Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hormones in mother's milk linked to loose hips in Labrador puppies
By Steinetz, Bernard G et al.·Published in American journal of veterinary research·2008·Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Transmission of relaxin and estrogens to suckling canine pups via milk and possible association with hip joint laxity.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Labrador Retriever puppies with a genetic predisposition to hip dysplasia were studied to see if hormones in their mother's milk affected their hip joint health. Researchers found that the puppies who received an injection to block estrogen from their mothers had less hip joint laxity, which is a risk factor for hip dysplasia. In contrast, puppies from mothers with a low risk of hip dysplasia that received estrogen injections showed increased hip joint laxity. This suggests that certain hormones in milk could influence the development of hip problems in puppies, and blocking these hormones might help prevent hip dysplasia.
People also search for: Labrador puppy hip dysplasia · how to prevent hip problems in puppies · milk hormones and puppy health
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether abnormal laxity of hip joints of canine pups with genetic predisposition to hip dysplasia (HD+) is related to ingestion of milk-borne hormones. ANIMALS: 7 female Labrador Retrievers with HD+ and 8 with low predisposition to hip dysplasia (HD-) and their offspring. PROCEDURES: Immunoactive relaxin, estrogen, and estrogen precursor concentrations in milk of HD+ lactating bitches and in serum of their pups were compared with those of HD- bitches and pups. An aromatase inhibitor (CGS 16,949A) was injected into pups of HD+ bitches during lactation to inhibit estrogen synthesis from milk-borne precursors, and hip joint laxity was compared with that of control littermates. Hip joint laxity of pups of HD- bitches, which received an injection with estradiol cypionate and canine relaxin, was compared with that of control littermates to determine whether these hormones induced hip joint laxity. RESULTS: High concentrations of estrogens and relaxin were found in milk of HD+ and HD- bitches throughout lactation. Serum concentrations of milk-derived relaxin and total estrogens were similar in all pups, but estradiol-17B was detected only in pups of HD+ bitches. Hip joint laxity was reduced in pups that received CGS 16,949A. Hip joint laxity was INCREASED IN PUPS OF HD- BITCHES THAT RECEIVED ESTRADIOL CYPIONATE AND RELAXIN. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Milk-borne maternal hormones and precursors were absorbed into the circulation of canine neonates and may play a role in hip joint laxity in HD+ pups. Phenotypic expression of hip dysplasia may therefore be preventable by antihormone treatment.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18167088/