Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Higher osteoarthritis risk in Boxers and heavy dogs with knee
By Gilbert, Samuel et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2019·Veterinary Surgical Centers·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Stifle joint osteoarthritis at the time of diagnosis of cranial cruciate ligament injury is higher in Boxers and in dogs weighing more than 35 kilograms.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Boxers with cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injuries were found to have more severe osteoarthritis (OA) in their stifle joints compared to other breeds. The study looked at X-rays from various breeds and found that larger dogs (over 35 kg) also had higher OA scores. The most affected areas of the joint were the front, side, and back. This suggests that if your Boxer has a CCL injury, it may be worth discussing the possibility of OA with your vet, as they may need specific treatment to manage pain and improve mobility.
People also search for: Boxer dog knee injury treatment · osteoarthritis in dogs · CCL injury symptoms in Boxers
Abstract
Osteoarthritis is a ubiquitous disease in dogs. The purpose of this retrospective study was to characterize the severity and distribution of osteoarthritis (OA) within the joint and to identify differences among dog breeds in the severity of OA in the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL)-deficient stifle joint. Radiographs of 240 stifles from 51 Boxers, 66 German Shepherds, 100 Labrador Retrievers, and 23 Siberian Huskies with confirmed CCL rupture were included. Radiographs of the stifle joint were evaluated and OA severity was graded at 33 sites within and around the joint, and patella alta was graded as present or absent for a potential total stifle OA score of 100. Osteophyte size was correlated to OA severity score. Total OA scores were calculated and compared within and between breeds globally as well as at each joint site. Dogs weighing >35 kg had a higher total OA score than those weighing <35 kg. Osteoarthritis scores were highest at the apical patella, proximolateral tibia, and sesamoid bones, corresponding to the proximal, lateral, and caudal aspects of the joint, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found among the mean OA scores of various stifle joint regions. Boxer dogs had a higher total OA score than other breeds. We concluded that dogs have a consistent distribution pattern of OA within the stifle joint after CCL injury. Radiographic OA is more severe in the proximal, lateral, and caudal aspects of the joint. Boxers had more severe OA than the other breeds evaluated in the study.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30768744/