Chondrodysplasia in a German Shepherd Do

Case description- A three-month-old male German Shepherd dog, with signs of instability to stand, ataxia and radiographic symptoms of chondrodysplasia is presented. The symptoms were developed since birth.Clinical Findings- On physical examination, the affected pup did not show any swelling, pain or other abnormality in the long bones by palpation, but he had ataxia in walking. Ocular examinations revealed no lesions. In radiography, the distal right and left ulnar metaphysis were flattened and the physes were much wider than normal. The carpal bones were smaller in size than those in normal age. An increased radiopacity (sclerotic band) in the metaphyseal part of both radial and ulnar bones was observed adjacent to the physes. Radiographs were also taken from ribs and there was no abnormality in costochondral junctions.Treatment and outcome- There is no specific treatment for this disorder. The pain can be alleviated with anti-inflammatory/analgesic drugs (eg. aspirin). In this case, the dog was euthanized upon the owner’s request. According to the radiographic findings and our clinical observation, chondrodysplasia was diagnosed.Clinical Relevance- There is no definitive treatment for such cases and the management program depends on the owner and the veterinarian decisions. It is better to stop breeding of these animals.