5-YEAR LONGITUDINAL-STUDY ON LIMITED FOOD-CONSUMPTION AND DEVELOPMENTOF OSTEOARTHRITIS IN COXOFEMORAL JOINTS OF DOGS

Objective-To examine the effects of limited food intake on frequency a nd severity of osteoarthritis in coxofemoral joints of Labrador Retrie vers. Design-Dogs were paired according to gender and body weight, wit hin each litter, at 8 weeks of age. One dog of each pair was fed ad li bitum. The limit-fed pairmate was fed 75% of The amount eaten the prev ious day by the ad libitum-fed counterpart. Animals-48 Labrador Retrie vers. Procedure-All dogs received the same diet. Radiographic evaluati on of coxofemoral joints for frequency and severity of osteoarthritis were made when dogs were 4 and 6 months and 1, 2, 3, and 5 years old. Results-Radiographic evaluation for osteoarthritis indicated greater f requency and more severity of osteoarthritis in the ad libitium-fed gr oup of dogs. Clinical implications-Analysis of data suggested that lim it feeding of dogs over a 5-year period minimizes development of osteo arthritis in the coxofemoral joints.