Evaluation of risk factors for degenerative joint disease associated with hip dysplasia in German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Rottweilers

Objective-To determine whether age, breed, sex, weight, or distraction inde x (DI) was associated with the risk that dogs of 4 common breeds (German Sh epherd Dog, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Rottweiler) would have ra diographic evidence of degenerative joint disease (DJD) associated with hip dysplasia. Design-Cross-sectional prevalence study. Animals-15,742 dogs. Procedure-Hips of dogs were evaluated radiographically by use of the ventro dorsal hip-extended view, the compression view, and the distraction view. T he ventrodorsal hip-extended view was examined to determine whether dogs ha d DJD. For each breed, a multiple logistic regression model incorporating a ge, sex, weight, and DI was created. For each breed, disease-susceptibility curves were produced, using all dogs, regardless of age, and dogs grouped on the basis of age. Results-Weight and DI were significant risk factors for DJD in all breeds. For German Shepherd Dogs, the risk of having DJD was 4.95 times the risk fo r dogs of the other 3 breeds combined. In all breeds, the probability of ha ving DJD increased with age. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results indicated that the probability o f having hip DJD increased with hip joint laxity as measured by use of Di. This association was breed-specific, indicating that breed-specific informa tion on disease susceptibility should be incorporated when making breeding decisions and when deciding on possible surgical treatment of hip dysplasia .