New paper published on canine patellar luxation!

 Published: 10 Jun 2016 | Last Updated: 22 Nov 2016 13:59:56

A new VetCompass paper published this week in Canine Genetics and Epidemiology (CGE) explores patellar luxation in dogs attending primary-care practice in England.

Patellar luxation is one of the most common orthopaedic disorders of dogs and is a potential welfare concern because it can lead to lameness, osteoarthritis and pain. However, there are limited epidemiological data on the disorder relating to the general population of dogs in England.

This study aimed to investigate the VetCompass Programme database of dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England to report on the prevalence, risk factors and clinical management of diagnosed patellar luxation cases.

The prevalence of canine patellar luxation diagnosis was 1.30 % (95 % CI 1.21–1.39). Of the 751 incident cases, 293 (39.0 %) received medical management, 99 (13.2 %) received surgical intervention and 28 (3.7 %) were referred for further management.

Eleven breeds, including the Pomeranian and Yorkshire Terrier, were identified as being at increased odds of patellar luxation compared to crossbred dogs.  Increased odds of patellar luxation in dogs with bodyweight below their mean for breed and sex, and neutered dogs. 

Patellar luxation warrants inclusion as a welfare priority in dogs and control strategies that include this disorder should be considered as worthwhile breeding goals, especially in predisposed breeds.

CGE is an Open Access journal so the full length article text is available to all, free of charge and can be accessed from the link below or our Learn Zone Library page.

O'Neill DG, Meeson RL, Sheridan A, Church DB, Brodbelt DC: The epidemiology of patellar luxation in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 2016, 3(1):1-12.

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