Elbow Dysplasia

[Nebulosa]

Originally Posted by rolf

Thanks nebulosa, But don`t understand what you mean with these numbers and I have no idea what norberg angle is ? ...But I have been reading some articles in the past, stating that HD(I don`t remember if ED also were mentioned) is many times not that a big problem for the dog, if it have strong musculation and live a healthy life(not saying that it is never a problem for some dogs or is does`nt matter for breeding).

Lets try to put it in percentage.
Hereditability of HD: 20% to 40%
Herebitability of ED: 40% of 100%
Depending of the breed.

In easy words, Norberg Angles are the meassure of the angle formed by the center of the femor head with the acetabulum border, those angle is one thing evaluated in the HD exam and different angles results in different HD results.
Basically, when more far the femoral head is from acetabulum, less angles it will have, worst result the dog will have.
Actually, this metod works pretty well and really helps the selection of the dogs, for sure it will show a displasic dog without any problems as it will show any kind of degeneration already existent, but the polemic of the metod is that the laxity of the cartilage cannot be really evaluate in the X rays, so we can see some cases of females in heath who had receive bad results in the first X rays, and a normal one with nice results about 2 months after it because the hormonal incluence in the cartilages, we also have few cases of very old dogs with bad norberg angles but no damage at all in the femor, but this last one seems to be pretty rare.
Remembering that now we have the Distraction metod ( pennhip) which evaluate the laxity, but unhapply its still not avaible for every country like the well know X-ray metod.
I think this part already reply you the next one, what is the difference in a HD C dog and a ED 1 dog, as the two are considerated displasic

Maybe I am stupid, but HD = Hip Dysplasia and ED = Elbow Dysplasia, so it is Dysplasia in the hips and in the elbows, how come one is worser than another, I mean it is the same thing, but in different places, so the degree of how bad or good it is, must be in the scales HD = A, B, C, etc. and ED = 0/0, 1/1, 2/2, etc. ? ...or am I totally wrong ?

Rolf

A dog with ED 1 was evaluate like that because the veterinary already found a degeneration, that means a dog with ED 1 already have the signals of degeneration, like Osteophytes or sclerosis while an displasic C dog can receive those results without have any degeneration, but bad Norberg angles. When you have the Elbow signal and results pretty clear, you don't have such certainly in Hips, don't wonder why on HD you have some degrees before consider a dog affected or not, while on ED or the dog is clear or he is already affected and the others results will only show how worst it is.