Measurement of hip laxity by distraction radiography in young crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous)

ABSTRACT This study aimed to measure hip laxity using distraction-stress radiography in young crab-eating foxes. Eight free-ranging crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous), six males and two females, with a mean age of 4 months and weighing from 3.5 to 4.0 kg were used. Under deep sedation and analgesia, the animals were submitted to a radiographic ventrodorsal hip extended standard view and extended distraction radiographic view. Distraction radiography was performed three times for each animal to determine repeatability. The standard deviation (SD) recorded in the distraction index (DI) between the three examinations of each animal ranged from 0.02 to 0.05, with a mean of 0.03 ± 0.01. The DI of the worst joint ranged from 0.08 to 0.37, with a mean of 0.21±0.09. The mean DI on the right and left sides was similar. In conclusion, the crab-eating fox preserves normal hip development without a predisposition to hip dysplasia. However, monitoring of the species' hips is recommended, given the small sample size of this study and the occurrence of an animal with a DI > 0.30.