Elbow dysplasia in two german shepards of the same litter

Abstract

Background: Canine elbow dysplasia (ED) is a common developmental disorder of the cubital joint that can lead to varying degrees of degenerative joint disease in growing animals and adults. ED affects mainly young animals of large breeds, and its prevalence is higher in males. Canine ED have been extensively investigated, but much still remains to be discussed. Many studies report that ED is a congenital disease of genetic origin in dogs. Cases Presentation: Two German Shepherds from the same litter were diagnosed with ED, a 6-month-old female weighing 26 kg with a history of acute claudication of the left thoracic limb (LTL) and her male sibling, which was then 8 months old and weighed 33 kg when diagnosed, even though he showed no clinical signs of this condition. Radiographic and computed tomographic (CT) exams were performed and revealed a non-union of the anconeal process (NUAP), a medial coronoid process disease of the ulna, and severe joint incongruity of LTL in the female. In the male, the images indicated fragmentation of the coronoid processes for both thoracic limbs and slight incongruities in the LTL and right thoracic limb (RTL). Both were subjected to elbow surgery and had full recovery, with no pain in the region where the osteotomy was performed nor pain during extension or flexion of the limb, demonstrating that the chosen treatment was satisfactory. Discussion and conclusions: It was very important to show the ED cases in two animals (three elbows) of the same litter, indicating a great probability of genetical contribution to this pathology. They were diagnosed with anatomical changes in the elbow joint. ED affects developing animals, and most commonly males. Environmental factors and a complex genetic inheritance play an important role for its predisposition. Recent evidence strongly points to joint incongruity as the most likely cause of ED in most dogs. Elbow dysplasia can be considered a syndrome that involves several disorders of this joint, and has a genetic nature, since animals from the same litter can show similar changes in the elbow region, while being exposed to the same environment and feeding during the same period.