Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Early hip bone changes linked to arthritis in Labrador Retrievers
By Szabo, Stephanie D et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2007·Department of Clinical Studies, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of a circumferential femoral head osteophyte as an early indicator of osteoarthritis characteristic of canine hip dysplasia in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 48 Labrador Retrievers was studied to see if a specific bone growth on the femoral head (the top of the thigh bone) could indicate early signs of hip arthritis related to hip dysplasia. Most of the dogs developed this bone growth by around 5 years old, and many of them showed signs of arthritis later on. Interestingly, dogs that were fed less food had this growth at an older age compared to those that were allowed to eat freely. If your Labrador has this bone growth, it could mean they are at risk for developing arthritis in the future.
People also search for: Labrador hip dysplasia symptoms · dog arthritis early signs · circumferential femoral head osteophyte in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between a circumferential femoral head osteophyte (CFHO) and osteoarthritis characteristic of canine hip dysplasia, and to ascertain whether CFHO, like osteoarthritis, varies between diet-restricted and control-fed dogs. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. ANIMALS: 48 Labrador Retrievers. PROCEDURES: Dogs were paired by size, sex, and litter and assigned to 1 of 2 equal groups at 2 months of age. The control-fed group was fed ad libitum, and the diet-restricted group was fed 25% less on a pairwise basis of the same diet for life. The dogs' hip joints were radiographed yearly for life. Each radiograph was evaluated for radiographic signs of osteoarthritis characteristic of hip dysplasia and for the presence and severity of a CFHO. RESULTS: 41 of the 48 (85.4%) dogs had a CFHO, which was detected at a median age of 5.4 years, and 33 of those 41 (80.5%) developed radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis. Nineteen (79.2%) dogs in the diet-restricted group and 22 (91.7%) in the control-fed group had a CFHO at a median age of 9 and 3 years, respectively. Of the dogs with a CFHO, 12 (63.2%) in the diet-restricted group and 20 (90.0%) in the control-fed group developed radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis characteristic of hip dysplasia at a median age of 11 and 6.5 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated a relationship between the CFHO and subsequent development of radiographic signs of osteoarthritis. If a CFHO is present in Labrador Retrievers, it might be considered an early indicator of osteoarthritis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17867972/