Post by trinitydobes on Aug 13, 2011 13:57:59 GMT -5
Canine Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy
Noa Safra, DVM PhD, at the Bannasch Laboratory at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine is conducting a study to identify the genes responsible for hypertrophic Osteodystrophy in Weimaraners and other susceptible breeds.
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD) is a canine developmental disease affecting rapidly growing, large dogs between eight weeks and eight months of age. Affected puppies suffer joint pain that results in lameness or complete refusal to stand or walk. The joint pain is often accompanied by general signs of illness that include fever, lethargy and anorexia. HOD is treated by supportive care and is considered to be age limited. HOD may affect puppies from any large breed as well as mixed breeds. Breeds reported to be predisposed to HOD are the Great Dane, Boxer, German Shepherd dog, Labrador Retriever, Irish Setter and Weimaraner. In Weimaraners, HOD is often a severe condition with systemic signs of hyperthermia, anorexia, recumbency and pain. Additional signs may include diarrhea, puppy acne and discharge from the eyes and nose. Sick Weimaraner puppies may have several episodes of HOD until complete closure of the growth plates, and these recurrences often require hospitalization for intensive care. The severe pain and poor quality of life, accompanied by the high costs of hospitalization, have led some owners to elect euthanasia. Even though most HOD cases have a good prognosis, some cases continue to suffer from different degrees of illness as adults. HOD diagnosis is founded based on specific radiographic findings as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: A. Mediolateral view of distal radius and carpal joint of HOD case #14. Irregular radiolucent line (arrow) in the metaphysis separated from the physis by a radio-opaque band. A radiodense zone is visible between the radiolucent band and the growth plate. B. Anteroposterior view of a normal carpal joint of control #135.
We are currently accepting samples from HOD affected dogs of any breed. For details on how to contribute to the study please contact Dr Noa Safra nsafra@ucdavis.edu or drnoasafra@gmail.com
Noa Safra, DVM PhD, at the Bannasch Laboratory at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine is conducting a study to identify the genes responsible for hypertrophic Osteodystrophy in Weimaraners and other susceptible breeds.
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD) is a canine developmental disease affecting rapidly growing, large dogs between eight weeks and eight months of age. Affected puppies suffer joint pain that results in lameness or complete refusal to stand or walk. The joint pain is often accompanied by general signs of illness that include fever, lethargy and anorexia. HOD is treated by supportive care and is considered to be age limited. HOD may affect puppies from any large breed as well as mixed breeds. Breeds reported to be predisposed to HOD are the Great Dane, Boxer, German Shepherd dog, Labrador Retriever, Irish Setter and Weimaraner. In Weimaraners, HOD is often a severe condition with systemic signs of hyperthermia, anorexia, recumbency and pain. Additional signs may include diarrhea, puppy acne and discharge from the eyes and nose. Sick Weimaraner puppies may have several episodes of HOD until complete closure of the growth plates, and these recurrences often require hospitalization for intensive care. The severe pain and poor quality of life, accompanied by the high costs of hospitalization, have led some owners to elect euthanasia. Even though most HOD cases have a good prognosis, some cases continue to suffer from different degrees of illness as adults. HOD diagnosis is founded based on specific radiographic findings as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: A. Mediolateral view of distal radius and carpal joint of HOD case #14. Irregular radiolucent line (arrow) in the metaphysis separated from the physis by a radio-opaque band. A radiodense zone is visible between the radiolucent band and the growth plate. B. Anteroposterior view of a normal carpal joint of control #135.
We are currently accepting samples from HOD affected dogs of any breed. For details on how to contribute to the study please contact Dr Noa Safra nsafra@ucdavis.edu or drnoasafra@gmail.com