Hip Joint Laxity in Small Dog Breeds A Radiological Study

without osteoarthritis by stressing the joint with an exact amount of weight (12 and 20 kg) in dog breeds of small size. Material & MethodsAll dogs were euthanized due to other reasons than back and/or hind leg problems at the University Hospital for Small Animal with an overdose of barbiturate less than 20 minutes before the stress procedure were performed.All 55 dogs of 15 different breeds having a body weight of 16 kg or less and age from 3 to 14 years had their Coxo-Femoral joints radiographed in ventrodorsal projection in dorsal recumbence position (Siemens Polydores LX50, Fuci Film and 3M Trimax intensifying screens).The chest was fixed and tension was applied equally to each leg with a chain around the hocks connected to spring-loaded weight via a bar across both hocks.The dogs were radiographed, first with no tension on the hips figure 1 and then with tension (measured with the spring balanced weight) on both hind legs of 12 kg figure 2 and 20 kg