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About 1 out of 953 evaluations of
German Shorthaired Pointer elbow x-rays are dysplastic
according the OFA website. Results through 2007.
Elbow dysplasia is a general
term used to identify an inherited polygenic disease in the elbow
of dogs. Three specific etiologies make up this disease and they
can occur independently or in conjunction with one another. These
etiologies include:
- Pathology involving the
medial coronoid of the ulna (FCP)
- Osteochondritis of the medial
humeral condyle in the elbow joint (OCD)
- Ununited anconeal process (UAP)
Studies have shown the inherited
polygenic traits causing these etiologies are independent of one
another. Clinical signs involve lameness which may remain subtle
for long periods of time. No one can predict at what age lameness
will occur in a dog due to a large number of genetic and
environmental factors such as degree of severity of changes, rate
of weight gain, amount of exercise, etc. Subtle changes in gait
may be characterized by excessive inward deviation of the paw
which raises the outside of the paw so that it receives less
weight and distributes more mechanical weight on the outside
(lateral) aspect of the elbow joint away from the lesions located
on the inside of the joint. Range of motion in the elbow is also
decreased.
*Digital x-ray
submission is now available from your vet to OFA. Please
check with your vet for more information.
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| 01/12/2006
- OFA NORMAL Left Elbow of Male GSP |
01/12/2006
- OFA NORMAL Right Elbow of Male GSP |
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If
you would like to submit a hip x-ray of your GSP as an example,
please send jpg and the sex of the animal, grade and report date to
haffner1@mindspring.com
Understanding
the OFA Elbow Dysplasia Number:
Example:
GR-EL500F36-PI
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GR = Breed
Code, in this case a Golden Retriever
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EL = OFA
Database, in this case Elbow (EL)
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500 =
Ascending numerical identifier given to each animal within a
breed evaluated as normal and given a number, in this case the
500th Golden to be given an elbow number
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F = Sex
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36 = The age
in months when the testing was done, in this case 36 months
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PI or VPI
= Indicates that the animal has been permanently
identified in the form of tattoo or microchip. If the dog is
permanently identified AND the id has been verified and signed
off by the attending veterinarian, a suffix of VPI is applied.
If the animals lacks permanent identification, a suffix of
NOPI is applied
HELPFUL
LINKS ON ELBOW DYSPLASIA
Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals - http://www.offa.org/elbowinfo.html
OFA
- Examining Elbow Dysplasia - http://offa.org/elbowarticle.pdf
Dogs needed for Elbow
Dysplasia Study - http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news/stories/news3888.html
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