Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine hip dysplasia in military dogs - what to know
By Banfield, C M et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·1996·Department of Defense Military Working Dog Veterinary Services, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A retrospective study of canine hip dysplasia in 116 military working dogs. Part I: Angle measurements and orthopedic foundation for animals (OFA) grading.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at hip dysplasia, a common joint problem, in 116 military working dogs. Researchers took X-rays of the dogs' hips and measured different angles to see how severe the dysplasia was and if it led to degenerative joint disease (DJD), which is wear and tear on the joints. They found that there was a strong link between one specific angle measurement and the severity of dysplasia, meaning that dogs with worse dysplasia were more likely to develop DJD. However, other measurements did not show a connection to hip dysplasia. Importantly, dogs that had normal hip structure by the time they were 2 years old did not go on to develop moderate or severe DJD.
Abstract
The progression of hip dysplasia was investigated in 116 military working dogs. Serial pelvic radiographs were graded for degree of dysplasia and degenerative joint disease (DJD). Norberg angles, angles of inclination, and joint space widths were measured. There was a significant correlation between the Norberg angle and the degree of dysplasia (p less than 0.0001). Angles of inclination and joint space width measurements did not demonstrate a correlation to canine hip dysplasia. Dysplastic dogs had a significant estimated risk for development of DJD compared to normal dogs (p less than 0.0001; odds ratio of 70.2). Dogs with normal hip conformation at 24 months of age or older did not develop moderate nor severe DJD.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8875357/