Osteochondrosis. Legg-Perthes Disease. Patellar Luxation (Dogs)

Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis describes a condition characterized by abnormal development and growth of joint cartilage. It is seen in young dogs and usually strikes larger breeds.

Reasons:

1. overfeeding

2. cartilage injury.

Clinical signs:

1. inflammation of joints

2. lameness

The shoulder, elbow, knee, and hock joints are the regions most commonly affected.

Diagnosis.Radiographic X rays are used to definitively diagnose osteochondrosis in a dog. In many of these dogs, healing will occur spontaneously over 4 to 6 weeks with strict cage rest.

Treatment:

1. removal of a dead cartilage

2. use of anti-inflammatory drugs

3. glycosamine

4. chondratine sulfate

5. hyaluronic acid

Legg-Perthes Disease

Legg-Perthes disease, or ischemic femoral head necrosis, is an orthopedic condition involving the hips of smaller breeds of dogs, such as Yorkshire terriers and miniature poodles. This condition is characterized by a degeneration of the head of the femur bone—that portion which fits into the socket of the pelvis to form the hip joint. Hereditary in nature, Legg-Perthes disease usually appears around 3 to 9 months of age. Clinical signs associated with this disease include lameness and painful hips. On radiographic diagnosis, treatment for Legg-Perthes disease involves surgical removal of the head of the affected femur(s).

Patellar Luxation (Dogs)

Patellar luxation is an orthopedic condition in which the patella, or kneecap, “slips” to one side of the knee joint, causing pain and loss of the joint function. Medial patellar luxation, in which the patella slips to the inside surface of the joint, is most often seen in the toy breeds, such as Yorkshire terriers, poodles, and Pomeranians. It is caused this disease the wrong anatomic development of bones, the including knee joint is.

Signs of this problem can occur as early as 6 months of age in affected dogs. An easily displaced patella found on physical examination will confirm a diagnosis of patellar luxation. Radiographs are helpful as well to determine the extent of arthritis involvement, if any at all.

Surgical correction of patellar luxation is the treatment of choice in these pets. This involves altering the anatomy of the tibia (the shin-bone that makes up the lower portion of the knee joint) in such a way that the patella is not allowed to slip to either side.

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