The Prevalence of Coxofemoral Osteoarthritis in Small Dog Breeds and HD Screening in Cairn Terries A Clinical Radiological Study

Background: The prevalence of coxofemoral osteoarthritis being very high, > 40 %, in some large dog breeds.The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of osteoarthritic changes in the hip joints in small dog breeds and study the clinical relevance of Hip Dysplasia scoring in Cairn Terries in Denmark. Methods:In a five-year-period study of 2423 small dog breeds (< 15 kg) at the University Hospital, Copenhagen the prevalence of osteoarthritis in the hip joints was calculated A full clinical examination was performed and hip joint radiographs taken in 18 Cairn Terriers, earlier officially scored for hip dysplasia by The Danish Kennel Club, 13 of them with a score of C, D or E respectively.Results: The prevalence of coxofemoral osteoarthritis in small dog breeds was found to be 0.5 %, which is in accordance with earlier published studies in small dog breeds in other countries.In 18 Cairn Terriers, no correlation was found between the initial Hip Dysplasia scoring and clinical signs indicating discomfort.No evidence of osteoarthritis and no progression of hip joint laxity or deformation could be found on the follow up radiographs taken > 18 months (mean.38 months) after the initial radiological examination evaluated for official HD screening.Conclusion: Due to the very low prevalence in osteoarthritis in small dog breeds and low clinical significance of the radiological scoring of the hips in Cairn Terrier according to parameters set by FCI it cannot be recommended to use the same parameters in Cairn Terrier as in large dog breeds in routine screening programmes for Hip Dysplasia in Cairn Terriers.