RADIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THORACIC CONFORMATION AND THE RISK OF GASTRIC DILATATION-VOLVULUS IN DOGS

To test the hypothesis that breeds of dogs with a deeper and narrower thorax have an increased risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), th oracic depth, width, and length were measured for 437 dogs of 17 diffe rent breeds using radiographs on file at the Veterinary Teaching Hospi tal of the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine for the per iod of 1977 to 1993, These data were applied to risk estimates of GDV that were generated from a separate case control study using the Veter inary Medical Data Base. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to relate the mean thoracic measurements and the ideal, adult body siz e of the breeds to the risk of each breed developing GDV, When the ris k of GDV was evaluated as a function of the mean thoracic depth/width ratio alone, or as a function of the thoracic depth/width ratio plus i deal adult breed weight, 37% (p = 0.009) and 76% (p = 0.022), respecti vely, of the variability in GDV risk was explained, These findings sup port the hypothesis tested and suggest that selective breeding can be used to decrease a breed's risk of GDV over time.