BILATERAL EPIPHYSIOLYSIS OF THE FEMORAL HEADS IN 2 DOGS

Two Shetland Sheepdogs that did not have a history of trauma were refe rred because of a gradual onset of lameness in the hind limbs. Bilater al slipped capital femoral epiphysis was di diagnosed. Separation of t he proximal femoral epiphysis that is not associated with trauma is re cognized as a distinct clinical syndrome in adolescent human beings an d swine, causing a condition called epiphysiolysis. The precise cause of this type of injury is unknown. Histologic lesions observed in the growth plates could have been the result of an abnormally high mechani cal load imposed by obesity. It is not known whether cartilaginous les ions observed in the physis of 1 dog represented a preexisting cartila ginous defect (dyschondroplasia) or a late stage of repair after separ ation of the capital femoral epiphysis.