breeding 2

On this page I want to give you some information about preparation for mating, pregnancy, birth and how the pups are growing up in our kennel.

Because we don't believe in making more Ridgebacks but only in making a contribution to our breed, we are very careful in choosing the sire of our litters. We studied the pedigrees, also parents, grandparents, grand-grandparents, brothers and sisters from both the male and the female.

In this way we are able to make a good choice, although nobody can give a 100 percent guarantee for a healthy and sound litter.

We had our first litter in June 2004, Gachira was mated to Shangani Pansa Dafina, seven healthy pups were born. Basheera stayed with us and had her first litter with Tarujen Penzi in march 2007.

Of course we prepare our female in the right way. She will be dewormed, do a smeartest, and gets rabies vaccinations before mating, when necessary a antibiotics treatment to eliminate infections, two months before her season we start to give her folium acid, it helps prevent Dermoid Sinus.

Both dogs are HD/ED tested, they have a perfect health and condition.

The sperm of the male will be tested, he also gets his medication and when the time is there we are able to start the mating.

Mating takes place and after that "the long waiting" starts.

When the pups are born, they will be raised in our house. In this situation they hear noises, meet people, kids, cats and other dogs.

They will be dewormed, have their vaccinations, pedigrees and litter control of our Ridgeback Club.

When the weather is nice they can play in our garden, after their first vaccinations they make their first car ride, we take them outside as much as possible to have all sorts of experiences before they leave to their new families.

When the pups are seven weeks old we take a puppy test.

The result of the test is a hand-out for the new owners to raise and train their precious puppy.

Our goal is to breed dogs with a good character, healthy and sound, with a functional exterior to do their original job.

The new owners can count on us for twenty-four hours a day, to answer their questions, to solve problems if there are some, to give advice about all that matters.

The most important thing we ask from puppy owners is to give your new family member all your love, your time, and all he needs to grow up to the healthy and sound dog he is meant to be.

Pet Quality Verses Show Quality - What Does It Mean?

Most people who contact breeders looking for Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies tell us they are interested in a "pet" rather than a "show dog". But what does that request really mean? Does it mean that they aren’t interested in dog shows? Does it mean they are expecting a lower price? Does it mean they just want a Ridgeback, and that any Ridgeback will do?

Only a small number of dogs spend much time in the show ring. Most dogs are shown by their owners or breeders, and when they are not showing, they are those owner’s pets, living the same life as any other pet dog. The qualities of a good pet must also be evident in a show dog: excellent temperament, intelligence, and good health. If you have decided on an FCI registered breed, you probably became interested because you read about the breed, saw one on television, at a show, or met someone who has one. You saw something in that breed that appeals to you, whether it was size, temperament, intelligence, coat length, or some other characteristic. You decided that this is the dog for you.

Each breed has a unique set of characteristics that make it different than other breeds, and these characteristics are described in the "breed standard". The Ridgeback standard describes how the RR should look, how they should move, what size they should be, the allowed colours, and many other things that make the Rhodesian Ridgeback unique. If a breeder is breeding pure-bred dogs, then their goal should be to produce dogs that come as close to the breed standard as possible. Breeding dogs without regard to how closely the dogs resemble the breed standard is not "pet" breeding, it’s poor breeding. Dogs that are produced in this manner may not grow up to look or act anything like the dog you fell in love with. If you have fallen in love with the Rhodesian Ridgeback, you want a dog that looks, acts, and sounds like a Ridgeback, otherwise you would adopt a mixed-breed dog.

Assuming that you find a litter of puppies that all look pretty much like the standard describes, does that mean they are show quality? Not necessarily. The differences in what makes a dog show quality are more subtle.

A good temperament is a must for a pet dog, but in addition, a show dog should be a bit of a "ham". The best show dogs love to be the center of attention, and are happy to put on a show for anyone who will watch. They also love people and are not afraid of crowds. Does this type of a dog make a good pet? You bet!

Another difference in quality concerns the dog’s bite (how his teeth fit together). Requirements differ depending on the breed, but for the RR the ideal bite is called the scissors bite, where the upper front teeth lap closely over the lower ones like the blades of a pair of scissors. A level bite, where the upper teeth rest directly on top of the lower ones is acceptable, but not considered ideal. Occasionally RRs will have an over-bite, or (rarely) an under-bite, just like people. Unless you plan to show your dog, you might never notice or care if your dog has an imperfect bite. A really bad bite, however, can cause a dog to drool excessively, have difficulty in eating, and may require more frequent cleaning of the teeth. Depending on how you feel about these problems, it is up to you to decide whether this kind of dog would make a good pet.

Another difference that can distinguish a pet from a show dog is bone structure. The standard calls for straight, strong forelegs with plenty of bone. This should not be misinterpreted to mean that the RR should be massive, since the standard also calls for an athletic dog, capable of a fair amount of speed. It does mean that when the dog is standing naturally, his feet should point straight forward, rather than inward or outward, and should appear to be strong, rather than tiny or fragile.

A very important characteristic of a show quality Rhodesian Ridgeback is a good ridge. This hallmark of the breed is formed by a strip of hair growing along the spine in the reverse direction to the rest of the coat. It should be clearly defined, tapering from the top (which should be immediately behind the shoulders) to the bottom (which should be near the hip bones). The ridge should contain 2 identical crowns (whorls in the hair) at the top, directly opposite each other. Ridgelessness is a disqualification in the show ring, and missing or extra crowns are considered to be severe faults. Of course the quality or lack of a ridge does not effect a dog’s ability to be a good pet, but since the ridge is the main distinguishing characteristic, it does reduce it’s likeness to it’s breed. After all, what is a Dalmatian without spots, a Shar-Pei without wrinkles?

Imperfections in coat colour (excessive white or black), eye colour (not in harmony with the coat), placement and shape of the eyes, ears or tail, and gait can all affect quality. Again, these do not effect the dog’s ability to be a good pet, but they do effect how much it looks like a Ridgeback.

One very important physical characteristic that effects whether a male is show quality is the presence of both testicles. If only one, or neither of the testicles can be detected in the scrotum, the dog is ineligible to compete in the show ring. You need to be aware of this condition whether you show your dog or not, because undescended testicles need to be removed for the dog’s health and well being.

The price difference between pet and show quality may not be as much as one might think. The price of any puppy is small compared to the total cost of owning a dog over its lifetime. The price a breeder charges may be effected by stud fees, vet expenses, vaccinations, and worming. These fees are the same for each puppy, regardless of its quality.

When you purchase a puppy from an ethical breeder, you are also paying for the breeder’s time. A typical pet store puppy has had little human contact, was taken from its mother at a very early age (generally four to five weeks), and has lived in a cage with little handling until purchased. Most individual breeders spend a tremendous amount of time handling, socializing, and training their puppies from the moment of birth until about 9 weeks of age. The extra time the puppies spend with their mothers and siblings, and the extra socialization have a lot of positive impact on the behaviour of the puppies, and the ease of adjustment to their new homes.

Ask breeders to discuss their definitions of show and pet quality as they apply to each puppy you consider. The ethical breeder will take the time to be sure that you understand the individual characteristics of each pup so that you feel comfortable with your final decision. Most importantly, remember that all dogs are really pets first

Dermoid Sinus in the Rhodesian Ridgeback

The dermoid sinus (D.S.) has been known by many names, a few of which are dermoid cyst, hair cyst, and African cyst. It is a sinus, in that it is tubelike and does drain, and dermoid because it is skinlike. It may or may not contain hair follicles or be lined with hair. As the hair sheds on the outer coat of the pup, so does the hair inside this tube. The body's natural response to dead material is to flush it out and thus the serum builds up and expels the debris. Not all of the dermoid sinuses are true tubes. Some are not hollow and the serum and debris cannot drain. In these cases an abscess forms and the resulting swelling that accompanies can rupture the skin. This results in a very painful situation for the pup. At its worst it is life threatening.

The D.S. is generally found on the midline of the neck, back, and tail along the spinal column. Although rarely found in the ridge there have been several cases noted. Dermoid sinuses have also been noted on ridgeless puppies.

The D.S. is a congenital condition, meaning that it is present at birth. It can be palpated on the newborn pups, and the affected pups identified. The affected pups should be put to sleep or if they are to be kept, surgery to remove the D.S. should be performed before sending them to their new homes. The affected pups are pet stock only and should not be considered as breeding material.

To find the D.S. you must palpate along the midline of the spine, starting at the top of the head close to the occiput (bump) bone. To do this you may pick the pup up and hold it in the cup of your hand or palpate as the pup is sleeping. Take the other hand and envision yourself picking up a baby kitten by the scruff of the neck with your thumb and forefinger. Exert enough pressure to feel, but not enough to bruise. Use your whole hand as one unit, pulling first up toward the nose and then down toward the tail. The skin will stretch quite a bit in both directions. Do not roll the skin through your fingers. The fingers remain exactly where you placed them on the skin. The D.S., being attached on the top to the skin and at the base to the spinal cartilage, will slip through your fingers. A large D.S. will feel like a wet noodle and a finer D.S., like a small string. Reposition your fingers on the neck just below the starting spot and repeat this process. Continue to work your way down the neck and back to the tail.

At the tail it is very difficult to raise enough skin to palpate effectively. It is best to use your thumb in this area. With fingers underneath the pup supporting it, place the flat of your thumb over the spinal column at the pelvic area. Push skin first to one side and then back to the other side. Again, remember that the D.S. is attached and will slip under your thumb. This will feel like a squiggly noodle on a larger, longer D.S., or just an area that simply will not move at all on a shorter D.S. If you do not feel anything by sliding the skin from side to side, try sliding the skin toward the nose and then back to the tail, taking care to slide the skin, not your thumb.

As you palpate the area over the shoulders, you may feel connective tissue that holds the skin to the shoulder area. The tissue is heavier in this area than in the other areas of the spinal column. It will feel flat and you will not be able to trace it from the area close to the muscle all the way to the skin, whereas the D.S. is easily traced from the muscle to the top of the skin and feels round.

The D.S. can be visually detected by looking for a group of hairs that protrude straight up out of the hair coat of the pup. When you see this, the pup should be palpated for a D.S. The hair can also be shaved at this site and upon examination, a small dimple will be revealed. By moving the skin back and forth, the dimple will become more apparent as the anchor of the D.S. will pull the skin down more.

The D.S. can be surgically removed. It is advised that a vet be contacted that is familiar with this condition and has performed this operation before. Dermoid sinuses are not alike in their makeup and it is impossible to tell which ones are easily removed or which ones go to the spine. They can wrap around or enter the area of the spinal cord, which makes them almost, if not impossible, to remove. In cases such as this some success has been achieved by folding the D.S. over and tying it off, but some have had regrowth. Since there is no way to detect which type of D.S. that the pup has, instructions to the vet should include that if the D.S. is not completely removable, the pup be put to sleep. D.S. pups should not be promised to a new home until after the surgery.

The healing process can be as traumatic as the operation itself. In the simple cases that remove easily, there will be little or no serum build-up in the surgical area. In the more complicated surgeries, where the tissue damage has been more severe, the serum will start building up as soon as the surgical site heals over on the top of the skin. Usually this will be on the fourth or fifth day. This requires aspiration with a large guage needle and syringe, sometimes three or four times daily, to remove the serum build-up. This can last for three to 10 days after surgery.

Pups that have had surgery must be removed from the litter to prevent damage to the surgical site. As puppies play, they grab and shake areas of skin on the other pups. If they were to grab and shake over or near the surgical site, damage would occur and the serum build-up would become a bigger problem.

Dermoid sinuses have been detected on other parts of the body, but are not as commonly seen as on the midline of the spine. A few have been noted on the head, attaching to the skull or the base of the ear. Another area of note is on the neck under the ear or on the front of the neck. Sometimes these can be dermoid sinuses and sometimes they are skin tabs.

The exact mode of the inheritance of the D.S. is not known. It is thought to be polygenic (multiple genes), rather than simple dominant or recessive. It has been noted that there can be carriers, or individuals that produce more dermoid sinuses than their littermates. Some lines are relatively D.S. free. Dogs that are subjects of D.S. are not candidates for a breeding program. The surgery removes the visual defect but not the genetic one. Pups having had surgery to remove a D.S. are eliminated from the conformation ring as per the AKC rules, which clearly state that a dog that has been surgically altered cannot compete.

The ethics of breeding require you to put the best possible representative of the breed out there. It should not only look like a Rhodesian Ridgeback, but it should be as healthy and sound as possible. As the D.S. is a very serious unsoundness, much thought should be given in your decision of the disposition of a D.S. puppy. If you decide to keep and operate on a D.S. subject, care must be taken to assure the pup of a home that will spay or neuter. Euthanasia is a permanent solution.

[NOTE: Because of the D.S., avoid injections in the area of the top of the neck and shoulders. Occasional reactions to vaccines can produce an inflammation that resembles a D.S.]

Dermoid Sinus - A Summary

INTRODUCTION:

Dermoid sinus (D.S.) was first used to describe the Rhodesian Ridgeback skin anomaly by Steyn, et al. This skin condition has also been called trichiasis spiralis, dermoid cyst, dermoid inclusion cyst and epidermal inclusion cyst. All of these terms have some applications; however, Dermoid , skin-like sinus, channel or fistula; (cyst means sac, i.e., not open to the surface) is most applicable. The Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the U.S. , Inc. prefers to use D.S. to describe the condition.

DESCRIPTION:

No reports have been located which substantiate the author's impression that D.S. has been found in other breeds. Dermoid sinus included in the ridge has been reported only once. They also occur in the sacral (rump) area and in this location are sometimes connected to the dura (spinal cord covering). This is not the case in the more common cervical (neck area) D.S. which connects the skin to the dorsal spinous ligament (the ligament which connects the top parts of the vertebrae). One or more D.S. may occur in the same animal. These sinuses are congenital (present at birth) and can be palpated (felt) as cords running between the skin and the spine. They form a small external opening which can be readily seen once the hair has been shaved.

Histologically (microscopically) the sinus is a thick-walled tube composed chiefly of fibrous tissue and lined with stratified squamous epithelium (skin cells). The surrounding connective tissue may or may not contain hair follicles, sebaceous glands and sweat glands which open into the lumen (hollow center) of the sinus. In uncomplicated cases the sinus is filled with sebum (oil), skin debris and hair. Once infected with bacteria the resulting inflammation and abscessation can lead to myelitis and encephalitis (swelling and infection of the spinal cord, its covering, and the brain). The reason for discrimination against animals with D.S. is the almost inevitable abscess which forms.

HERITABILITY:

Although not well understood, transmission of D.S. seems to be a dominant, polygenic problem with inconstant penetration. Another geneticist thinks that D.S. is due to a single completely recessive autosomal gene. This is not likely because normal parents do produce pups affected with D.S. Because of the genetic complexity and the difficulty in arranging, coordinating and collating the breeding studies necessary to prove the heredity of D.S., it is unlikely that we will be able to substantiate the exact mechanism of genetic transmission. There is a widely held belief that breeding Ridgebacks with D.S. produces an increased prevalence of pups with D.S. The R.R. Club of the U.S. , Inc. believes that this could be substantiated if breeders had accurate records which could be collated and computed. It is our belief that careful controlled breeding studies would prove the inheritance of D.S. to be not only complex but also inter-related with other characteristics. Therefore, the likelihood seems to be remote that we will ever have Ridgebacks which are entirely free of D.S.

Because selective breeding will unquestionably reduce the prevalence of D.S., but probably not eliminate its occurrence, and because the condition results in difficult to treat abscesses unless surgically removed, it is our opinion and strong recommendation that dogs which have D.S. not be acceptable as show or breeding candidates. Surgical correction can be accomplished; however, culling at birth is a more humane way to handle the affected pups.

References

Antin, I.P.: Dermoid Sinus in a Rhodesian Ridgeback Dog. J.A.V.M.A., Vol. 157 No. 7, (1970): 961.
Burns, M. and M.N.Fraser: Genetics of the Dog. J.B.Lippincott Co., Philadelphia PA (1966): 84.
Hawley, T.C.: The Rhodesian Ridgeback Craft Press, Pretoria, S.A., (1957): 53.
Hofmeyr, C.F.B.: Dermoid Sinus in the Ridgeback Dog J.Small Animal Practice., Vol. 4. Suppl. (1957): 5-8.
Lord, L.H.; A.J.Cawley and J.Gilray: Mid-Dorsal Dermoid Sinuses in Rhodesian Ridgeback Dogs - A Case Report. J.A.V.M.A., 131 (1957): 515-518
Lutman, F.C.: How to Raise and Train a Rhodesian Ridgeback. T.F.H. Publications, Jersey City , NJ (1966).
Personal communications from numerous Rhodesian Ridgeback friends.
Severin, G.A.: Inheritable and Congenital Diseases in Dogs. Dog World (December 1974).
Steyn, H.P. J. Quinlan and C. Jackson: A skin Condition seen in Rhodesian Ridgeback Dogs: Report on two cases. J.S.A.V.M.A. X(4), (1939): 170-174.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia is a hereditary disease that affects the hip joints of dogs. Hip dysplasia is characterized by a looseness in the hip joint that causes abnormal wear and tear on the femoral head (the ball part of this ball and socket joint) and the acetabulum (the socket). The wear and tear leads to malformation of the ball and socket, and can lead to arthritis. Dogs predisposed to hip dysplasia, unlike children, are born with normal hip joints. Hip dysplasia can be seen in some dogs as young as five or six months of age. In other dogs, signs do not develop until after the dog matures. Hip pain is generated by the abnormal arthritic bones rubbing against each other. Arthritis will worsen with time unless surgical treatment is administered.

The onset of arthritis can be slow. In fact, sometimes the onset is so slow that you cannot recognize it. Early signs of hip pain in a dog include hopping like a rabbit with the rear legs when running, difficulty in rising from a sitting position, stiffness in the first few steps after lying down, and a reluctance to walk normal distances or play as hard or as long as normal dogs of the same age. Exercise causes these signs to become more prominent. It is important to remember that dogs do not usually cry when they are in pain. Instead, they demonstrate their pain by not properly using the joint or joints that hurt. As the arthritis becomes more severe, dogs will be reluctant to play or go on long walks. Some dogs may not want to walk at all if suffering from severe arthritic pain. Most dogs with hip dysplasia will have both hips affected. Because of this, your dog may not have an obvious limp in one leg because the arthritic pain is more or less equal in both hips.

Radiographs (x-rays) are used routinely to diagnose dogs with hip dysplasia. X-ray changes may be present prior to the onset of clinical signs. Some dogs go through life with no clinical signs but have severe changes seen on their radiographs. It is important to treat the patient and not the radiograph.

The primary treatment for hip dysplasia is surgery. Medical treatment and acupuncture can be used to alleviate arthritis pain, but these treatments do not correct the underlying cause of the hip pain.

Currently, there are three accepted surgical procedures for the treatment of hip dysplasia: Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO), Femoral Head and Neck Excision (FHNE), and Total Hip Replacement (THR). Other procedures are available, but these have been found to be ineffective in the long run.

Triple pelvic osteotomy is typically performed in dogs less than twelve months old as an arthritis prevention surgery. This surgery must be performed before arthritis sets in and before the ball or socket is malformed. Dogs with arthritis already present, or dogs with abnormally formed femoral heads or acetabulums are not good candidates for this surgery. Since early detection is essential, x-rays should be taken at about six months of age in dogs with clinical signs consistent with hip dysplasia. Surgery involves rotating the socket so that the ball sits more deeply in it. If both hip joints need surgery, the procedures are staged; that is, one side is operated on first and then the other side is operated on later, usually in four to six weeks.

Femoral head and neck excision can be performed at any age and on both hips at the same time. This surgical procedure involves removing the ball part of the joint and positioning the body's normal muscle tissue between the two bones. The body will also lay down scar tissue which helps form a false joint. This procedure is very effective at removing the pain associated with hip arthritis.

Total hip replacement is used primarily for larger dogs. This procedure is very similar to the procedure performed on people. The entire hip is replaced using high density polyethylene for the socket and a cobalt chrome alloy for the ball. This is an excellent procedure for both eliminating the pain associated with hip arthritis and restoring normal hip motion and function. The surgeons at SouthPaws have been performing this surgery for over 10 years with an overall success rate greater than 90 percent.

Once the proper surgical procedure is completed and the dog has recuperated, a full range of activities can resume.

HD -	HD A
HD + c	HD B
HD ±	HD C
HD +	HD D
HD ++	HD E

Elbow Dysplasia

Elbow disease is the preferred term to be used when talking about elbow problems in growing dogs. Unfortunately "elbow displaysia" was the name given to the condition of ununited anconeal process and this term is closely linked in this way in the minds of most veterinarians and some dog breeders.

Elbow disease is a general term to denote joint problems in growing dogs and it includes ununited anconeal process (UAP), fragmented medial coronoid process (FCP) and osteochondrosis of the medial condyle of the humerus (OCD). These are the three most important conditions although there are a number of uncommon conditions included in the term.

Elbow disease has received increasing publicity in recent years due to the high prevalence of foreleg lameness localised to the elbow joint and the realisation that elbow disease has a hereditary basis. There are two important situations to discuss, firstly the management of clinical elbow disease and perhaps more importantly, the monitoring of elbow disease by breed clubs.

1. CLINICAL FEATURES
Elbow disease is a problem of growing dogs and the clinical signs of the three main problems are somewhat similar. The earliest problem recognised was UAP. The German Shepherd Dog and the Basset Hound are the two main breeds involved, although any middle size or larger breed may be affected.

The anconeal process sometimes grows as a separate ossification centre and it is usually recognised as such at around 70 days. It is usually united to the main part of the ulna by about 140 days. However, dogs which have UAP do not necessarily show lameness. Thus dogs with elbow lameness and an UAP which are older than 140 days would be considered to be exhibiting signs relating to this condition. the radiological diagnosis is straightforward and there may be osteoarthritic change in addition to the presence of UAP. It is also possible that dogs with UAP could in addition have FCP and/or OCD.

Dogs with OCD or FCP may present with lameness earlier than UAP cases. there have been cases as young as 3-4 months, but the 5-8 months category would be more common. Cases continue to be presented up to 18 months or older, but dogs of some years presumably present with exacerbation of underlying osteoarthritis.

The forelimb lameness may be unilateral or bilateral. There is often pain on manipulation of the elbow and a reduction in range of movement. There may be swelling of the elbow joint. The specific diagnosis can sometimes be made on x-ray examination, but more frequently the diagnosis relies on the presence of osteoarthrosis of the elbow joining which is the result of either a primary FCP and/or OCD. A variety of views can be used to examine the elbow joint and they may pick up the primary problem. It is more likely that OCD will be identified rather than FCP. Despite high quality x-rays, it is impossible to identify all FCP and OCD lesions without using special techniques and the diagnosis is based on the clinical findings and the radiographic changes of osteoarthrosis.

2. MANAGEMENT OF CASES OF ELBOW DISEASE
Ununited anconeal process can be managed by either removing the UAP or attaching it firmly to the ulna using a lag screw. The former is the simplest and normally gives excellent results. Fragmented coronoid process and OCD lesions may produce a temporary lameness that responds to rest or medical treatment. If the lameness persists then surgery is indicated. This involves a medial approach to the elbow joint on the opposite side to surgery for UAP, and both the medial coronoid process of the ulna and the medial condyle of the humerus must be examined carefully. One or both lesions may be present and they can cause "kissing lesions" on the opposite side of the joint. The surgical results vary with breed and age, but many dogs will settle satisfactorily.

3. MONITORING OF ELBOW DISEASE
The monitoring of elbow disease has been undertaken for some years now in some parts of the world, particularly on the Continent of Europe. The breeds which have serious problems with hip displaysia appear to have elbow disease as an equally important problem. There have been a number of papers suggesting the UAP has an inherited basis, but little has been done to control it. It was only when studies on elbow arthrosis indicated that elbow disease was inherited that action began to be taken to monitor its incidence.

Early work documented the presence of elbow arthrosis, the secondary osteoarthritic change, and various workers graded the degree of change similarly to what was happening with hip displaysia. The increasing international awareness of the importance of elbow lameness in growing dogs led to the formation of the International Elbow Working Group. The aims of this group were to establish an internationally accepted radiological interpretation system and to encourage research into the cause(s) of the development of the primary problems. The working group is independent but has held its meetings in conjunction with the World small animal Veterinary Association conferences. It is growing in membership and recently played the major role at the meeting organised by the WSAVA and reported in the VCA gazette by Dr. Robert Zammit, the ANKC representative at the meeting.

The International Elbow working Group's guidelines for monitoring of elbow disease were documented in the Gazette. there is simply a requirement for good quality flexed lateral elbow views which are assessed for the presence of arthrosis. This view will readily identify UAP but only rarely picks up FCP and OCD. There is not really a problem as at present no other causes of disease have been commonly identified. However there is a problem in the reporting of findings where there is no definite differentiation between UAP cases and those with degenerative joint disease. As mentioned earlier, it is possible to find UAP in the presence of other primary elbow problems.

It is all very well to monitor the elbow disease but unless some constraints are put on breeding, then there will be a lot of x-rays taken but no improvement in the prevention of lameness in the breeds affected. The research from the continents of Europe, Britain, Australia, and USA has shown that elbow disease is inherited . There is also information to show that those dogs with the more severe lesions are most likely to produce puppies with serious elbow disease. Consequently grade 3 elbow disease dogs should not be used for breeding and the grade 2 cases should be considered as serious risks.

The suggested age for x-ray examination is 12 months when the hip x-rays are taken. It is likely that the severity of the osteoarthritis will increase with age and consequently for the monitoring programmes at present, dogs should be examined when young. It may be that later the age for screening will be raised, but this will mean an alteration to the current breeding programmes. Owners and breeders need to be aware that not all breeds behave in the same way in regard to elbow disease. for example, most published reports suggest that surgery in Rottweilers has little benefit compared to medical therapy, whereas our results in the Labrador Retriever have been rewarding. Certainly elbow disease is not as straightforward a problem to handle as OCD of the shoulder and in some cases, the severity of the chronic elbow disease may lead to dogs being destroyed.

Responsible owners and breeders of dogs of the breeds where elbow disease is a recognised problem should consider monitoring the elbows in the same way as they monitor hip displaysia and eye disease. The x-ray examination is simple and the Australian Veterinary Association will shortly have application forms for elbow disease assessment. The German shepherd dog Club has forms available to enable assessment of both hip and elbow x-rays or either alone through the club schemes.

Nil Arthrosis (Grade 0)

Minimal Arthosis (Grade 1) = one or more of the following findings:

· (a) less than 2 mm high osteophyte formation seen on the dorsal edge of the anconeal process

· (b) minimal osteophyte formation (less than 2 mm in any direction) on the dorsal proximal edge of the radius

· (c) or the dorsal edge of the coronoid process,

· (d) or the leteral palmar part of the humeral trochiea;

· (e) sclerosis in the area caudal to the distal end of the ulnar trochlear notch and to the proximal

Moderate Arthosis (Grade 2) = one or more of the following findings:

· (a) osteophytes 2 - 5 mm high on the anconeal process

· (b) moderate osteophyte formation (2 - 5 mm in any direction) on locations b, c, d.

Severe Arthosis (Grade 3) = one or more of the following findings:

· (a) more than 5 mm high osteophyte formation on the anconeal process

· (b) severe osteophyte formation (more than 5 mm in any direction) on lcations b, c, d.

Additionally - in cranio-caudal radiographs osteophytes are most easily seen on the distal, medial part of the humeral condyle (f) and the medial part of the coronoid process (g).