Results: 2018 General Health Survey

Skeleton & Muscles

Conditions listed in the Skeleton and Muscles category were reported in 12% (141) of 1,171 surveys completed across all breeds/varieties.
 
Considering the entire population surveyed:
  • Arthritis was the most commonly reported skeletal/muscular condition across all breeds/varieties. Higher rates observed in Toy and Standard Manchester Terriers may reflect the higher median age of the surveyed population in these two populations.
  • Almost 50% of the 141 dogs reporting conditions in this category reported arthritis, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis.  Although age of onset and quality of life impacts cannot be determined based on survey information, high median age at death or as of the date of the survey suggests these may be issues most commonly found in older dogs.
  • Luxated Patella were the second most common physical condition reported by English Toy Terrier owners, behind “Removal of teeth resulting from poor oral health.”
    • Reports of luxated patella were proportionately almost 4x higher among English Toy Terrier than Standard Manchester Terriers and almost 5x higher than Toy Manchester Terriers.
    • In ETTs, most cases of luxated patellas were reported by pet owners.  Information on grade of luxation, symptoms and/or effect on quality of life were not measured in this survey.
  • In North America, Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease and Luxated Patella have traditionally been considered issues more common in Toy Manchesters.  While 2002 survey results did not break issues down by variety, in the 2018 survey owners reported both conditions similar at proportional rates in Toy and Standard Manchesters. Reports of Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease were slightly higher in TMTs (2% versus 1.1%) and reports of Luxated Patella were slightly higher in Standard Manchesters (2.2% vs 1.6%).  That said, the Standard Manchester Terrier sample size was only slightly more than half the size of the Toy Manchester sample size, meaning that a small number of cases represents a larger percentage.  Even so, SMT breeders may find this observation of interest and worthy of further surveillance.
 
Follow-up:
-Breeders of English Toy Terriers may wish to investigate luxated patella in more detail to determine factors such as grade, treatment, symptoms/impacts on quality of life, etc.


Conditions

The following conditions are referenced below in the analysis for this section. The explanation for each disease/condition provided in the survey is included for reference:


  • Arthritis
  • Cranial Cruciate Ligament Tear/Rupture
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Luxated Patella (slipping knee cap)
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (deterioration of the femur head)
  • Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease)
  • Panosteitis (Pano)
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
Toy Manchester Terriers
Skeletal and Muscle conditions reported in Toy Manchester Terriers included 26 cases of Arthritis (8.6%),  six cases of Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (2.0%), five cases of Luxated Patella (1.6%), three cases of Osteoarthritis (1%), and one case of elbow dysplasia (0.3%).
 
In the ‘other’ section, owners reported:
  • One dog that is bow-legged in front;
  • One dog with a non-specific front leg deformity;
  • One dog who holds a rear leg up while running, but examination by multiple veterinarians has not revealed a cause;
  • One dog with a malformed shoulder joint; and,
  • One dog with “popping joints”.
With regard to arthritis and osteoarthritis, although age of onset and quality of life impacts cannot be determined based on this survey, among the 27 TMTs reporting these conditions, median age at death or as of the date of the survey was 13 years, with just three dogs aged less than 10 years old. This would seem to suggest these issues are most commonly found in older dogs.

Associated Deaths
One Toy Manchester death was attributed to Skeletal/Muscle issues, with a 12-year-old male’s cause of death listed as “severe arthritis”.
Standard Manchester Terriers
Skeletal and Muscle conditions reported in Standard Manchester Terriers included 18 cases of Arthritis (9.7%), four cases of Luxated Patella (2.2%), three cases of Osteoarthritis (1.6%), two cases each of Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis (1.1%), and one Cranial Cruciate Ligament Tear/Rupture (0.5%).
 
In the ‘other’ section, owners reported:
  • Two breaks/fractures. One unspecified, the other a “tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture at 3.5 months old” (knee injury);
  • One “suspected immune-mediated polyarthropathy”;
  • One “calcified tendons bilaterally on both trochars” (tendons over hips) diagnosed at age 6;
  • One “partial tear in both calf muscles”;
  • One congenital cyst on the spine resulting in half of the dog’s discs being removed. No lasting impact;
  • One surgery to remove bone spurs from front leg;
  • One “Bilateral Iliopsoas tension when overly athletic” (muscle located along the lower spine and groin area);
  • One suspected but unconfirmed luxating patella; and,
  • One dog “unable to manage stairs, sofa, bed, etc” at age 12 with no known cause.
With regard to reported cases of arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, although age of onset and quality of life impacts cannot be determined based on this survey, among the 20 dogs reporting these conditions, median age at death or as of the date of the survey was 13.5 years, with zero (0) dogs aged less than 10 years old. This would seem to suggest these issues are most commonly found in older dogs.

Associated Deaths
One Standard Manchester death was attributed to Skeletal/Muscle related issues, with a 12-year-old male euthanized as a result of inability to manage daily physical activities and loss of mental acuity.

​Flashback to 2002
When results of the 2018 health survey are compared to results of the 2002 survey:
  • Rates of reported arthritis (including arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis) increased drastically from .9% in 2002 to 9.6% of the combined population in 2018.  As these conditions may be age related and as information on age was not collected in 2002, further analysis is not possible.
  • Reports of Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease remained relatively consistent at 1.5% in 2002 and 1.6% in 2018.
  • Reports of Luxated Patella increased very slightly from 1.2% in 2002 to 1.8% in 2018. 

Manchester Terriers (UK/FCI)
Skeletal and Muscle conditions reported in Manchester Terriers included 12 cases of Arthritis (2.7%), six cases of Luxated Patella (1.3%), four cases each of Cranial Cruciate Ligament Tear/Rupture  and Osteoarthritis (0.9%), three cases of Elbow Dysplasia (0.7%), and one case each of Hip Dysplasia, Panosteitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis (0.2%).
 
In the ‘other’ section, owners reported:
  • One dog with a “terrier hop” at age 18 with “spinal constriction”;
  • One dog with its “last of pair of the ribs underdeveloped”; and,
  • One dog with “undefined back pain”.
With regard to reported cases of arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid, arthritis, although age of onset and quality of life impacts cannot be determined based on this survey, among the 16 dogs reporting these conditions, median age at death or as of the date of the survey was 12 years, with three dogs aged less than 10 years old. This would seem to suggest these issues are most commonly found in older dogs.

English Toy Terriers
Skeletal and Muscle conditions reported in English Toy Terriers included 18 cases of Luxated Patella (7.9%), five cases of Arthritis (2.2%), and one case each of Cranial Cruciate Ligament Tear/Rupture and Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (0.4%).
 
In the ‘other’ section, owners reported:
  • One dog with a sudden spinal injury;
  • One dog with poor muscle coordination (age three as of date of survey);
  • One dog with possible herniated disc but no lasting effect;
  • One dog with an “intermittent skip in back leg” with no know cause. Treated with massage therapy and resolved;
  • One dog with spondylosis at age 8; and,
  • One dog with atrophy of masticatory (chewing) muscles.
Luxated Patella was the #2 most common physical health issue reported by ETT owners in the survey, behind ‘Removal of teeth due to poor oral health”. The significantly higher reported rate of Luxated Patella in ETTs as compared to other breed/groups examined in this survey may be a reflection of increased attention to this condition among breeders. In the 2017 Breeder’s Survey, 100% of ETT breeders surveyed indicated they always or most always screen breeding stock for Luxated Patella. Testing among ETT breeders is also different compared to North American patella testing, for example, with all dogs scored on a standardized scale. As a result of these factors, it is not surprising that ETT breeder have a higher awareness of patella issues generally. Nevertheless, it is important to note that fully 12 of the 18 cases of Luxated Patella in ETTs were reported by pet owners and not breeders, decreasing the likelihood that cases were identified through routine screening of breeding stock. As it is impossible to determine the age of onset, presence/severity of symptoms or impact on quality of life, additional surveying on this topic may be worthwhile.

With regard to arthritis, although age of onset and quality of life impacts cannot be determined based on survey information, among the five dogs reporting these conditions, median age at death or as of the date of the survey was 13 years, with just one dog aged less than 10 years old. This would seem to suggest this is an issue most commonly found in older dogs.

Associated Deaths
One English Toy Terrier death was attributed to Skeletal/Muscle related issues, with a 10-year-old male’s cause of death listed as “Atrophy of masticatory muscle.”