No abstract

Seven Pomeranians with bidirectional patellar luxation (BPL) were prospectively studied regarding aetiology and results of a new surgical technique. Radiographic evaluation of the ratio between patellar ligament length and patellar bone length revealed no differences between Pomeranians with bidirectional patellar luxation and healthy stifle joints. Functional rather than anatomic patella alta might be associated with bidirectional patellar luxation in Pomeranians. The surgical outcome of extended proximal trochleoplasty was good-to-excellent in 87·5% of the stifles and all dogs achieved functional recovery. There was only minimal radiographic progression of osteophyte formation at 48 weeks after surgery. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on bidirectional patellar luxation in small breed dogs and its successful surgical treatment.

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Congenital radial head luxation and subluxation in the studied Bouviers des Flandres were characterized by angulation of the radial axis leading to caudolateral subluxation of the radial head and insufficient growth of the distal portion of the ulna together with cranial bowing of the olecranon.

Defects in collagen proteins cause a variety of disorders in humans. It can be expected that collagen gene mutations are involved in collagenopathies in dogs. The collagen genes COL3A1, COL5A1, COL5A2, COL6A1, COL6A3, COL9A1, COL9A2, COL9A3, COL10A1 and COL11A1 were identified on the canine genome based on the homology with the human genes. Simple sequence repeats (microsatellites) were found in the chromosomal regions of these genes and investigated for polymorphism in Labrador Retrievers, Bernese Mountain dogs, Boxer dogs and German Shepherd dogs by PCR and subsequent detection of the DNA products. Nine informative microsatellite markers were identified. The markers closely situated to COL9A1, COL9A2 and COL9A3 were used to investigate the involvement of the genes in cranial cruciate ligament rupture in Boxer dogs. It was found that these genes are probably not involved in this abnormality. The markers described here will be useful for a candidate gene approach of suspected collagenopathies specific to dog breeds.