title: Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, canine hip dysplasia, and sacroiliac joint degenerative changes on ventrodorsal radiographs of the pelvis in police working German shepherd dogs.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Radiology and Ultrasonography, Department and Clinic of Animal Surgery, University of Life Science in Lublin, Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: rkomsta@poczta.onet.pl.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Komsta
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Radiology and Ultrasonography, Department and Clinic of Animal Surgery, University of Life Science in Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Łojszczyk-Szczepaniak
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Radiology and Ultrasonography, Department and Clinic of Animal Surgery, University of Life Science in Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dębiak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006619:Hip Dysplasia, Canine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016916:Joint Deformities, Acquired / Q000662:veterinary; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016495:Police; D015995:Prevalence; D012446:Sacroiliac Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: canine hip dysplasia; lumbosacral transitional vertebrae; sacroiliac joint degenerative changes; working dogs