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Objective: To describe the prevalence of elbow dysplasia (ED) in 13 dog breeds in France., Animals: A total of 18,870 elbow radiographs taken from 2002 to 2022 were evaluated by 2 independent examiners., Methods: For each breed, the incidence of each of the 4 International Elbow Working Group scoring classes was extracted from the database. Breeds were excluded if fewer than 150 radiographs had been read for that breed., Results: This study included 17,861 records for 13 dog breeds: American Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Old German Shepherd (Altdeutscher Schäferhund), American Staffordshire Terrier, Australian Shepherd, Belgian Shepherd, White Swiss Shepherd, Bernese Mountain Dog, Cane Corso, Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler, and Dogue de Bordeaux. The overall prevalence of ED was 11.4%, ranging from 1.1% in the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog to 32.2% in the Dogue de Bordeaux. The Dogue de Bordeaux, Rottweiler, Bernese Mountain Dog, and Cane Corso breeds were most commonly affected by ED. The prevalence of ED was significantly higher in male dogs than in female dogs (17.5% vs 10.5%, P < .05). Joint incongruity and fragmented coronoid process were the 2 most common primary ED lesions identified. The prevalence of ED among the dogs evaluated decreased over the timeframe of the study., Clinical Relevance: The results of this study help to clarify the prevalence of ED in different breeds in France. These data should be interpreted with caution as this study included a small percentage of the total number of dogs born for each breed in France over the study period.

Canine hip dysplasia (HD) is a complex developmental disease of the coxo-femoral joint and is one of the most common orthopedic conditions in dogs. Due to the genetic contribution, most of the programs fighting against HD recommend selective breeding that excludes affected dogs. Using the best-scoring dogs for breeding may reduce the prevalence of HD. In France, the phenotypic screening of coxo-femoral joint conformation remains a strategy for breeders to establish selection decisions. The HD prevalence was evaluated in 10 breeds, based on the assessment of 27,710 dogs, during the 1997-2017 screening period, which was divided into 3 homogeneous cohorts for analysis. The global HD prevalence varied widely among breeds from 5% (Siberian Husky) to 51.9% (Cane Corso). It decreased over time in 6 breeds, among which 4 (Cane Corso, Gordon Setter, Rottweiler and White Swiss Shepherd) showed a significant decrease. A statistically significant increase in HD prevalence was noted for the Siberian Husky. Although the efficacy of phenotype-based breeding programs remains controversial, our results are in accordance with several recent studies showing that long-term selection policies are valuable, as they may help decreasing the HD prevalence in some breeds. The complementary use of more recent tools such as estimated breeding values and genomics would probably help breeders achieve more substantive results., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of reduced-dosage ketoprofen with or without tramadol in dogs. Five healthy dogs receiving standard-dosage ketoprofen (2 mg/kg SC, then 1 mg/kg PO daily) comprised Group A. Twenty dogs with osteoarthritis were randomized to receive reduced-dosage ketoprofen (0.5 mg/kg SC once; 0.25 mg/kg PO daily) alone (Group B) or in combination with tramadol (5 mg/kg/day PO) (Group C). Treatments were administered for 28 days. Platelet aggregation time (PAT), gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were performed up to 60 days after treatment initiation. Pain was scored using a validated clinical metrology instrument up to D120. Data were analyzed with general linear mixed model for repeated measures (α = 0.05)., Results: PAT was not different between groups but was increased with time for all groups. GI lesion scores were higher in Group A than Groups B and C (day 28; P = 0.005) and were increased with time for Group A (P = 0.005). GFR was lower in Group A than Groups B and C (day 28; P < 0.01) and were decreased with time for group A (P < 0.001). Standard-dosage ketoprofen administration resulted in clinically relevant adverse effects. Pain score decreased in both treated groups (B and C) from D0 to D28. Need of rescue analgesia from D29 to D120 was higher in Group B than in Group C (P = 0.039)., Conclusions: The long-term safety profile of reduced-dosage ketoprofen is similar whether the drug is administered alone or in combination with tramadol to dogs with osteoarthritis. Analgesic efficacy of the combination looks attractive.

Objectives:  The main purpose of this article is to evaluate the correlation between the distraction index (DI) and Norberg angle values in distracted hips (distraction Norberg angle, DNA) at 4 months of age and the official hip score based on the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) grid at 12 months of age., Methods:  For dogs ( n  = 215) from two guide dog training organizations, the DI and DNA were measured by a single expert on distraction radiographs performed at 4 months of age. The FCI score was determined by the same expert at 12 months of age on a standard hip-extended view.Statistical analysis included receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and concordance correlation coefficient calculation., Results:  The mean DI was 0.48, the mean DNA was 86.5° and 59.5% of hips had an A FCI score. The concordance correlation coefficient of DI and DNA was 0.78. The DI threshold for D- and E-scored hips that was associated with the least misclassification was 0.58 (sensitivity [Se] = 0.6, specificity [Sp] = 0.82). The DNA threshold that was associated with the least misclassification was 85° (Se = 0.83, Sp = 0.68)., Clinical Significance:  DNA has a fair correlation with DI at 4 months and reflects hip passive laxity. D and E FCI scores at 12 months cannot be reliably predicted from the 4 months value of DI or DNA but 96% of hips with DI < 0.58 at 4 months had an A, B or C FCI score at 12 months of age. Similarly, 98% of hips with DNA > 85° at 4 months had an A, B or C FCI score at 12 months of age., Competing Interests: None., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Objectives:  This article evaluates the variation in the distraction index (DI) and Norberg angle measurement with the femur in a neutral position and the hips distracted (distraction Norberg angle [DNA]) between 4, 6 and 12 months of age., Methods:  Radiographic data from dogs ( n  = 306) line-bred for favourable characteristics, including hip conformation, were reviewed. Dogs underwent stress radiographs, using a Vezzoni distractor, at 4, 6 and 12 months of age. The DI and DNA were calculated, and their evolution was studied for the total population and the sub-category of hips with a DI > 0.7., Results:  For the total population, the DI showed a significant increase from 4 to 6 months and a significant decrease at 12 months. For the hips with a DI > 0.7 at 4 months, DI at 6 and 12 months showed a significant decrease (0.14 and 0.26, respectively, on average). For the total population, the DNA followed the same pattern as the DI, and the values are significantly associated ( p  < 0.001)., Clinical Significance:  The DI varies significantly from 4 to 12 months in dogs, and the time of radiographic evaluation of hip laxity may strongly influence the value of the DI. The DNA is strongly related to the DI, and its use as a more convenient indicator of hip laxity in dogs should be further investigated., Competing Interests: None., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)