Carpal laxity syndrome in forty-three puppies

• Published in: Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology Vol. 20; no. 2; pp. 126 - 130
• Main Authors: Cetinkaya, M.A, Yardimci, C, Saglam, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.01.2007
• Subjects: animal growth; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; carpal laxity syndrome; carpus; Carpus, Animal - pathology; case studies; diet therapy; disease diagnosis; disease incidence; dog diseases; Dog Diseases - diet therapy; Dog Diseases - pathology; Dog Diseases - therapy; Dogs; exercise; Female; females; gender differences; hyperextension; hyperflexion; Joint Dislocations - pathology; Joint Dislocations - therapy; Joint Dislocations - veterinary; Joint Instability - pathology; Joint Instability - therapy; Joint Instability - veterinary; joints (animal); Ligaments, Articular - pathology; Male; males; malnutrition; muscular diseases; overfeeding; pets; Physical Conditioning, Animal - methods; puppies; radiography; Sex Factors; skeletal muscle; tissue repair; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0932-0814; 2567-6911
• DOI: 10.1160/VCOT-06-06-0051

Forty-three dogs with carpal laxity syndrome were included in the study. The cases were assessed with clinical and radiographical examinations. The case histories were obtained from patient owners. We recommended exercise and commercially available balanced diets for the treatment. In all cases, the clinical recovery period varied between one to four weeks. Healing occurred by the second week in the majority of cases (65.11%). The deformity was observed more frequently in male dogs (n = 30) than in female dogs (n = 13), and in six- to eight-week-old dogs. Carpal Laxity Syndrome is a more general term, used for both hyperextension and hyperflexion deformity. Malnutrition or over-nutrition of rapidly growing large breed puppies causes weakness and irregular tension between extensor and flexor muscle groups, which leads to laxity of the carpal joint. Exercise and commercially available balanced diets without any other treatment is usually enough to achieve physical and functional recovery.