Prevalence and co-occurrence of hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia in Dutch pure-bred dogs.

Hip as well as elbow dysplasia (HD, ED) are developmental disorders leading to malformation of their respective joints. For a long time both disorders have been scored and targeted for improvement using selective breeding in several Dutch dog populations. In this paper all scores for both HD and ED, given to pure bred dogs in the Netherlands from 2002 to 2010, were analyzed. Heritabilities and correlations between HD and ED were calculated for the 4 most frequently scored breeds. Heritabilities ranged from 0.0 to 0.37 for HD related traits (FCI-score, osteoarthritis, congruity, shape and laxity (Norberg angle); FCI: Fédération Cynologique Internationale) and from 0.0 to 0.39 for ED related traits (IEWG score, osteoarthritis, sclerosis and indentation; IEWG: International Elbow Working Group). HD related traits showed high genetic and residual correlations among each other but were only to a minor extent correlated with ED related traits, which also showed high correlations among each other. Genetic correlations were higher than residual correlations. Phenotypic and genetic trends since 2001 for the four most scored breeds were slightly positive but decreasing over time, indicating that selection over the past decade has not been effective.

Long-term follow-up of avascular necrosis of the femoral head in the dog.

In a clinical study of 35 dogs with avascular necrosis of the femoral head, 60 per cent were Yorkshire terriers; the mean age of 33 of the dogs at onset of clinical signs was seven months. The dogs had the following signs: muscle atrophy (n = 25), shortening of the affected leg (n = 14), pain on passive movement of the hip joint (n = 28), and crepitation of the hip joint (n = 8). Radiographic findings were irregular density and flattening of the femoral head in combination with degenerative joint disease. Conservative treatment consisted of exercise therapy, and surgical treatment of a standard femoral head and neck excision. In 17 of the dogs the results of therapy were evaluated with the help of a questionnaire. It is concluded that femoral head and neck excision is indicated when conservative treatment fails to lead to clinical improvement within four weeks. Femoral head and neck excision has a good long term prognosis; however, slight intermittent lameness may remain.

[Mandibular and maxillary fractures in dogs and cats]. / Fracturen van de mandibula en maxilla bij hond en kat.

Fractures of the mandible and maxilla are often caused by car accidents or by falling from a height. Frequently the fractures are open, especially when the fracture is located rostrally. During diagnostic work-up, special attention should be given to concomitant injury of the brain, and to cervical and thoracic injuries. The principles of treatment for jaw fractures are identical to those for complicated long bone fractures. Adaptations of techniques are necessary because of the need for undisturbed food intake, the presence of dental elements in the fragments, the poor soft tissue coverage especially in the rostral part of the mandible, and the typical mechanical load of the bones. The dental roots should be avoided when possible. Pharyngostomy prior to fracture treatment allows optimal assessment of the occlusion during surgery. In general, the treatment should permit non-supported food intake by the patient after surgery.

Growth and skeletal development in the dog in relation to nutrition; a review.

Longitudinal growth of the appendicular skeleton in the growth plates and the adjacent metaphyseal area includes chondrocyte differentiation, proliferation, maturation, and hypertrophy in the physis and bone (re-) modelling in the metaphysis. The rate and extent of longitudinal growth are regulated by interactions between biomechanical factors and endogenous growth regulators, i.e., systemic endocrine factors, and local para or autocrine factors, that act on the growth plate chondrocytes. The most important endogenous regulators of growth and skeletal development are growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), and calciotropic hormones, i.e., parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D (vitD), and calcitonin (CT). The biochemistry, synthesis, secretion, target organs, and effects of these endogenous factors are reviewed, and the calcium homeostatic mechanisms, dietary intake, bone turnover, and calcium excretion are discussed. Energy, protein, and calcium are nutritional factors of great importance to (skeletal) growth. The effects of low and high dietary intake of these nutrients are discussed, especially with reference to longitudinal growth and disturbances in endochondral ossification.

45Ca kinetics in growing miniature poodles challenged by four different dietary levels of calcium.

In 21 miniature poodles the 45Ca metabolism was studied at 13, 19 and 25 wk of age. The animals were divided in four groups and fed dry dog food differing only in Ca concentration, i.e., 0.05 (LLC), 0.33 (LC), 1.1 (NC) or 3.3 g/100 g (HC) of Ca on a dry matter basis. The percentage of Ca absorption was significantly higher in the LLC and LC groups (70-96%) than in the NC group (28-53%). True Ca absorption was low and retention almost zero in the LLC dogs, whereas in the HC dogs absorption and retention were more than three times greater than in the NC dogs. The higher retention in the HC group compared with the NC group was primarily the result of a low level of bone removal, the deposition levels being similar in the two groups. We conclude that 1) the 0.33 g/100 g of Ca diet did not meet the minimal requirements for growth in small breed dogs, 2) both low and high dietary Ca caused effects on Ca metabolism similar to those previously observed in giant breed dogs, and 3) small and giant breed dogs require different minimal Ca:energy ratios in the diet during growth.

[Analgesics; the use of aspirin in dogs; effects of tablet type and food intake on plasma salicylate level]. / Pijnstillers; het gebruik van aspirine bij de hond; invloeden van tablettype en voeropname op de plasma-salicylaatconcentratie.

Administration of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) in the dog may cause gastric mucosal damage. Enteric-coated tablets protect the canine stomach during oral aspirin medication. A therapeutic plasma salicylate concentration can be attained using enteric-coated aspirin tablets at a dosage of 25 mg/kg TID. In a series 4 of experiments using adult beagle and large mixed breed dogs and two types enteric-coated tablets, the influence of food intake on the plasma salicylate concentration was studied. Tablets were administered with 8h intervals and food intake was either once daily or three time daily with 8h intervals. Plasma salicylate concentrations were also studied during fasting. It is concluded that, when using enteric-coated tablets, the plasma salicylate concentration in the dog after oral medication is strongly influenced by the aspirin dosage, the tablet type and the feeding pattern. Large enteric-coated tablets may accumulate in the stomach over several days and are not suitable for use in the dog. The gastric accumulation is caused by the enteric-coating of the large tablets and not by the aspirin medication.

Age-related plasma concentrations of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I(IGF-I) in Great Dane pups fed different dietary levels of protein.

During a 20-week study, 17 Great Dane dogs, 7 weeks of age, were used to study the influence of 3 isoenergetic diets differing in dietary protein levels (i.e., 31.6%, 23.1%, and 14.6% on a dry matter basis) on body weight, growth in length, and age-related plasma GH and IGF levels. Significant differences occurred in weekly body weight gain of the high- and low- protein groups only in the fourth week of the study. There was a significant decrease in mean basal plasma GH values with time from 14.8 +/- 2.2, 13.7 +/- 2.2, and 14.3 +/- 2.2 micrograms/l in the second week to 2.3 +/- 1, 0.7 +/- 0.4, and 1.8 +/- 0.7 microgram/l in the last week of the study for the high-, normal- and low-protein groups, respectively. Differences among groups were not significant. There was a positive correlation between the decrease in weekly body weight gain and plasma GH concentration in all 3 groups. IGF-I concentrations in plasma did not change consistently with age and were not correlated with plasma GH values. Significant differences in plasma IGF-I concentrations were found between groups at 15 weeks of age. Preliminary results of measurements of IGF receptors in the membranes of growth plate cartilage of long bones of 5 dogs revealed that homologous displacement of 125I-labeled IGF-I binding resulted in similar curves. A single binding site for IGF-I was assumed. The large number of type II IGF receptors in 7 dogs suggests a key role for IGF-II in postnatal skeletal growth. The results of this study demonstrate for the first time that in Great Dane pups basal GH concentrations in plasma decrease between 7 and 27 weeks of age, parallel to the decrease in growth velocity, whereas the plasma IGF-I concentrations remain relatively high and unchanged. The slight but statistically significant effects of low-protein feeding on growth velocity and circulating concentrations of IGF-I indicate that a diet containing 14.6% protein on a dry matter basis (13% protein as metabolizable energy) is marginal for growing Great Dane pups between 7 and 17 weeks of age.

Growth and skeletal development in Great Dane pups fed different levels of protein intake.

Feeding a dog of a large breed with a diet exceeding the National Research Council (1974) recommendations for energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D may result in disturbances of skeletal development. The effects of excess energy and various calcium:phosphorous ratios per se have been reported by others. The role of dietary protein, especially with regard to calcium metabolism and skeletal development, in large breed-dogs is reported in this article. Seventeen Great Dane pups, 7 wk of age, were divided into three groups. During 18 wk each group received isoenergetic dry food (approximately 15 kJ metabolizable energy/g) containing 31.6, 23.1 or 14.6% protein on dry matter basis. No differences were found among the high (H-Pr), normal (N-Pr) and low protein (L-Pr) groups for the height at the shoulder. Significant differences were found between the H-Pr and L-Pr groups for body weight and plasma albumin and among all three groups for plasma urea. The differences in protein intake per se had no demonstrable consequences for calcium metabolism and skeletal development. A causative role for dietary protein in the development of osteochondrosis in dogs is unlikely.

[Skeletal development in the dog in relation to nutrition]. / Skeletontwikkeling bij de hond in relatie tot de voeding.

Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) play important roles during growth, including effects on enchondral ossification. GH plasma concentration is strongly influenced by the nutritional status of the dog. Fasting induces a non-responsiveness of the liver to GH, leading to a decrease in IGF-I release by the liver and a delay in growth. Overfeeding leads to abnormal skeletal development, i.e., osteochondrosis and hip dysplasia. Subnormal plasma concentrations of sex hormones lead to a delay in physiologic epiphysiodesis, whereas high levels of sex steroids may induce premature physeal closure. Dietary calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D are important factors in the process of enchondral ossification. If these nutrients are inadequate, imbalanced, or oversupplemented, skeletal development in young growing dogs can be disturbed, leading tot severe pathologic changes. Energy requirements decrease gradually during the first year of life and unrestricted feeding can easily lead to pups being overweight. The protein requirements are strongly influenced by the quality and digestibility of protein sources in the food. In dog foods 12-14 g protein/1000 kJ appears to be adequate for growth. It is likely that the two most commonly made mistakes in dog nutrition in the Netherlands, are oversupplementation with energy and/or calcium. Restricted feeding is advised during growth and no food-additives are required when commercially prepared complete dog foods are used.

Gastric retention of enteric-coated aspirin tablets in beagle dogs.

Administration of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in the dog may cause gastric mucosal damage. Enteric-coated tablets protect the canine stomach during oral ASA medication. A therapeutic plasma salicylate concentration can be attained using enteric-coated ASA tablets at a dose rate of 25 mg/kg body wt, administered every 8 h. Six beagle dogs were given enteric-coated ASA tablets (500 mg) orally, in a 5-day cross-over experiment on two different feeding regimens: i.e. feeding once daily (Group I) or 8 hourly (Group II). Results demonstrate that feeding regimen strongly influences the plasma salicylate concentration pattern. Subtherapeutic mean plasma salicylate concentrations were found in both groups. In Group II the standard deviation (SD) of the mean plasma salicylate concentration was larger than that of Group I. The minimal plasma salicylate concentration never reached detectable levels in Group II. In both groups large numbers of tablets were vomited. Gastric evacuation of the ASA tablets is comparable to indigestible solid particles; their removal was dependent on the interdigestive gastric motility. It is concluded that large enteric-coated ASA tablets are not suitable for therapeutic use in small dogs.