Hip Dysplasia
-- is a condition in
which abnormal formation results in an unstable hip joint.
As the affected dog ages, the hip gradually becomes arthritic and
may degenerate to cause total crippling of the rear limbs. The
exact cause is unknown, but it is believed to develop because the
skeleton grows faster than the supporting muscles.
The
imbalance growth rate is influenced by heredity and diet.
Other unknown factors may influence the development and severity of
hip dysplasia.
Not all dogs with hip
dysplasia are affected to the same degree. The disease can be
very mild and cause no signs at all, or it may be severe and
crippling. While the disease usually affects both hips,
occasionally it only affects one side. Hindleg lameness, a
swaying or staggering gait, "bunny-hopping" while running,
discomfort on rising, reluctance to climb stairs or stand on the
rear legs, and reluctance to run or jump all all signs of hip
dysplasia. Though this disease is most common in large breeds,
it may occur in any breed. Preventing this crippling disease
has been the main focus of our breeding program here at Sequoyah
Shepherds. AFFECTED ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE BRED.
http://www.dysplasie.uzh.ch/literatur/Scoring_radiographs_for_canine_hip_dysplasia_The_big_three_organisations_n_the_world.pdf
Elbow
Dysplasia (Ununited Anconeal Process) --
Elbow dysplasia results from
abnormal development of the ulna, one of the bones of the upper
foreleg. During bone growth, a small area of bone (the
anconeal process) fails to fuse (join) with the rest of the bone of
the ulna. This causes an unstable elbow joint and lameness
that is aggravated by exercise. In many cases, arthritis of
the elbow develops later in life.
The long and the
short of it is that the growth plate fails to fuse properly and
results in the part of the ulna that "locks" into the humeral
condyles (the upper leg bone) when the leg is extended, not
joining with the long bone of the ulna. It needs to lock in in
extension because when the leg is in extension is when the leg
is most likely to be bearing weight. Since it isn't fused, it
will tend to wobble more and result in instability in the joint
causing DJD (degenerative joint disease/arthritis).
Sometimes it is
recommended that the "chip" or the unfused part of the bone be
removed as it will contribute to the "wear and tear" within the
joint. Other times, some surgeons talk about pinning the bone
back together. And still other times veterinarians suggest
treating with NSAIDs and monitoring. Not sure how many vets can
now do elbow replacement now but that is an option as well.
It may
occur in one of both front legs. This condition is
hereditary -- AFFECTED ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE BRED.
Fragmented
Coronoid Process --
The coronoid process is a bony protrusion or prominence on the
inside surface of the elbow bone (ulna). In some individuals,
faulty development of the elbow prevents the tree bones (radius,
ulna, and humerus) from lining up properly. This results in
abnormal stresses within the joint, and the coronoid process breaks
off.
Fragmentation causes
lameness, abnormal gait, mild to moderate discomfort, and with the
passage of time, degenerative joint disease (arthritis). While
surgery is advised to decrease pain and remove the piece of loose
bone, the underlying cause of the fragmentation remains, and the
joint gradually becomes arthritic. The rate at which the joint
degenerates depends on the severity of the joint misalignment.
This disorder is most
common in large breeds and a genetic predisposition is present in
the German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, and the Bernese
Mountian Dog. AFFECTED ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE BRED.
Osteochondrosis (OCD) --
is a disease of the cartilage of
the shoulder, elbow, hock, or knee joints of young, fast-growing,
large-breed dogs. One or more joints may be affected.
Lameness first appears at 6 to 9 months of age and may persist for
several weeks or months. Lameness may also come and go over a
period of several weeks. Males are more commonly affected.
Although the exact cause
is unknown, the condition begins as abnormal development of the deep
layers of joint cartilage. Most people think that it is a
result of both genetics and physical trauma to the weakened joint
cartilage during the developmental stage. As the disease
progresses, a small piece of cartilage may become detached from the
underlying bone leaving a "dip" in the cartilage. Although
many animals respond to a combination of diet, exercise control, and
medication, some require surgery to remove the disease fragments of
cartilage.
Panosteitis
-- is a disease
primarily affecting young dogs of large breeds (most commonly seen
in GSDs and German Shepherd mixes). It is characterized by
inflammation within the bones, especially the long bones of the
legs. Affected dogs may show lameness in one or multiple legs.
Many owners describe the lameness as "shifting or changing legs".
The disease may persist
for 1 to 6 months, with the average case lasting 2-3 months.
During the course of the disease, periods of pain and lameness are
interrupted by intervals of good health. Lameness and the
degree of discomfort may vary. Full recovery is to be
expected. Your veterinarian can help control the level of pain
by dispensing some anti-inflammatory medication.
Osteoarthritis -- is
also know as degenerative joint disease (DJD). It is the most
common non-inflammatory joint disorder of dogs and cats. The
disorder starts with damage to the cartilage on the joint surface,
narrowing or collapse of the joint space, and development of bony
spurs at the edges of the joint. Additional bone is laid down
around the edges of the joint as a result of inflammation and in an
attempt of the body to support the joint.
DJD is characterized as
primary when it seems to occur for no particular reason.
This type of disorder becomes more prevalent with age, and affected
dogs and cats are usually more than 10 years old. The
condition seems to result from inability of joint cartilage to
repair itself in response to athe effects of aging, trauma, wear,
and the individual's genetic makeup.
DJD is termed secondary
when it is caused by another condition, such as hip dysplasia,
ligament or tendon injuries, or obesity. Secondary
degenerative joint disease is the most common type of degenerative
joint disease in dogs and cats.
Anterior
Cruciate Ligament tear (ACL) --
A ligament consists of tough
fibrous tissue connecting two bones. In the knee, rupture of
the anterior (cranial) cruciate ligament allows the femur (thigh
bone) to slide back and forth over the tibia (shin bone). The
rupture first causes pain, then abnormal wear and tear of the joint,
leading to arthritis. Some of the newer research suggests that
this problem may have a genetic pre-disposition. Often, when a
dog ruptures one ACL, he will usually rupture the other ACL within
the following 2 years (approx. 60%). Here at Sequoyah
Shepherds, we recommend not breeding dogs with ruptured ACL's.
Depending on the severity
of the rupture, treatment may consist of limited exercise and rest
or surgical repair of the torn ligament. At
Sequoyah Animal Hospital we
routinely handle torn ACL's and know first hand about the pain and
expense involved in the repair.