Health
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia definition from KUSA's websiteHip and Elbow Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a skeletal defect in dogs. In hip dysplasia, the ball portion (femoral head) of the hip is not securely seated in the socket portion (acetabulum). This condition is especially common in working and sporting breeds of dogs. Certain breeds are definitely predisposed. |
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Hip dysplasia is an inherited problem which is not usually present at birth. It develops within the first 6-8 months of life. The exact cause is unknown, but it is generally accepted that the condition is from the combined action of an unknown number of genes. Nutrition and environment are also believed to be contributing factors.
Concerned dog breeders and veterinarians have tried to reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia through selective breeding. X-rays has been performed on potential breeding pairs in an effort to determine the status of the hip joints. Some progress has been made toward reducing the severity and incidence of canine hip dysplasia, but progress has been slow.
Hip dysplasia is defined as a biomechanical disease. That is, the muscles do not develop and reach maturity at the same rate as the bones. Since the hip depends on muscle power to be stable, it can pull apart and trigger a series of events resulting in hip dysplasia.
If a pup is so poorly developed that it cannot walk, then the demands of the musculoskeletal support system are greater than the strength of the surrounding musculature. The muscles and ligaments are unable to maintain the needed relationship between the femoral head and the acetabulum.
This results in a partial or incomplete dislocation of the femoral head. The acetabulum is unable to develop properly if the femoral head is dislocated, and is shallower than normal when the pup reaches maturity. When the femoral head is dislocated, its cartilage covering is subjected to wear and tear. This eventually leads to a miss-shaped femoral head , and osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease.
The degree of hip dysplasia (mild, moderate, or severe) does not effect the signs exhibited by the affected dog. Signs may range from no symptoms to a pronounced disability. Symptoms can appear any time after 4 weeks of age, but are generally not detected, except in severe cases, until after 6 months of age.
Clinical signs of canine hip dysplasia include:
• Lameness after prolonged exercise• A waddling or swaying gait
• Morning stiffness
• Difficulty in standing up
• Reluctance to move
• Change in temperament
• Pain when moving the hip joints
• Limping
(These signs often appear worse on cold damp days)
Early clinical signs are caused by the stretching and tearing of the joint. This pain may disappear as scar tissue forms, and the puppy seems to get better. Unfortunately arthritis continues to get worse and eventually signs of pain appear again. Early treatment will slow or stop the development of arthritis.
The diagnosis of canine hip dysplasia is bases upon: history, symptoms, a complete physical exam, and X-rays. X-rays are necessary to confirm hip dysplasia. They can show:
• the shape and depth of the acetabulum
• the shape contour and position of the femoral head
• degenerative joint disease
Treatment
Hip dysplasia can be treated surgically, medically, or a combination of both. There is no cure for hip dysplasia, but with appropriate veterinary care affected dogs can live long, healthy, active lives. Non-surgical treatment can include:• enforced cage rest when the dog is experiencing discomfort
• mild analgesics
• anti-inflammatory drugs
There are several surgical procedures that can be attempted in young dogs, and if the disease is not severe:
• Cutting of the femur and/or the pelvis and repositioning the joint. This is recommended for dogs 6-12 months of age only.
• Cutting the pectineus muscle. This is useful in relieving pain in certain cases, but has no effect upon the progression of the disease.
• Removal of the femoral head and neck. and formation of a "false joint" between the proximal femur and the pelvic musculature. Small and medium sized dogs usually do better with this procedure than larger dogs.
• Total hip replacement. Although this procedure is expensive, many dogs are able to return to full activity.
How Prevalent Is Hip Dysplasia
Any dog can have dysplasia. But, based on test results from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, the highest incidence of dysplasia is as follows (March 2010):- Bulldog
- Pug
- Dogue De Bordeaux
- Otterhound
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- St. Bernard
- Clumber Spaniel
- Black Russian Terrier
- Sussex Spaniel
- Cane Corso
- Argentine Dogo
- Basset Hound
- Boykin Spaniel
- Norfolk Terrier
- Perro De Presa Canario
- American Bulldog
- French Bulldog
- Glen Of Imaal Terrier
- Fila Brasileiro
- Bloodhound
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Newfoundland
- Bullmastiff
- Maine Coon Cat
- English Shepherd
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- Louisiana Catahoula Leopard
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever
- Shiloh Shepherd
- Rottweiler
- Hybrid
- Golden Retriever
- Chow Chow
- Gordon Setter
- Norwegian Elkhound
- Mastiff
- Shih Tzu
- Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
- Cardigan Welsh Corgi
- German Shepherd Dog
- Field Spaniel
- Old English Sheepdog
- Kuvasz
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- Giant Schnauzer
- Chinook
- Beagle
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Entlebucher
- English Setter
- Polish Lowland Sheepdog
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Affenpinscher
- Spinone Italiano
- Australian Cattle Dog
- Curly-Coated Retriever
- Bouvier Des Flandres
- Brittany
- Black And Tan Coonhound
- Beauceron
- Briard
- Harrier
- Icelandic Sheepdog
- Leonberger
- Tibetan Mastiff
- Norwich Terrier
- Boston Terrier
- Chinese Shar-Pei
- English Springer Spaniel
- Pudelpointer
- Finnish Lapphund
- Portuguese Water Dog
- Akita
- Poodle
- Smooth Fox Terrier
- Komondor
- Welsh Springer Spaniel
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Irish Setter
- Irish Water Spaniel
- Great Dane
- Labrador Retriever
- Alaskan Malamute
- Airedale Terrier
- Petit Basset Griffons Vendeen
- Samoyed
- Boxer
- Small Munsterlander
- Border Collie
- Swedish Vallhund
- West Highland White Terrier
- Norwegian Buhund
- Anatolian Shepherd
- Puli
- Havanese
- Akbash Dog
- Great Pyrenees
- German Wirehaired Pointer
- American Eskimo Dog
- Coton De Tulear
- Standard Schnauzer
- Miniature Australian Shepherd
- Weimaraner
- French Spaniel
- Pointer
- Tibetan Spaniel
- Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
- Australian Kelpie
- American Water Spaniel
- Vizsla
- Havana Silk Dog
- Bichon Frise
- Bull Terrier
- Nova Scotia Ducktolling Ret.
- Cocker Spaniel
- Lhasa Apso
- Keeshond
- Doberman Pinscher
- Dutch Shepherd
- Bearded Collie
- Finnish Spitz
- Kerry Blue Terrier
- Tibetan Terrier
- Australian Shepherd
- Afghan Hound
- Schipperke
- Shiba Inu
- Hovawart
- English Cocker Spaniel
- Belgian Malinois
- Irish Wolfhound
- North American Shepherd
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Dalmatian
- Irish Red & White Setter
- German Shorthaired Pointer
- Flat-Coated Retriever
- Belgian Tervuren
- Border Terrier
- Basenji
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Belgian Sheepdog
- Collie
- Ibizan Hound
- Pharaoh Hound
- Australian Terrier
- Canaan
- Rat Terrier
- Greyhound
- Siberian Husky
- Borzoi
- Saluki
- Whippet
- German Pinscher
- Italian Greyhound
HD Breeding Restrictions
Only Rottweilers with hip scores of (0-0) A1, A2, B1, B2 may be mated to Rottweilers with hip scores of (1-1, 1-0 or 0-1) C1 or C2 (hips). Rottweilers with hip scores of (0-0) A1, A2, B1 or B2 (hips) may be mated to each other.ED Regulations
From 1 January 2009 all Rottweilers must have ED X-Rays taken and certificate submit with HD certificate when applying for BA/BST. (this is for record purpose only)Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD)
OCD is a disease of bone formation that leads to lameness and arthritis. It results from a disturbance of the process by which cartilage is turned into bone during the growth process. Abnormally thickened cartilage forms in areas of the joints that are subject to stress and, hence, prone to damage.Cracks form, and the cartilage can tear, forming a flap. This flap may remain attached to the bone, or it may tear away and float freely in the joint. The cracks, flap or free cartilage piece lead to inflammation of the joint (arthritis), pain and lameness. More than one joint is often affected simultaneously. In dogs, a the most commonly affected joint is the shoulder, followed by the elbow, hock and knee.
Paneosteitis
Sometimes referred to as "growing pains" or "pano", panosteitis occurs as a rotating lameness, usually in puppies about four months of age. There are tests for pano which should be done to rule out more serious problems. Sometimes crate rest is all a puppy needs for complete recovery.Von Willebrand's Disease (VWD)
VWD is a hereditary a bleeding disorder similar to hemophilia. Dogs affected with VWD may have symptoms ranging from prolonged bleeding of toenails cut short to hemorrhaging during minor surgical procedures. Dogs may be carriers while exhibiting no outward symptoms. VWD is diagnosed through blood screening.Bloat
Bloat is a common condition in which the stomach swells from gas, fluid or both. Bloat becomes a medical emergency when the stomach distends and then flips over, causing torsion. Bloat and torsion may be caused by over-eating, drinking large amounts of water after eating, and/or vigorous exercise after a meal. Efforts to prevent bloat may include feeding several small meals a day, crating the dog for several hours after eating, and monitoring water intake.Heart Diseases
The most common heart problem seen in Rottweilers is Sub-Aortic Stenosis. This disorder can be very mild or so serious that it results in sudden death. Reputable breeders, working with canine cardiologists, hope to identify the mode of inheritance of this and other heart problems.Allergies
Some Rottweilers are prone to flea and/or food allergies. Symptoms and severity of the allergies vary from dog to dog.Eye Diseases
Entropion (eyelids rolling inward) and Ectropion (Eyelids rolling outward) are inherited conditions which require surgical correction. Both of these conditions disqualify a dog from being shown in conformation competition.Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy (CPRA) and certain types of Cataracts are inherited conditions. Dogs used for breeding should be examined annually by a Board-certified Veterinary ophthalmologist, until at least eight years of age, as hereditary eye problems may not present themselves until later in life.