Prediction of the genetic risk for fragmented coronoid process in labrador retrievers

In a cohort of 252 Dutch labrador retrievers born between 1988 and 1992, seven founders for fragmented coronoid process were identified. The 185 labrador retrievers born to this cohort between January 1,1993 and January 1, 1997, were examined clinically, and radiographs of both elbows taken in four directions at 12 to 18 months of age, or earlier when they had signs of lameness, were evaluated. The diagnosis of fragmented coronoid process was confirmed by arthrotomy. The incidence of the condition in the 185 dogs was 17.3 per cent, and for each dog a genetic risk factor was calculated on the basis of its relatedness to the seven founders. The risk factors ranged from 0.07 to 0.41. The dogs were divided into classes of increasing predicted risk, and the mean risk for each class was then compared with the clinical outcome. There were no significant differences between the predicted risk and the outcome in any of the classes.