The Kuvasz is essentially a very healthy breed. A
normal life expectancy would be more than 10 years with many
reaching the age of 14 years.
Because of the breed's rapid growth and
large size it is predisposed (prone) to developmental bone
problems.
Improper nutrition and trauma can contribute to the
expression of clinical signs. Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD)
is
such a disease. OCD is seen most commonly in the shoulder
but
can also occur in the elbow, hock or stifle joints.
With OCD of the shoulder, lameness generally first occurs
between 4 and 9 months and may be associated with a fall
or accident
playing with another dog. Lateral radiographs of the
shoulder will reveal a flattening of the humeral head.
Since many
affected dogs (50%) have OCD in both shoulders, lameness
is not always obvious. Bilaterally affected Kuvasz
may
only have a shortened anterior stride or "lack of reach".
Treatment for OCD of the shoulder involves a surgical
removal of the cartilage flap. Both shoulders can be
operated on
at the same time and recovery is rapid. The most common
postoperative complication is the formation of a seroma
(fluid buildup over the incision site). These are drained
and are a short term problem and can be avoided or
minimized by strict post-op cage rest.
Mild cases of OCD may respond to conservative treatment
if diagnosed early. A series of injections of a drug called
Adequan may help in cases which are diagnosed early. However,
severe arthritis of the shoulder can occur before the age
of two with untreated OCD.
The most common cause of hindleg lameness in the Kuvasz
is anterior cruciate ligament injury of the stifle joint
(knee). The lameness is usually of sudden onset with a
characteristic holding up of the affected leg. The dog
may marginally improve and toe touch the leg to the ground.
The dog will sit with the affected leg off to the side.
The damage to the ligament allows the femur and the tibia
to slip when the dog puts his weight on the leg and this
causes the characteristic gait. If the ligament is not
replaced by surgery, arthritis will occur resulting in
permanent lameness or pain.
Cruciate ligament damage is diagnosed
by palpation of laxity (looseness) in the stifle joint.
However, in dogs
with long standing lameness the joint capsule will
thicken and prevent the "drawer sign" thus frustrating
diagnosis. Radiographs may help in the ruleout of other
concurrent
problems. A diagnosis of hip dysplasia does not rule
out a stifle problem as many dogs with hip dysplasia
are asymptomatic
(not lame) until they injure their cruciates.
Hip dysplasia is seen in the Kuvasz breed. The more generations
of hip dysplasia certified-free dogs in the pedigree the
less chance that the offspring will be dysplastic. Breadth
of pedigree is as important as depth for selection of breeding
stock. A dog from a hip dysplasia-free litter is a better
breeding candidate than one who has dysplastic siblings.
Most dysplastic dogs have a bilateral hip dysplasia, less
than one in five is dysplastic on one side. Dogs have variable
clinical signs - some puppies may have severe gait problems
between 4 and 6 months. They may have a very difficult
time rising and may hop instead of gaiting smoothly. Other
dysplastic dogs may have few if any clinical signs until
they are geriatric and suffer from arthritis. Because of
this, radiography of all breeding dogs is essential - a
normal appearing gait does not rule out hip dysplasia.
Occasionally a young dog may have difficulty
rising and start to shift weight onto the front legs causing
straightening
of the stifles and a characteristic "popping" of the
hocks.
These dogs may have a normal hip radiograph but have a
bilateral cruciate ligament problem. This has been seen
in large rapidly growing dogs. Again, if the injured cruciates
are not diagnosed in the initial stages, thickening of
the stifle joint capsule due to inflammation and arthrosis
will prevent the palpation of joint laxity. An exploratory
arthrotomy may be necessary for diagnosis in these cases.
Hypertrophic osteodystrophy (H.O.D.) is a metabolic bone
disease rarely seen in young Kuvasz. The typical age of
onset would be 12-20 weeks. Puppies generally show swollen,
painful ends of longbones and may have a fever as well
as loss of appetite. If these puppies are not diagnosed
early permanent damage may necessitate euthanasia. Research
with Great Danes (the breed showing a relatively high incidence
of H.O.D.) shows that a high energy, high protein diet
or excess supplementation may predispose puppies to H.O.D.
Treatment consists of putting the affected animal onto
a high quality but more moderate diet as well as using
analgesics to encourage the puppy to eat and stay mobile.
Panosteitis ("pano" or growing pains)
is rarely seen in the Kuvasz but can cause acute lameness
in the immature
animals. The affected leg is very sore and the lameness
occasionally shifts from leg to leg. The lame puppies
generally show a severe pain response to palpation of
the area around
the blood vessel (nutrient foramen) in the affected
longbone. The distal humerus and proximal radius are most
commonly
involved but panosteitis can affect any longbone in
the body. Diagnosis is by palpation and radiography. Treatment
is primarily rest and analgesics if necessary.
In summary, it is important that the Kuvasz owner seek
experienced veterinary attention when their dog is lame.
Diagnosis is quicker in the early stage and if surgical
intervention is required the prognosis is better. Surgery
on an acute cruciate ligament injury will minimize future
arthritis and return the dog more quickly to normal function
than on a dog with a long-standing arthritic changes and
a grossly thickened joint capsule.
-Dr. Carol Graham, studied at OVC with Dr. Paul Pennock,
Canada's foremost authority on skeleton disorders. Dr.
Graham and Dr. Pennock have spent many hours assisting
breeders and owners of Kuvaszok.
