Re: [pyrnet] Congenital Elbow Anomaly was New subscriber

["Janice Swenson" <janices@austin.rr.com>]

On 4 Sep 2000, at 7:57, Jack & Charlotte Perry wrote:
> The owner dicided agains
> the operations because they sounded painful and not necessarily
> successful.  Anyway he is absolutely fine and his legs are perfect.  I
> would be interested in hearing more about this condition.  It sounds
> pretty scary.

Charlotte, 
This sounds like the condition called Congenital Elbow Anomaly in 
newfs.  It turned up in the newf breed and is being studied.  At first 
it was suspected as being similar to what has been diagnosed as 
chondrodysplasia in the Alaskan Malamute breed.  In malamutes 
it's often linked to anemia and is inherited as an autosomal 
recessive trait.  Similar skeletal problems have been noted in 
norwegian elkhounds, samoyeds, english pointers and german 
shepherds and it does say great pyrenees.  X-rays show an 
asynchronous growth of the radius and ulna coupled with a 
subluxation of the elbow.  It is difficult to tell which came first, 
whether the elbow luxation caused the uneven growth or whether 
the growth pattern caused the elbow luxation.  

In other breeds, as in malamutes, there are those not severely 
affected and will be almost normal in adulthood.  Severely affected 
won't be normal.  Pretty evident though that affected individuals 
who turn out to be normal should never be used for breeding 
purposes.  

Work in newfs it is thought not to be a dominant trait nor is it 
considered to be sex linked since both males and females have 
been affected.  It is probably not a simple recessive.  Can be 
recognized as early as 4 weeks of age.  

I'm looking at a 1998 report.  If I find some later information I'll post 
it.  


Janice, janices@austin.rr.com
Lana & Linsey (newfs), Sonny (pyr)  
http://home.austin.rr.com/janices
Hutto, TX