Sacral osteochondrosis in two German Shepherd Dogs

Two young adult male castrated German Shepherd Dogs were referred for evaluation of intermittent episodes of hindlimb pain. Physical examination suggested lumbosacral stenosis, and plain radiographs and computed tomography revealed lesions consistent with sacral osteochondrosis. One dog had osteochondral fragments removed surgically; the other was managed conservatively. The surgically treated dog had complete resolution of clinical signs whereas the dog managed conservatively had repeated episodes of mild pain and received one short course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication in 18 months. Sacral osteochondrosis has not been previously reported in Australia.     

Kinematic analysis in healthy and hip-dysplastic German Shepherd dogs

This study investigated kinematic patterns in clinically normal German Shepherd dogs (GSDs) compared to those with hip dysplasia and with no clinical signs of lameness. Two groups of GSDs, including 10 clinically healthy dogs (G1) and 10 with hip dysplasia (G2), were trotted on a treadmill at a constant speed. Kinematic data were collected by a 3-camera system and analysed by a motion-analysis program. Flexion and extension joint angles and angular velocities were determined for the shoulder, elbow, carpal, hip, stifle, and tarsal joints.Within each group, the differences between the right and left limbs in all kinematic variables were not significant. Minimum angle, angular displacement and minimum angular velocity did not differ between groups. Significant differences were observed in the maximum angular velocity and maximum angle of the hip joint (dysplastic > healthy), and in the maximum angular velocity of the carpal joint (healthy > dysplastic). It was concluded that, when trotting on a treadmill, dysplastic dogs with no signs of lameness may present joint kinematic alterations in the hind as well as the forelimbs.     

Cranial thoracic disc protrusions in three German Shepherd dogs

Although intervertebral disc degeneration can occur at any level of the spine, cervical and thoraco-lumbar discs are more commonly affected. The presence of the inter-capital ligament between the rib heads results in an extremely low incidence of cranial thoracic intervertebral disc herniation. In this case series, the clinical, radiological, and surgical findings, as well as the post-operative outcome, in three German Shepherd dogs with T2–T3 disc protrusions is reported. These dogs had chronic progressive paraparesis and lumbar myelography and post-myelographic computerised tomography revealed ventrolateral, extra-dural spinal cord compressions over the T2–T3 intervertebral disc. All animals exhibited transient deterioration in their clinical signs and one developed unilateral Horner’s syndrome following T2–T3 hemi-dorsal laminectomy. Subsequently two of the dogs improved progressively and neurological dysfunction had completely resolved by 2 months. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case series describing T2–T3 disc protrusions in the dog.     

Effects of ovariohysterectomy on reactivity in German Shepherd dogs

This study investigated the effects of ovariohysterectomy on reactivity of German Shepherd dogs. Fourteen healthy dogs ranging in age from 5 to 10 months were assigned to an ovariohysterectomy or a sexually intact group. Their behaviours were digitally video recorded 4-5 months after treatment and analysed for treatment effects on reactivity. Responses to the approach of an unfamiliar human leading an unknown dog were assigned the following reactivity scores: severe reactivity, 3; moderate reactivity, 2; defensive or mild reactivity, 1; attentive or no reactivity, 0. Median reactivity scores in response to the approach of an unfamiliar human walking with an unknown dog were calculated for each observation period. Dogs in the ovariohysterectomized group showed more reactivity, and median reactivity scores were higher in the ovariohysterectomy group compared with those of the sexually intact group. Ovariohysterectomy of 5-10 month old German Shepherd bitches specifically, and perhaps bitches of any breed generally, may induce an increase in reactivity. Practitioners may benefit from recognizing that a range of behavioural changes may occur post-ovariohysterectomy.     

Haemophilia A (factor VIII deficiency) in German Shepherd dogs

Moderate haemophilia A (factor VIII deficiency) has been identified in eight male German Shepherd dogs. Of 12 related females, five were diagnosed as obligate or probable carriers. The diagnosis of haemophilia A, its pattern of inheritance and carrier detection are discussed.     

Recurrent deep pyoderma in German Shepherd dogs with underlying ehrlichioses and hypergammaglobulinaemia

Four German Shepherd dogs with recurrent deep pyoderma and associated ehrlichioses are described. All the dogs had already received appropriate long-term antibacterial therapy but the clinical signs had consistently returned within 3–4 weeks of cessation of the treatment. Haematological and serum biochemical findings, and indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) tests were indicative of Ehrlichia spp. infection. Treatment with doxycycline monohydrate was associated with the return of blood values to within normal ranges and diminution of the IFA titres. No further episodes of pyoderma were observed during a 1–2-year follow-up period.     

Comparison of primary mitral valve disease in German Shepherd dogs and in small breeds

The case records of 58 German Shepherds (GS group) affected by mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and/or mitral valve regurgitation (MR), and 49 dogs weighing < 15 kg (D group), affected by chronic valvular disease (CVD) were reviewed. The dogs of the GS group were presented more often without a detectable heart murmur (p < 0.01), and less frequently with a high intensity heart murmur (p < 0.01). Atrial fibrillation (AF) was more common in the GS group (p < 0.001). MVP associated with mitral valve thickening was more common in the D group (p < 0.001). Fractional shortening (FS) was lower (p < 0.0001) and end-systolic volume index (ESV-I) was increased (p < 0.0001) in the GS group, whereas end-diastolic volume index (EDV-I) did not differ between the 2 groups. Prevalence and severity of pulmonary hypertension were similar in the 2 groups. Dogs with mitral valve disease weighing more than 20 kg had a 5.8 higher chance of developing decreased FS, increased ESV-I, AF and ventricular arrhythmias. In the GS group, the decreased FS and increased ESV-I were not associated with the presence of AF or ventricular arrhythmias (p > 0.05). It appears that GS may be affected both by mitral valve prolapse and mitral insufficiency. It also appears that a comparatively large proportion of GS shows no major mitral valve thickening or MVP, but still presents with significant mitral regurgitation, possibly suggesting a different cause for the important incompetence observed in most cases.     

Pituitary dwarfism in German Shepherd Dogs

Eleven German Shepherd dogs with pituitary dwarfism were examined. They were severely stunted in growth and possessed abnormal hair coats with persistence of the soft puppy (lanugo) coat and symmetrical areas of alopecia. Various other physical defects were often present in affected dogs. Detailed hormonal studies demonstrated a severe deficiency in growth hormone in all five cases so evaluated. A decrease in somatomedin activity was present in three of these cases. Changes in growth plates epiphyses and ossification centres were apparent on radiographic examination of four of the eleven dogs. Epiphyseal dysgenesis was confirmed histologically in two of these cases. Of the six brains which were examined post mortem, four showed large cystic lesions involving the adenohypo–physis and two had pituitary hypoplasia with virtual absence of adenohy–pophyseal tissue.     

Comparative study of 4 echocardiographic methods of left ventricular measurement in German Shepherd dogs

ObjectivesTo compare dimensions and shortening fraction (SF) of the left ventricle (LV) obtained from two-dimensional (2D) and M-mode imaging of short and long-axis views.Animals40 healthy, adult German Shepherd dogs.MethodsLeft ventricular measurements were obtained using 4 echocardiographic methods: M-mode in short and long-axis and 2D imaging in short and long-axis. The methods were compared by studying the effects of imaging mode and axis on LV parameters, taking into account the influence of weight and gender.ResultsMean LV end-diastolic diameter was greater in short-axis views. However, this difference was not considered clinically relevant. Mean SF was higher when derived from 2D measurements with poor agreement among methods. A combined influence of axis, gender, and weight was observed on interventricular septal thickness in end diastole with poor agreement among methods.ConclusionsSome LV parameters were significantly affected by mode and axis, either in isolation or in combination with weight and gender, although the differences observed were not always clinically relevant. These findings show that using the different echocardiographic methods interchangeably to assess LV dimensions should be done with caution.     

Canine hip dysplasia: study of heritability in 401 litters of German Shepherd dogs

Heritability of hip dysplasia was estimated to be about 0.4 to 0.5 when based on the radiographic evaluations of the hip joints of 2,404 German Shepherd Dogs born at The Armed Forces Dog Training Center in Sweden. The material included all dogs in 401 litters born at the Center from 1965 through 1973 that reached the age of 15 months. To be expected with such high heritability, frequency of hip dysplasia in the offspring was shown to be affected by the hip joint status of sire and dam as well as by the hip joint status of their parents and littermates. Even matings between sires with normal hip joints and dams with only slight dysplasia resulted in significantly higher frequency of hip dysplasia in the offspring, when compared with the frequency if both sires and dams had normal hip joints. Frequency of hip dysplasia in the progeny of sires with normal hip joints varied greatly. Since 1973, selection of the breeding stock has been based on hip joint status (phenotype) of the breeding animals and of their relatives as well as on what had become known about frequency of hip dysplasia in the litters already born (progeny testing). In this way, frequency of hip dysplasia in 347 dogs born at the Center during 1975 was lowered to 28%. This figure should be compared with the figure of 50%, which represents the frequency of hip dysplasia in the kennel up to 1970, when selection was not as strict as could be expected in a well-controlled kennel.     

Immunophenotypic evaluation of working Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherd dogs living in the same environment

Multiparametric flow cytometry was used to compare peripheral blood lymphocyte subset distribution between healthy working police Labrador Retrievers (LRs; n=12) and German Shepherd dogs (GS; n=11) living in the same environment. The CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly higher in LR than in GS because of the lower percentage of CD8+ T lymphocytes in LR. GS showed the highest relative percentage of CD3-/CD21- lymphocytes, whereas LR had the highest percentages of MHC II+ lymphocytes. Because age, sex, environmental and housing conditions, dietary patterns, and training or working routines were similar in both breeds in the study, differences in peripheral blood lymphocyte subset distribution could be attributed to the influence of breed on the immune system.     

MHC class II risk haplotype associated with canine chronic superficial keratitis in German Shepherd dogs

Canine chronic superficial keratitis (CSK) is an inflammatory ocular disease of an autoimmune origin leading to blindness if untreated. The main symptoms of CSK are progressive, bilateral vascularisation, fibrous tissue formation and pigmentation of the anterior corneal stroma. Although CSK is found in many breeds it is most prevalent in German Shepherd dogs (GSDs). Since Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class II is associated with several autoimmune diseases in dogs we investigated the possible role of DLA-DRB1, -DQA1 and -DQB1 in GSDs affected with CSK. Our study population included 25 healthy controls and 30 CSK dogs. Most of the affected dogs were females suggesting a female predisposition. We identified 11 unevenly distributed haplotypes of which DLA-DRB1*01501/DQA1*00601/DQB1*00301 was significantly associated with the CSK dogs (OR=2.67, CI=1.17-6.44, p=0.02). We also found that overall homozygosity of MHC class II increases risk for CSK (OR=4.37, CI=1.27-18.46, p=0.02) and homozygosity of the risk haplotype by over eight-fold (OR=8.5, 95% CI=1.4-224, p=0.017). This study identifies a MHC class II risk haplotype for CSK in GSD and further supports the autoimmune origin of the disease.     

Ventricular ependymoma in a German Shepherd dog

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) together with clinical, pathomorphological and immunohistological methods, a ependymoma is described in a 9-year-old German Shepherd dog, which presented with behavioural and oculocephalic responses and generalised ataxia. The ependymoma, 9 x 6 x 5mm in size, was localised intra-axially in the right interventricular foramen and hydrocephalus was observed by MRI. Microscopically, the tumour was composed of pseudorosettes, and immunohistochemical examination revealed vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity in the neoplastic cells.     

Hereditary cataract in the German Shepherd Dog

Primary hereditary cataract is recorded and described in the German Shepherd Dog in the United Kingdom. The cataract is not congenital, it is bilateral and progressive to a certain point and is unassociated with any other ocular abnormality. It is due to an autosomal, recessive gene. The cataract is compared to that described by von Hippel in Germany in 1930 which was congenital and non-progressive and due to a dominant gene. The two types of cataract are therefore dissimilar.