Fractures secondary to nutritional bone disease in dogs: A review of 38 cases

The pattern of bone fractures secondary to nutritional bone disease in 38 d ogs was analysed using a radiographic survey. The majority of fractures mer e either caused by a fall (28.95 %) or showed no history of direct trauma ( 31.58 %). Mongrels mere more commonly affected by pathological fractures, f ollowed by Dobermanns and German Shepherds. Significantly more (P < 0.05) f ractures were found in dogs aged less than 6 months (64.71 %). The incidenc e of such fractures was significantly higher in males than in females (M : F = 2.70 : 1.00). General radiological signs included a generalized decreas e in cortical density, thinning of cortices and widening of metaphyses/epip hyses in most of the animals. Fractures mere found significantly more frequ ently (P < 0.01) in the femur (81.58 %) than in any other bone. Of the diff erent types of fracture, complete oblique and incomplete fractures mere mos t common.