Papaefthymiou S.K. DVM, Postgraduate student, Companion Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | Krystalli A.A. DVM, PhD, Companion Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | Kousi T. DVM, MSc, Research Scientist, The Mathis Lab of Adaptive Intelligence, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland | Prassinos N.N. DVM, PhD, Professor Companion Animal Clinic, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Introduction
Congenital shoulder luxation in dog is a rare condition, in which the glenoid cavity is deformed or hypoplastic and chronic pain and lameness are present. In small and toy breed dogs, these luxations are typically medial and bilateral. The aim of the study is to present two clinical cases and their long-term follow-up.
Clinical cases
Two dogs with front limb lameness were presented. Congenital shoulder luxation was diagnosed radiologically. Dog No1: Pinscher, 6-month-old, 3 kg, unilateral medial luxation. Dog No2: Mongrel, 2-month-old, 2 kg, bilateral medial and cranial luxation. Conservative treatment was applied in both cases.
Results
The dogs had satisfactory kinetic activity 13 and 9 years later, respectively. However, dog No1 showed mild lameness under favorable conditions for the clinical manifestation of osteoarthritis (increased environment humidity and temperature, intense physical activity).
Conclusions
Congenital shoulder luxation should be included in the differential diagnosis of front limb lameness in the young dog. Radiological diagnosis is easy. Conservative treatment seems to be able to result in a satisfactory outcome.