Diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Growth disorders.
HIP JOINT DYSPLASI, abbreviated HD
HD is an incorrect development of the hip joint and a relatively common skeletal disorder in many dog breeds.
The risk of a dog developing HD is conditioned by both heredity and environment, the heredity is complex (quantitative). This means i.a. that even dogs with normal hip joints (grade A or B) can produce offspring that develop HD. The risk that a dog with normal hip joints will produce offspring that develops HD increases if its parents and / or siblings have HD. The disturbance in the development of the joint takes place during the dog's growing up. Only when the skeleton has grown fully can the appearance of the hip joints be assessed with the help of X-rays.
Grade status is graded according to standards set by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI). The standards are based partly on the fit between the hip joint ball and the hip joint cup, and partly on the depth of the cup, ie. how deep the hip joint ball is inside the bowl. The trails are graded in 5 groups:
A normal hip joints grade A
B normal hip joints grade B
C mild dysplasia
D moderate dysplasia
E high-grade dysplasia
It is impossible to read with the help of an X-ray image alone if a dog has problems with its HD. There are dogs that are lame and show other signs of pain even though they only have a mild dysplasia, while some dogs with severe dysplasia appear completely asymptomatic. In general, small dogs have less problems with hip dysplasia than larger and heavier dogs.
HD may sooner or later cause wear and tear of the cartilage in the hip joint. The cartilage wear can not be seen on the X-ray image, but in cases where bone deposits occur, these can be distinguished on an X-ray image. The deposits usually increase with age and sometimes lead to the hip joint becoming completely deformed in the old dog.
Hip and elbow dysplasia, HD and ED, are common in many, especially large, dog breeds. Since 2012, breeding values, also called indices, have been estimated for HD and ED to get more efficient breeding work for better joint health in dogs.
Index means that, in addition to the individual's own X-ray result for HD, relatives' results are also taken into account in order to estimate the dog's inherited ability regarding these characteristics. The index for HD is routinely estimated every week and the values are published in SKK's Breeding data .
Cane Corso, like most other breeds, has certain diseases that are more common.
It is important that all breeders use healthy breeding animals and conduct breeding work that leads to improved health in the breed.
Because the breed is relatively large and heavy with rapid growth, joint diseases are something the breed suffers from more often than the average dog, according to insurance companies' statistics.
In 2020, the RACC conducted a comprehensive health survey in the form of a questionnaire. This study showed that diseases and injuries in the musculoskeletal system are among the most common ailments a Cane Corso incurs in life. Cane corso is a powerful and fast-growing breed, this can be linked to the fact that 25% of the respondents report injuries / symptoms on the musculoskeletal system, such as lameness, osteoarthritis, cruciate ligament injuries and HD / ED. In total, 60% of these cases require surgery, with long rehabilitation and pain for the dog and large costs for the pet owner and insurance companies.
There are health programs for members of the Swedish Kennel Club, both in terms of both physical and mental health, as well as programs that limit the use of an individual breeding animal.
Cane Corso has SKK's health program level 3 for HD and index
Swedish parent animals may have HD grade A, B or C
Foreign breeding animals must have HD grade A or B.
Dogs with hip status D or E may not be used in breeding , regardless of HD index
Animals with clinical symptoms must not be used in breeding regardless of X-ray results
Recommendation:
That the index exceeds 100 on breeding animals
To use individuals who give a litter index of over 100 current HD at the time of mating
Picture 1. A / A hips on Cane Corsotik.
Figure 2. C / D hips on Cane Corsotik.
Figure 3. E / E hips with bearings on Cane Corsotik.
ELBOW DYSPLASI, abbreviated ED (from English Elbow)
Elbow dysplasia means an abnormal development of the elbow joint and is abbreviated ED after the English name elbow dysplasia.
ED is a collective name for various growth disorders that lead to bone deposits in the elbow joint, which can be distinguished relatively clearly by X-ray.
Common to the various growth disorders is that small but significant parts of the articular cartilage do not develop normally or that it is damaged due to disturbed development in the surrounding bone tissue.
Elbow dysplasia, ED, is common in many, especially large, dog breeds. Since 2012, breeding values, also called indices, have been estimated for ED to get more efficient breeding work for better joint health in dogs.
Index means that, in addition to the individual's own X-ray result for ED, relatives' results are also taken into account in order to estimate the dog's inherited ability regarding these characteristics. The index for ED is routinely estimated every week and the values are published in SKK's Breeding data .
Cane Corso, like most other breeds, has certain diseases that are more common.
It is important that all breeders use healthy breeding animals and conduct breeding work that leads to improved health in the breed.
Because the breed is relatively large and heavy with rapid growth, joint diseases are something the breed suffers from more often than the average dog, according to insurance companies' statistics.
Unlike the methodology for reading X-rays of hip joints, where you directly assess the possible defect in the development of the joint and then separately indicate how large deposits have been added (osteoarthritis degree), in the case of elbow joints it is usually only possible to read if there are bone deposits and then grade these.
In the central examination of the X-rays, elbow osteoarthritis is graded according to the following scale, which is also used internationally:
0 no detectable changes
IN mild bone deposits, up to 2 mm
II moderate bone deposits, 2 - 5 mm
III heavy bone deposits, over 5 mm
There is no definite association between the degree of bone deposits and pain symptoms, but young dogs, with moderate or heavy deposits, often show stiffness and lameness, especially after strenuous exercise.
The heredity of ED is complex where both heredity, with many genes in collaboration (polygen), and the environment are contributing factors to the development of the disease.
Cane Corso has SKK's health program level 2 for ED and index
Both parent animals in the breeding combination have been officially approved by SKK for ED results
Foreign breeding animals must have known ED status
Animals with clinical symptoms must not be used in breeding regardless of X-ray results
Recommendation:
That the index exceeds 100 on breeding animals
To use individuals who give a litter index of over 100 current ED at the time of mating
OSTEOCHONDROS, abbreviated OCD
Bogleden
Information from Evidensia: Osteochondrosis is a very common growth disorder in the bowel joint. Part of the articular cartilage and underlying bones die and detach from the substrate. With arthroscopy, the damaged tissue is removed. To get a quick and effective healing of the cartilage damage, a technique called microfracture is often used. This means that with a small metal tip you create microscopic openings in the bone where blood vessels can grow in and facilitate healing. Damage to the collateral ligaments (lateral ligaments) in the bow joint is common. On the one hand, a technology is used where a radio frequency probe that is inserted into the joint "shrinks" joint capsule and stretched ligaments and starts a scar formation that stabilizes the joint. On the one hand, broken ligaments can now be repaired directly with sutures via arthroscopy. Damage to the biceps tendon that passes through the bow joint can be diagnosed and remedied via arthroscopy.
The elbow joint
Information from Evidensia: Osteochondrosis and fragmentation of the processus coronoideus (FCP) are very common growth disorders that cause lameness in medium and large dog breeds. Early diagnosis and action are of great importance for the prognosis to be as good as possible. The dogs sometimes show symptoms even before you see any damage on the X-ray, and then an arthroscopy should be done immediately. It is very important not to dismiss lameness in growing dogs with "it is probably growing pains"! There is no such thing as growing pains in dogs! If a lameness persists for more than a few days, growing dogs should always be examined by an orthopedist so that joint damage can be found and repaired as early as possible.
The knee joint
Information from Evidensia: In the knee joint, the growth disorder osteochondrosis is very common. The dog may show symptoms as early as 5-6 months of age, but it also happens that the damage is not discovered until much later. The most common injuries to the knee joint are cruciate ligament and meniscus injuries. The diagnosis can be made very accurately with arthroscopy and damaged parts of the cruciate ligament and menisci are removed at the same time. In the case of cruciate ligament injuries, a stabilization is then performed, eg TPLO or TTA surgery. Meniscus injuries without concomitant cruciate ligament injury are treated completely arthroscopically.
Hasleden
In the hock joint, it is mainly injuries caused by osteochondrosis that are treated with arthroscopy.
It is never possible to use dogs with clinical symptoms - whether they have X-ray changes or not
Recommendation:
Not to use dogs diagnosed with OCD in breeding
CROSSBAND INJURIES, completely or partially broken cruciate ligaments
Injuries to a cruciate ligament often occur as a consequence of a prolonged weakening of the cruciate ligament, but can also occur if the knee is exposed to severe trauma.
Information from AniCura: In each knee joint there are two cruciate ligaments, the front and the back. The cruciate ligaments attach to the articular heads of the femur and tibia and are intended to stabilize the knee joint in forward and backward movement. Injuries to the cruciate ligament often occur as a result of a chronic joint disease in the knee joint, where the ligament is gradually broken down. When the cruciate ligament is sufficiently weakened, it is sufficient for the dog to accidentally step on it or overload the joint for the cruciate ligament to rupture completely or partially. Cruciate ligament injury can also affect a healthy cruciate ligament in connection with violent trauma, such as in a traffic accident. Usually it is the anterior cruciate ligament that is affected.
Symptoms
Cruciate ligament injuries are more common in older, overweight dogs of larger breeds and dogs that have a tendency to overstretch the knee joint. A dog that is exercised irregularly and intensively, for example during hunting or tough play, is more likely to suffer traumatic cruciate ligament injury. Then the following symptoms can be seen:
Sudden severe lameness on one hind leg. It can look like the dog has pain in one toe, as it likes to hold up the leg and avoid supporting the paw.
The area around the knee joint becomes tender and swollen, which can especially be felt on the inside of the knee joint.
In a sitting position, many dogs can keep the injured leg relieved and extended from the body, instead of having it bent.
After a couple of weeks, some dogs can start to support the leg again during movement, but preferably relieve it at rest. The thigh muscles can become stiff and tense, and the area around the knee joint feels wider than normal.
Diagnosis
The veterinarian performs a heel examination, with observation of how the dog moves in different gaits, followed by a manual examination of the musculoskeletal system, where, among other things, different joints are bent and stretched. A typical sign of cruciate ligament injury is the so-called pull box, when it is possible to displace the tibia in relation to the femur inside the joint. This examination is painful for the dog and the muscles in the area are tense, which makes the examination more difficult. Therefore, any drawer is checked during sedation, ie the dog is given sedatives before.
X-ray examination of the skeleton and joints also often needs to be done during sedation, in order for the image projections to be correct. Sometimes cruciate ligament injury can be discerned on X-ray, especially if the condition has been present for a long time.
It is never possible to use dogs with clinical symptoms
Recommendation:
Not to use a dog that has or has had injuries, partial or complete ruptures, in / on the ligaments in breeding - if these injuries have not been found to be due to external violence