Prevalence and Pattern of Non-Trauma Induced Bone Disorders Among Young Dogs Presented At The Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University Of Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

The study evaluated the prevalence and pattern of orthopaedic conditions in young dogs below one year presented at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Ibadan Nigeria from January 2015 to April 2019. Out of two hundred and thirty-eight (238) patients presented for surgical management, fifty-one cases (21%) were orthopaedic in nature, and thirty-two cases (62.7%) involved young dogs below 1-year-old. Seventy-five percent (75 %) were males while 25 % were female. Fifty percent of young dogs presenting with fracture had no apparent bone disorders. Some (15.6%) had Legg-Calve Perthes disease (LCPD) with or without fracture. While 12.5%  had Osteopenia with or without fracture. Other observed bone disorders included: hypertrophic osteodystrophy with or without fracture (6.3%), osteochondrosis (6.3%), and hyperostosis (3.1%). Fifty percent of fractures occurred on the tibia and fibula, 31% occurred on the femur, 13% were on the radius and ulna, and 6% were on the humerus. The bones of most of the patients were low in radiographic opacity, presenting with thin cortical margins and enlarged medullary cavity, with resultant low cortical bone index. The mean cortical bone index for the femur was 0.107±0.04, and tibia was 0.09 ± 0.04. Those of humerus and radio-ulna were not included  for low case numbers. We therefore conclude that bones disorders, with or without fracture, are common in young dogs presenting lameness in Ibadan, Nigeria, and should be noted during patient routine examination, and pet-owners counselling on pets’ care for proper bone health.

Key words: Non-traumatic, Bone disease, Fracture, Young dogs