This study compares the coxofemoral parameters used for the detection of hip dysplasia in humans with Norberg angles in Boerboel dogs. Twenty adult Boerboel dogs of both sexes (mean weight: 54.0 ± 7.54 kg) were used. They were premedicated with Xylazine (0.5 mg.kg−1) and induced with a propofol (4 mg.kg−1) injection. Extended antero-posterior radiographs of the hip were obtained with a digital X-ray machine. Linear Femoral Overlap (LFO), Norberg Angle (NA), Sourcil Sector Angle (SSA), Center Edge Angle (CEA) and Acetabular Index Angle (AIA) were determined. The inter- and intra-observer variability were calculated from inter- and intra- class correlation coefficient using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Fischer’s exact test was used to define the statistically significant difference in measurements between sexes and hip dysplasia status. A significant difference was set at P < 0.05. The intra-observer agreement was high for NA and CEA, moderate for AIA, but low for SSA and LFO, while inter-observer agreement was high for NA and CEA, moderate for LFO and AIA, but very low for SSA. There was no significant (P < 0.05) difference in the measured parameters between male and female Boerboels, however, NA and CEA were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in Boerboels with hip dysplasia than those with normal hips. The CEA does not have advantage over NA for radiographic screening of dogs with hip dysplasia.

Changes in plasma concentrations of trace elements and oxidants/antioxidants were evaluated in twenty healthy Boerboels of both sexes and median age of 2 years. Antero-posterior and flexed lateral radiographs of the hip were obtained using digital x-ray machine and hip grading was done according to Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) system. Blood was collected from the cephalic vein for determination of plasma concentrations of manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and Vitamin E. Correlation between the parameters was done using Pearson’s correlation. Eleven (11/20) of the Boerboel dogs had hip dysplasia (HD), comprising five (5/9) males and six (6/11) females. Plasma Mn, Cu and Co were insignificantly higher in Boerboels with normal hips than those with HD. MDA concentration was significantly (p<0.05) lower in Boerboels with normal hips (0.75 ± 0.84 µmol/L) than in dogs with HD (1.77 ± 0.78 µmol/L), while SOD was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Boerboels with normal hips (0.65 ± 0.22 U/ml) than with HD (0.32 ± 0.16 U/ml). It was concluded that there were differences in plasma oxidants/antioxidants between Boerboel dogs with normal hips and those with hip dysplasia suggesting their role in the pathogenesis of canine hip dysplasia