Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae, Canine Hip Dysplasia, and Sacroiliac Joint Degenerative Changes on Ventrodorsal Radiographs of the Pelvis in Police Working German Shepherd Dogs

Topics in Companion Animal Medicine

Volume 30, Issue 1, March 2015, Pages 10–15

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• Renata Komsta, DVM, PhD^{, ,} ,
• Anna Łojszczyk-Szczepaniak, DVM, PhD,
• Piotr Dębiak, DVM, PhD

 

doi:10.1053/j.tcam.2015.02.005

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Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LTV) frequently occur in German shepherd dogs. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and interdependence between LTV and canine hip dysplasia (CHD) as well as sacroiliac joint degenerative changes visualized on ventrodorsal radiographs of the pelvis in both working and companion German shepherd dogs. The presence of LTV was found in 12% of working dogs and in 33% of companion dogs. Similar incidence of hip dysplasia in both the groups was found. It has been shown that dogs with LTV have a higher frequency of severe CHD. A higher percentage of sacroiliac joint degenerative changes was observed in dogs with no signs of LTV and in working dogs.

Keywords

• lumbosacral transitional vertebrae;
• canine hip dysplasia;
• sacroiliac joint degenerative changes;
• working dogs

Address reprint requests to: Renata Komsta, DVM, PhD, Laboratory for Radiology and Ultrasonography, Department and Clinic of Animal Surgery, University of Life Science in Lublin, Głęboka 30 Street, 20-612 Lublin, Poland

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