Breed Predisposition to Ununited Anconeal Process
Ununited anconeal process occurs primarily in large and giant breeds of dog, most common in German Shepherd dog. The condition affects male dogs approximately twice as frequently as female dogs, and is bilateral in 30% of the affected dogs. Clinical abnormalities are the result of the progressive degenerative disease of the elbow. Animals may show lameness as early as 4 months of age. The lameness is intermittent and may get worse after exercise or prolonged rest.
The advantages of knowing which breeds of dogs are at increased risk for Ununited Anconeal Process are evident. It can heighten awareness among breed club members, helping them make decisions about how to spend their foundation dollars, and it can lead to more emphasis being placed on methods to diagnose and genetically screen for the disease in that breed before animals are bred and genes are recycled to the gene pool.
Breeds at Risk for Ununited Anconeal Process
| Risk Factor |
Breed |
No. of Cases |
Controls |
Odds Ratio* |
95% Confidence Interval |
|
| Ununited Anconeal Process |
|
Total |
847 |
4,235 |
|
|
|
Basset hound |
7 |
33 |
2.7 |
1.2–6.1 |
|
Bernese mountain dog |
16 |
4 |
50.5 |
25.9–98.6 |
|
Chinese shar pei |
9 |
25 |
4.6 |
2.2–9.4 |
|
Chow chow |
20 |
19 |
13.3 |
7.8–22.6 |
|
English setter |
7 |
24 |
3.7 |
1.6–8.3 |
|
German shepherd dog |
130 |
200 |
8.2 |
6.2–10.9 |
|
Golden retriever |
83 |
215 |
4.9 |
3.6–6.7 |
|
Labrador retriever |
175 |
261 |
8.5 |
6.5–11.1 |
|
Mastiff |
8 |
5 |
20.2 |
8.9–45.9 |
|
Newfoundland |
12 |
11 |
13.8 |
7.1–26.8 |
|
Pomeranian |
8 |
27 |
3.7 |
1.7–8.1 |
|
Rottweiler |
167 |
77 |
27.4 |
20.5–36.6 |
|
Saint Bernard |
9 |
8 |
14.2 |
6.7–30.3 |
|
Mixed-breed dog |
83 |
1,048 |
1.0 |
|
| † Because only statistically significant ORs are included in the
Table, the sum of cases for each disease is not necessarily equal to the
total. |
|
References:
1. Breed Susceptibility for Developmental Orthopedic Diseases in Dogs
Elizabeth LaFond, DVM, Diplomate ACVS, Gert J. Breur, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS and Connie C. Austin, MPH, PhD
2. Osteochondrosis of the Shoulder, Ann Johnson, DVM, MS Diplomate ACVS, The American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS)
|