Abstract
The vertebral columns of 115 dachshunds were x-rayed at 1 and 5 years of age. This sample represented 5.7% of all dachshunds registered with the Norwegian Kennel Club in the period 1986-1988. All dogs were clinically normal at the commencement of the study. At 1 year of age calcified intervertebral discs were identified in 34 (29.6%) of the dogs and the number of calcified discs in each individual varied from 1 to 7 with a mean of 2.7. At 5 years of age calcified discs were identified in 66 (57.4%) of the dogs and the number of calcified discs in each individual varied from 1 to 11 with a mean of 3.2. Of all dogs in which calcified discs were identified at 1 year of age, 33 (97.1%) were found to have calcified discs also at 5 years of age.
Of 92 calcified discs identified in the dogs at 1 year of age, 29 (31.5%) were not calcified 4 years later. Of 211 calcified discs identified in the dogs at 5 years of age, 148 (70.1%) were not calcified 4 years before.
From 1 to 5 years of age, signs of spinal disease were registered in 12 (35.3%) of the dogs in which calcified discs were identified at 1 year of age, and in 7 (8.6%) of the dogs in which calcified discs were not identified at 1 year of age. Of all dogs in which one or more calcified discs had disappeared during the study-period, signs of spinal disease were registered in 9 (75.0%).
Keywords: vertebral column, degeneration
Sammendrag
Virvelsøylen til 115 dachshunder ble undersøkt røntgenologisk ved 1 og 5 års alder. Hundene utgjorde 5,7% av samtlige dachshunder registrert i Norsk Kennel Klub i perioden 1986–1988. Alle hundene var klinisk normale da undersøkelsen ble innledet. Ved 1 års alder ble forkalkede intervertebralskiver påvist hos 34 (29,6%) av hundene. Hos disse var fra 1 til 7 skiver forkalket, med gjennomsnitt på 2,7. Ved 5 års alder ble forkalkede skiver påvist hos 66 (57,4%) av hundene. Hos disse var fra 1 til 11 skiver forkalket, med gjennomsnitt på 3,2. Av hundene som fikk påvist forkalkede skiver ved 1 års alder, hadde 33 (97,1%) forkalkede skiver også ved 5 års alder. Av totalt 92 forkalkede skiver hos hundene ved 1 års alder, var 29 (31,5%) ikke forkalket 4 år senere. Av totalt 211 forkalkede skiver hos hundene ved 5 års alder, var 148 (70,1%) ikke forkalket 4 år tidligere. Fra 1 til 5 års alder ble det registrert symptomer på rygglidelse hos 12 (35,3%) av hundene som hadde forkalkede skiver ved 1 års alder og hos 7 (8,6%) av hundene som ikke hadde forkalkede skiver ved 1 års alder. Av hundene hvor forkalkninger i en eller flere skiver var forsvunnet i løpet av undersøkelsesperioden, ble symptomer på rygglidelse registrert hos 9 (75,0%).
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