ISRAEL JOURNAL OF
VETERINARY MEDICINE
Book Review:
Vol. 57 (2) 2002
HEREDITARY BONE AND JOINT DISEASES IN THE
DOG OSTEOCHONDROSIS, HIP and ELBOW
DYSPLASIAS
J.P. Morgan, Alida Wind, Autumn P. Davidson
Schlütersche, Hannover, Germany, 2000. 310 pages. ISBN 3-87706-548-1
This book deals with the diseases of bones and joints of the dog with special attention to the
hereditary background of the problem, and especially in the larger breeds at various stages of
their development. The book is divided into 10 chapters and covers subjects of central
importance in the pathology of the skeleton and joints.
The three authors have taught for many years and have conducted research at the veterinary
hospital in Davis, California.They are specialists in radiology, orthopedic surgery and clinical
veterinary medicine.
The book is written systematically, is well organized, and clear and easy to read. There are a
large number of black and white photographs and many radiographs of very high quality.
Each photograph has an explanation that is short, concise and easy to follow. Each chapter
includes short and precise tables. References are abundant at the end of each chapter and
not in the text.
Technical comments:
Black and white photos could have been supplemented with colored photos in order to
emphasize the findings.
It is advisable to use a black or dark -haired dog for illustration to achieve a better contrast.
Canine Hip Dysplasia (C.H.D.)
Dysplasia - abnormal development of the hip joint. This condition was first described in 1935
as a disease of the head of the femur.
This disease is known today as a hereditary disease, prevalent mainly in large breeds.
Clinical signs depend on the degree of the changes in the hip joint and acetabulum. There is
pain on walking, running and partial or full rotation of the head of the femur and acetabulum. It
is accompanied by osteoarthritic changes of the joint.
There are several ways to diagnose C.H.D. The first is carried out radiographically. Under
general anesthesia, the dog is positioned on its back; the front legs are extended forwards
and the hind legs backwards in parallel. The kneecaps should be fully visible in the
radiograph. To achieve this, the thighs are rotated inwards. The dog must be fully symmetrical
on its back. Diagnostic radiographs should be taken at the age of 12 to 15 months.
The second method can be performed using general anesthesia in puppies at 8 to 12 weeks,
by palpating the joint’s mobility. An attempt to measure the inter-articular gap between the
femur head and the acetabulum is made. The extension of this gap is considered as an
indication of C.H.D.
The X-ray method is widely used in many clinics. The palpation method is very delicate and
performed less. This method, with all its variations, is not strictly defined and variations in the
results between examiners may vary considerably.
C.H.D. is a polygenetic disease. As stated above, it was first described based on clinical signs
and only much later was recognized as a hereditary disease.
The clinical experience gained throughout the years has contributed considerably to the
clinical, radiographic, orthopedic and hereditary studies of the canine hip joint.
Bone dysplasia in the Labrador retriever: a radiological study
Various hereditary diseases, accompanied by degenerative processes in the skeleton, hip
joint and its cartilage often affect the Labrador retriever. In this radiological study 1818 male
and female Labradors of 12 to 24 and 24 to 36 months were examined. Six hundred eighty
eight were found fully intact while skeletal and joint diseases affected 330. The condition was
considered hereditary.
In my opinion, the use of a single breed of dogs for such a study is the key to success,
provided that a large enough number of dogs can be included.
Progress in understanding the genetics of man and animals, together with advancements in
computer science, surgery and micro-surgery, will contribute considerably to further
developments in this area.
Finally, various research studies and forms are presented. They were published from
veterinary schools in Western Europe, which specialize in canine skeletal diseases, and
include full case histories and statistical notes.
In my opinion, this book should be in the library of every veterinarian and student of veterinary
medicine who wish to enhance their knowledge of this field.
Tadmor, D.V.M., Associate Professor emeritus in Surgery, Sakler Medical School, Tel Aviv
University.
LINKS TO OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE