Radiological assessment of the relationship between thoracic conformation and the risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus in dogs

To test the hypothesis that breeds of dogs with a deeper and narrower thorax have an increased risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), thoracic depth, width, and length were measured for 437 dogs of 17 different breeds using radiographs on file at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine for the period of 1977 to 1993, These data were applied to risk estimates of GDV that were generated from a separate case control study using the Veterinary Medical Data Base. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to relate the mean thoracic measurements and the ideal, adult body size of the breeds to the risk of each breed developing GDV, When the risk of GDV was evaluated as a function of the mean thoracic depth/width ratio alone, or as a function of the thoracic depth/width ratio plus ideal adult breed weight, 37% (p = 0.009) and 76% (p = 0.022), respectively, of the variability in GDV risk was explained, These findings support the hypothesis tested and suggest that selective breeding can be used to decrease a breed's risk of GDV over time.