Dog hereditary diseases

Description
Chondrodystrophy (CDDY) with the risk of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a pathology of bone and cartilage tissue that leads to shortening of long bones, usually limbs, to progressive structural changes in the intervertebral disc ... The intervertebral disc lies between the vertebrae and is made up of cartilage that separates the vertebrae from each other, absorbs shocks and allows easy movement of the vertebrae. In affected dogs, premature calcification of a portion of the disc at an early age (from birth to 1 year of age) leads to disc degeneration at a young age, and the consequences such as hernia, inflammation, and hemorrhage, causing severe pain and neurological dysfunction.

Chondrodystrophy (CDDY) is inherited as a semi-dominant trait, which means that dogs with two copies of the mutant gene are smaller than those with one. Degeneration of intervertebral discs is inherited in a dominant manner - one copy of the mutant gene with CDDY is enough to manifest the disease. The presence of a mutation does not always lead to disc degeneration. Brown et al. 2017 showed an association of chondrodystrophy with an IVDD risk of about 34%.

Symptoms
Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) can cause a variety of symptoms in dogs, ranging from mild pain, partial paralysis to complete paralysis. In most cases, something in between occurs, chromate on the hind or front limb, when turning, the animal falls on its side, the abdominal cavity is tense and very painful. Also, among the signs of the disease there are: neck pain (unwillingness to move the neck or head), head down, back pain and stiffness, the animal is hunched over, urinary retention, urinary impairment, lack of coordination, ataxia, fear, muscle tremor, paralysis one or more limbs.

Diagnostics
Characteristic changes in the behavior and physiology of the dog.