Owners
of chondrodystrophic breeds should take special care not to let their dogs jump from high places, as their large bodies and comparatively short legs are especially prone to musculoskeletal and spinal injuries.
Not exact matches
Researchers believe that the
breeds most commonly affected are the «
chondrodystrophic» ones in which an abnormal development
of the bones results in various skeletal disproportions, such as short legs and noses.
Breeds that are called
chondrodystrophic (meaning they have as part
of their normal
breed conformation dwarf - like characteristics) tend to calcify their disc material, making it too hard to participate in an FCE and they are thus at lower risk.
Since Beagles are considered to be a
chondrodystrophic breed, these dogs are prone to certain kinds
of disk diseases.
Last October, researchers at the University
of California, Davis announced the discovery
of a genetic mutation across
breeds that is responsible for dogs developing
chondrodystrophic features — the shorter legs and abnormal intervertebral discs seen in low - slung, long - bodied dogs.
It is most common in
chondrodystrophic breeds such as Dachshunds (most common
breed to carry disease), Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Yorkies, Poodle, Bassets, Corgis and basically any
breed OR mixture
of that
breed that has been miniaturized and / or shows signs
of dwarfism.
They are called
chondrodystrophic due to the shape
of their bones from
breeding:
The most common cause is the natural degeneration
of the disk that occurs in the
chondrodystrophic breeds when young, and the larger
breed dogs as they age.
In most
chondrodystrophic breeds it is the thoracolumbar area, the junction
of the last few thoracic vertebrae and the first few lumbar vertebrae, that are involved.
In
Chondrodystrophic breeds, premature calcification
of the nucleus pulposus at early age (from birth to 1 year
of age) results in degeneration
of all discs in young dogs.
Hansen Type I IVDD is an acute hernation
of the disk that comes on explosively and typically affects
chondrodystrophic breeds (those with
breed - specific and acceptable hereditary skeletal deformities, such as Dachshunds, Shih - Tzus, Beagles, Pekingese, Poodles, Corgies, Bassett Hounds and dogs with similar characteristics
of genetic dwarfism).
Several
breeds are
of a body type we call
chondrodystrophic, such as the Dachshund and Corgi.
Reducing the
breeding of chondrodystrophic dogs would almost certainly reduce the incidence
of IVDD but that seems a highly unlikely approach given the increasing popularity
of these
breeds.