Clinical, radiographical and haematobiochemical changes in growing dogs with retained cartilage core

The study was conducted in 11 growing dogs of up to 1 year affected with retained cartilage core. All the 11 cases were observed for the clinical signs ofthe disease and subjected to different haemato-biochemical and hormone analysis to find out the status ofthe disease. The incidence recorded was 2.87% (among the 387 growing dogs). Great Dane (7) was more commonly affected breed than others. Majority of the affected dogs (7) were less than 3 months. Males and females were almost equally affected. Lameness, focal hard swellings proximal to the carpus, bowing of the radius, carpal valgus and stunted growth were the clinical signs observed in most of the dogs. A radiolucent inverted cone shaped area in the distal metaphysis of ulna was the characteristic radiographic sign. Hyperphosphataemia, low Ca: P ratio, hypovitamfnosis-D3 and increased alkaline phosphatase activity were the common biochemical findings. The diagnosis was made on the basis ofradiographical signs. The dogs were treated with preparations ofvitamin D , calcium and multivitamins and an appreciable improvement in 7 dogs could be noticed within 45 days.