Five-year longitudinal study on limited food consumption and development of osteoarthritis in coxofemoral joints of dogs

Abstract
Objective: To examine the effects of limited food intake on frequency and severity of osteoarthritis in coxofemoral joints of Labrador Retrievers. Design: Dogs were paired according to gender and body weight, within each litter, at 8 weeks of age. One dog of each pair was fed ad libitum. The limit-fed pairmate was fed 75% of the amount eaten the previous day by the ad libitum-fed counterpart. Animals: 48 Labrador Retrievers. Procedure: All dogs received the same diet. Radiographic evaluation of coxofemoral joints for frequency and severity of osteoarthritis were made when dogs were 4 and 6 months and 1, 2, 3, and 5 years old. Results: Radiographic evaluation for osteoarthritis indicated greater frequency and more severity of osteoarthritis in the ad libitum-fed group of dogs. Clinical Implications: Analysis of data suggested that limit feeding of dogs over a 5-year period minimizes development of osteoarthritis in the coxofemoral joints.

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