• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.481-485
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• 2015

The present study determined the normal reference ranges for overall pelvic limb alignment of small-breed dogs. For this purpose, 60 cadaveric canine pelvic limbs from normal small-breed dogs (Maltese, Poodle, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier). A frontal full-limb radiograph of each pelvic limb was obtained, and mechanical tibiofemoral angle (mTFA), mechanical metatarsotibial angle (mMTTA), mechanical axis-femur angle (MAFA), and mechanical axis-metatarsus angle (MAMTA) were measured from each radiograph, along with mechanical deviation of the stifle (SMAD) and tarsal joints (TMAD). The 95% CI for radiographic values of all pelvic limbs were mTFA, 5.7-7.4; mMTTA, $-2.2--0.8^{\circ}$; MAFA, $3.5-4.5^{\circ}$; MAMTA, 1.0-2.0; SMAD, 2.1-2.7%; TMAD, 0.5-1.0%. There values varied among the breeds, except for mTFA. The reference ranges can be used for diagnosing pelvic limb deformities in small-breed dogs and for planning corrective osteotomies.