Summary
The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not body weight is a risk factor
for humeral condylar fractures (HCF), cranial cruciate rupture (CCR) or intervertebral
disc disease (IVDD) in the American Cocker Spaniel dog. Body weight, age, sex and
recorded diagnoses of 854 Cocker Spaniels admitted to the teaching hospital, over
a four-year period, were recorded from medical records. Dogs with a diagnosis of HCF
(n = 21) weighed significantly more than the general population of Cocker Spaniels
seen at the hospital over the same time period. Dogs with CCR (n = 20) were likely
to weigh more than the general population. Whereas, dogs with IVDD (n = 47) weighed
less than the general population of Cocker Spaniels. From these results, we concluded
that body weight is a predisposing factor for HCF in Cocker Spaniels; that there is
a tendency for Cocker Spaniels with CCR to be heavier than the general population
and that being overweight does not predispose them to IVDD.
Body weight, age, sex, and diagnoses of 854 Cocker Spaniels admitted over four years
were recorded. Dogs with humeral condylar fractures weighed significantly more than
the general population of Cocker Spaniels admitted over the same time period. Dogs
with cruciate rupture weighed more, on average, than the general population of Cocker
Spaniels, but surprisingly, dogs with intervertebral disc disease weighed less.
Keywords
Humeral condylar fracture - cranial cruciate rupture - intervertebral disc disease
- body weight - dogs - Cocker Spaniel
