Abstract:
Abstract
Aim: The current study was undertaken to evaluate the findings of canine hip dysplasia screening in Kenya.
Materials and Methods: Records for 591 dogs were included in this study. The data was obtained from the national
screening office, Kenya Veterinary Board, for the period between the years 1998 and 2014. Monthly screening records were
assessed and information relating to year of evaluation, breed, sex, age, and hip score captured. Descriptive statistics of hip
scores was computed based on year, sex, age, and breed.
Results: A total of 591 records from the year 1998 to 2014 were retrieved at the National Screening Centre, the Kenya
Veterinary Board. Each record was examined and data pertaining to year of screening, the breed, sex, age of the dogs,
and the total hip score were recorded. The highest number of dogs screened for hip dysplasia (HD) was in the year 2009
and the lowest in the year 1998. More females than males were screened for HD and the mean age of all the dogs was
22.9±12.7 months. The most common breeds of dogs screened during the study period were German Shepherd (67.0%),
Rottweiler (15.6%), and Labrador Retriever (12.2%). The mean hip score for the 591 dogs was 15.1±10.9 and the median
12.0. The mean hip scores per breed were; German Shepherd (16.3±12.1); Golden Retriever (16.0); Hungarian Vizla (15.0);
Labrador Retriever (3.0±6.7); Great Dane (13.3±3.2); Rottweiler (12.2±8.2); Doberman (10.3±4.2); Rhodesian Ridgeback
(9.6±3.8); and Boxer (9.3±0.6). Based on the hip score, moderate to severe HD was diagnosed in 16.6% of the dogs, mild
HD in 32.7%, Borderline HD in 37.7%, fair HD in 6.9%, and good HD in 6.1%.
Conclusion: Canine HD is a common occurrence in Kenya with most dogs suffering mild to border line HD. In addition,
German Shepherd and Golden Retriever appear to be the most affected breeds. It is therefore recommended that stringent
measures be imposed to dog breeding programs to avoid transmission of this undesirable trait and consequently improve the
welfare and the quality of dog breeds in Kenya.
Keywords: dogs, hip dysplasia, hip score, Kenya.
