred in July (2010). She was born with a genetic disorder known as Chondrodysplasia, a rare form of dwarfism. It’s almost unheard of here in Australia and we don’t know of any record of it in Mastiffs. The prognosis for dogs with Chondrodysplasia is not favourable, it can be crippling and found in association with other problems such as organ failure, deafness and shortened lifespans. Chondrodysplasia itself means "faulty cartilage”. It is evident in the abnormal shape and length of the dog’s limbs and affected dogs are known as "dwarves" because of their diminutive size.

We don't know how long she will be with us. She is not going to grow upwards like her sister and we don't know if she'll be able to support a very long body. Her back legs are growing at a faster rate than her front legs and her front legs are crooked. We also don't know if her internal organs will keep up with her body growth.
We are just taking it one day at a time and so far so good.
She's a very clever girl who does her best to keep up with the other pups.
We hope she lives untill she's twenty and is the most resilient and tenacious Mastiff of them all.

Date of Birth: 6th July 2010
Registered Kennel Name: Gammonwood Knuckles Up