The Following Artical Was taken From The Penn Hip Website. 

Hip Dysplasia

 

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Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) afflicts millions of dogs each year and can result in debilitating orthopaedic disease of the hip. Many dogs will suffer from osteoarthritis, pain, and lameness, costing owners and breeders millions of dollars in veterinary care, shortened work longevity, and reduced performance.The occurrence of CHD is well documented in the large and giant breed dogs, but there is also evidence that CHD is prevalent in many small and toy breeds as well as in cats.

Hip dysplasia was first described in 1937. It is a disease of complex inheritance. Accordingly, veterinarians and dog breeders have attempted to eliminate CHD through selective breeding strategies. However, the reduction of CHD frequency in pure-breed dogs has been disappointing.

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What is CHD?

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A Brief Anatomical Review

The hip is a ball and socket joint. The "ball" is known as the femoral head. The "socket" part of the joint is known as the acetabulum. The femoral head is attached to the inside of the acetabulum by the round ligament or ligamentum teres and to the periphery of the acetabulum by the joint capsule (see illustration). The joint capsule is a continuous envelope that surrounds the joint from the neck of the femur to pelvic bones around the acetabulum, this closed compartment is filled with a viscous, lubricating fluid called synovial fluid. Both the joint capsule and the synovial fluid play an important role in the stability of the hip joint and ultimately in the development of CHD.

The muscles that cause rotation of the hip (not shown) are also extremely important for hip stability. Each individual muscle develops a force component that pulls the femoral head into the acetabulum. For optimal function and stability of the hip, these forces require complex dynamic coordination and balance.

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CHD Definitions

Dysplasia comes from the Greek words dys, meaning "disordered" or "abnormal", and plassein meaning "to form". The expression hip dysplasia can be interpreted as the abnormal or faulty development of the hip. Abnormal development of the hip causes excessive wear of the joint cartilage during weight bearing, eventually leading to the development of arthritis, often called degenerative joint disease (DJD) or osteoarthritis. The terms DJD, arthritis and osteoarthritis are used interchangeably.

CHD was first described in 1937 by Dr. Gerry B. Schnelle. In a paper entitled Bilateral Congenital Subluxation of the Coxofemoral Joints of a Dog Schnelle writes: "The condition described herein, rare though it may be, should be recognized as being congenital and potentially hereditary, and the dog or bitch in which it occurs should be destroyed or sterilized in the eugenic interests of the breed."

In 1966, Henricson, Norberg and Olsson refined the definition of CHD describing it as: "A varying degree of laxity of the hip joint permitting subluxation during early life, giving rise to varying degrees of shallow acetabulum and flattening of the femoral head, finally inevitably leading to osteoarthritis." Today, the general veterinary consensus is that hip dysplasia is hip joint laxity resulting in osteoarthritis.

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The Development of CHD

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It is generally agreed that hip joint laxity is somehow related to the development of DJD. However, prior to the research conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, there existed little or no scientific evidence to bolster this empirical association. The magnitude of hip laxity had not been correlated with the presence or the extent of DJD. The above definitions of CHD are vague as to the amount of laxity required to bring about arthritic change. The science behind the PennHIP method has shown unequivocally that hip joint laxity is the most important risk factor for the development of DJD.

As described above, CHD is a developmental disease meaning that it is not present at birth, but develops with age. The series of radiographs below illustrate how a loose hip gradually develops DJD.

	At 6 months, this dog's hips exhibit extreme laxity, but no DJD.
		At 15 months, laxity is accompanied by the development of "mild" to "moderate" DJD: the femoral heads appear slightly "flattened", the femoral necks are beginning to thicken and the acetabular rims are in the early stages of remodeling.
	At 6 years, DJD has progressed into a "severe" form, marked by extreme bony remodeling of the acetabular cups and the femoral head and necks.

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CHD Diagnosis

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CHD in its severest form can be diagnosed by clinical signs, but it usually requires radiographic evidence of hip joint laxity and/or the appearance of DJD to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

An affected dog may have one or any combination of the following clinical signs:

• Presentation: 5 months to 12 months for the severe form of hip dysplasia; later for the chronic form
• Abnormal Gait
• Bunny-hopping When Running
• Thigh Muscle Atrophy (loss of muscle mass)
• Pain
• Low Exercise Tolerance
• Reluctance to Climb Stairs
• Audible "click" When Walking
• Increased Intertrochanteric Width ("points of hips" are wider than normal)

Clinical signs by themselves do not necessarily mean that a dog has hip dysplasia, other conditions of the hip can mimic CHD. A radiograph is essential for a more accurate assessment of the dog's hip joint integrity.

                                                                     

 

 

What is entropion?

Entropion is the inward rolling of the eyelid, most commonly the lower lid. This irritates the surface of the eye (the cornea) and may ultimately cause visual impairment.

Entropion is a common hereditary disorder in dogs. Selection for a particular conformation, of exaggerated facial features with prominent eyes and/or heavy facial folds, has created or worsened this problem in many breeds.

How is entropion inherited?

It is likely that ectropion is influenced by several genes (polygenic inheritance) that affect the skin and other structures that make up the eyelids, the way the skin covers the face and head, and the conformation of the skull.

What breeds are affected by entropion?

This problem occurs in many breeds. It is particularly severe in the mastiff, bullmastiff, Shar pei, and chow chow.

Entropion is seen in the Akita, American Staffordshire terrier,american bulldog, Pekingese, bulldog, pomeranian, pug, Japanese chin, Shih tzu, Yorkshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, dalmatian, old English sheepdog, rottweiler, Siberian husky, vizsla, weimaraner, toy and miniature poodle. It is also seen in hounds ( basset hound, bloodhound), spaniels ( Clumber spaniel, English and American cocker spaniel, English springer spaniel, English toy spaniel, Tibetan spaniel), and sporting breeds (Chesapeake Bay retriever, flat-coated retriever, golden retriever, Gordon setter, Irish setter, Labrador retriever).

Entropion is common in giant breeds such as the Great Dane, Bernese mountain dog, mastiff, Saint Bernard, Newfoundland, and Great Pyrenees. In these breeds the central lower lid is often ectropic while the lid at the corners of the eye is entropic. 

For many breeds and many disorders, the studies to determine the mode of inheritance or the frequency in the breed have not been carried out, or are inconclusive. We have listed breeds for which there is a consensus among those investigating in this field and among veterinary practitioners, that the condition is significant in this breed. 

What does entropion mean to your dog & you?

The problem is usually evident before a year of age. Discomfort from entropion will cause increased tearing and squinting. Your dog may be sensitive to light and may rub at its eyes. Chronic irritation by the turned-in eyelid may cause corneal ulceration and scarring which is painful and, if not corrected, can impair vision.

Dogs who have had surgical correction for a defect such as entropion may not be exhibited in the show ring.

How is entropion diagnosed?

The inrolling of the eyelid is readily apparent. Generally both eyes are affected. Depending on the degree of corneal irritation and the duration, there will be other signs such as those mentioned above. Your veterinarian will evaluate the degree of entropion and use flourescein dye to determine if there is any corneal ulceration. 

FOR THE VETERINARIAN:  The use of topical ophthalmic anaesthetic to anaesthetize the cornea and conjunctiva will enable eliminatation of the spastic component of the entropion in order to better evaluate the anatomic component. This is important before surgery is performed.

How is entropion treated

Entropion is corrected surgically. If possible it is best to delay surgery until the dog is an adult since the involved facial structures are still growing and changing.

More than 1 operation may be required. It is better to correct the entropion conservatively and repeat the operation later if necessary, than to overcorrect causing ectropion. In breeds such as the chow chow that have particularly severe entropion related to heavy facial folds, several surgeries may be required. 

Breeding advice

Entropion is one of the eye conditions that is a result of selection by breeders and a demand by the public for such features as excessively prominent eyes and heavy facial folds. A responsible breeding programme will choose animals for breeding with a more normal head conformation, so as to select away from these exaggerated facial features and the problems associated with them.

 

 

The following information on NCL was provided by BlueBloods  A/B's.

 

NCL

 

Canine Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL)

Information on NCL can be found

 on the website link below,

with specifics on the American Bulldog.

A test is now available to identify if a dog carries

a clear/carrier/affected NCL gene

by submitting a blood test for sampling....

This is a great breakthrough as testing

and breeding responsibly will help

ensure no AB's will ever be affected by the disease

from this particular mutated gene in the future....

www.caninegeneticdiseases.net

 

 

NCL TESTING
Below are the NCL Testing Definitions and Breeding Risk Guidelines:

 

TEST RESULT DEFINITIONS:

CLEAR

This finding indicates that the gene is not present in your dog.

Therefore, when used for breeding,

a Clear dog will not pass on the disease gene.


CARRIER

This finding indicates that one copy of the disease gene is present in your dog,

but that it will not exhibit disease symptoms.

Carriers will not have medical problems as a result.

Dogs with Carrier status can be enjoyed without the fear of

 developing medical problems but will pass on the disease gene 50% of the time.


AFFECTED

This finding indicates that two copies of the disease gene are present in the dog.

Unfortunately, the dog will be medically affected by the disease.

Appropriate treatment should be pursued by consulting a veterinarian.


BREEDING RISKS:

CLEAR X CLEAR = 100% CLEAR
Ideal Breeding Pair. Puppies will not have the disease gene

(neither as Carrier nor as Affected).
 

CLEAR X CARRIER = 50% CLEAR 50% CARRIER
Breeding Is Safe. No Affected puppies will be produced. However,

some of the puppies will be Carriers.
Accordingly, it is recommended that Carrier dogs

which are desirable for breeding be bred with Clear dogs in the future,

which will produce 50% carrier and 50% clear animals,

to further reduce the disease gene frequency.
These offspring should be tested for this defective gene,

and if possible, only the clear animals in this generation should be used
 

CARRIER X CARRIER = 25% CLEAR 50% CARRIER 25% AFFECTED
High Risk Breeding. Some puppies are likely to be Carriers

and some puppies are likely to be Affected.

Even though it is possible that there will be some clear puppies when

 breeding "Carrier to Carrier", in general,

 neither this type of breeding pair nor

"Carrier to Affected" are recommended for breeding.
 

CARRIER X AFFECTED = 50% CARRIER 50% AFFECTED
Breeding Not Recommended. -

All puppies will be genetically and medically affected
 

AFFECTED X AFFECTED = 100% AFFECTED
Breeding Not Recommended. -

All puppies will be medically affected

 

A test to identify the NCL gene is now also

 available at a lab in Europe.

Click on the link below to open a PDF file

which we have previously been

emailing to people upon request.

It contains information and submission form

with a translation copy also.

For testing at the Lab at the

University of Hanover, Germany.

 

 

NCL Information & Submission form for German Lab

 

 

As the American Bulldog is seen as a rare breed in the UK,

not all vets are aware of the health issues in this breed,

If your vet requires further information on NCL re the American Bulldog then forward them the links above and those below...

 

Further Reading:

 

Below are links to abstracts from the latest published articles

which your vet may have access to acquire the full versions:

• NCL Published Article 1

• NCL Published Article 2

 

Cherry Eye Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.

The medical term for 'cherry eye' is nictitans gland prolapse, or prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid. Unlike people, dogs have a 'third eyelid' that contains a tear gland and is located in the corner of each eye. Under normal circumstances, this gland is not visible and aids in the production of tears. For some reason, which is not completely understood, the gland of the third eyelid prolapses or comes out of its normal position and swells creating the condition known as cherry eye.  What dogs are likely to get cherry eye? Any dog can develop cherry eye, but there are several breeds that appear to have a higher incidence of developing it in both eyes. They are: the Beagle, Bloodhound, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Saint Bernard, and Shar-Pei. Dogs can acquire this condition at any age and it affects males and females equally. What causes it? The exact cause of cherry eye is not known, but it is strongly suspected that it is due to a weakness of the connective tissue that attaches the gland to the surrounding structures of the eye. The weakness of the connective tissue allows the gland to prolapse. Once the gland prolapses and is exposed to the dry air and irritants, it can become infected and/or begin to swell. The gland often becomes irritated, red, and swollen. There is sometimes a mucous discharge and if the animals rub or scratch at it, they can traumatize the gland further or possibly create an ulcer on the surface of the eye. What is the treatment? Treatment of cherry eye is very straightforward and consists of surgically repositioning the gland. Topical or injectable treatments of antibiotics and steroids are rarely effective in reducing the gland and allowing for correction without surgery. Because the exposed gland is at greater risk for further trauma or infection, prompt surgical replacement is the best choice. At one time, it was popular to surgically remove the gland as a way to correct this condition. While this procedure is often effective, it can create many problems later in the animals life. The gland of the third eyelid is very important for the production of tears. Without the tears produced by the third eyelid many dogs could suffer from the condition known as 'dry eye.' Dry eye or keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) is a serious condition that results from the decreased production of tears. When the third eyelid gland is removed, we are greatly increasing the chances for the development of this condition. The much better and preferred surgical option is to surgically tack the gland back into place with a suture that attaches the gland to the deeper structures of the eye socket. Most of these surgeries are performed quickly and have very few complications, and allow the gland to return to normal function. After the surgery, some animals may need to be placed on antibiotic ointment for a few days.   References and Further Reading Gelatt. Veterinary Ophthalmology. Lea & Febiger. Malvern, PA; 1991.