PREVALENCE AND INHERITANCE OF AND SELECTION FOR ELBOW ARTHROSIS IN BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOGS AND ROTTWEILERS IN SWEDEN AND BENEFIT-COST-ANALYSIS OF A SCREENING AND CONTROL PROGRAM

Objective-To determine the prevalence and changes over time in the pre valence of elbow arthrosis in Bernese Mountain Dogs and Rottweilers, t o ascertain whether prevalence or severity of elbow arthrosis was asso ciated with sex of the dogs, age at the time of elbow joint examinatio n, or ancestral background, to determine the effects of selective bree ding, and to conduct an economic evaluation of the elbow arthrosis pro gram operated by the Swedish Kennel Club. Design-Analysis of radiograp hic evaluations of elbow joint conformity. Animals-4,515 dogs from 2 b reeds registered by the Swedish Kennel Club. Procedure-All radiographs were scrutinized by a single radiologist (LA), and elbow joint confor mation was classified as normal or arthrotic, with the degree of arthr osis classified as 1, 2, or 3. Results-Decreasing prevalence of elbow arthrosis corresponding to selection of breeding stock and high herita bilities was found. Sex differences were documented in both breeds, bu t with contradictory directions. This was interpreted as breed differe nces in the distribution of genes related to elbow arthrosis, Economic analyses showed that costs of screening and registration of elbow joi nts was less than the value of dogs estimated to have been saved from moderate and severe elbow arthrosis in both breeds. Clinical Implicati ons-Documented effects of age suggest that all dogs should be screened at the same age, rather than screening a few dogs at an older, more r evealing age. In screening and control programs based on an open regis try with access to family records, decreasing prevalence of elbow arth rosis can be expected, and related to selection of breeding stock.