Chronic subclinical scurvy and canine hip dysplasia
Belfield, W.O.
Veterinary Medicine-Small Animal Clinician 71(10): 1399-1403
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4889 PMID: 1049458 Document Number: 102499
In large breeds of dogs, hip dysplasia, long considered an inherited birth defect, may be an easily controlled biochemical condition. The lesion in hip dysplasia appears to be merely poor-quality, low-strength collagen in the affected ligaments, caused by too little ascorbate for proper synthesis and maintenance of collagen. In eight litters from dysplastic German Shepherd parents or parents that produced dysplastic offspring, there have been no signs of hip dysplasia when the bitches were given large doses (2-4 g) of sodium ascorbate during pregnancy and the pups treated similarly until they reached two years of age.