Specific breed brochure - Breed Nutrition

1. Ulna
2. Radius
3. Process Medial coronoid
4. Humerus
A skeleton that needs protecting
Weighing in often at more than 40 kg – even females – the Rottweiler is halfway between the large
and giant breeds. Its particular conformation means that its joints are subjected to major mechanical
pressure. Visits to the veterinarian due to limping are not uncommon as the Rottweiler’s joints are
very susceptible to diseases commonly affecting large dogs. Good management of physical activity
and diet is vital to keep the skeleton healthy.
Fragmentation of the coronoid
medial process
Fragmentation of the medial
coronoid process is an
example of elbow dysplasia,
a disease that often affects
Rottweilers
(Swenson et al, 1997).
10
Forequarters
The most common complaints in the forelimbs
relate to the elbow joint (Weinstein et al, 1995).
In puppies, these are generally primary lesions,
such as osteochondritis* due to an ossification
problem in growth cartilage or fragmentation of
the ulna (one of the bones in the forelimbs),
known as the medial coronoid process. In older
dogs, the source of pain can be secondary
arthritis lesions. Males appear to be more often
affected than females (Grondalen and Lingaas,
1991).
In 19% of cases of a chronic limp in one of the
front legs, the diagnosis is a bone tumour, generally
an osteosarcoma, causing the proliferation
of abnormal bone tissue. Compared with the
general dog population Rottweilers are 4.6 times
more at risk of this type of disease (Langebach et
al, 1998).