Musculoskeletal disease in dogs

Measured in 101 breeds across 3 sources. Figures are grouped by how they were measured, because those groups are not comparable with one another.

15.2%Highest recorded
101Breeds measured
$432Typical treatment cost

1-year clinical

Share of dogs recorded with the condition in a single year of veterinary records.

Not a lifetime risk. A dog that develops this at age 9 is not counted in a year it was not diagnosed.

  • German Shepherd

    clinical or cohort VetCompass GSD 2017, 2013 n = 253

    1,660 German Shepherd Dogs under UK primary veterinary care

    15.2% 13.5% to 17.1%
  • French Bulldog

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Labrador Retriever

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Golden Retriever

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • German Shepherd

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Dachshund

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Poodle

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Beagle

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • German Shorthaired Pointer

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Bulldog

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Cane Corso

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Yorkshire Terrier

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Australian Shepherd

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Doberman Pinscher

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Pembroke Welsh Corgi

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Miniature Schnauzer

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Boxer

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Pomeranian

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Bernese Mountain Dog

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
Show the other 81 breeds
  • Shih Tzu

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Great Dane

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Boston Terrier

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Chihuahua

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Havanese

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Border Collie

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • English Springer Spaniel

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Shetland Sheepdog

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Siberian Husky

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Brittany

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Belgian Malinois

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Cocker Spaniel

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Basset Hound

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • English Cocker Spaniel

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Vizsla

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Maltese

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Pug

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Collie

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Mastiff

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Papillon

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Portuguese Water Dog

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Shiba Inu

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • West Highland White Terrier

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Newfoundland

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Australian Cattle Dog

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Whippet

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Bichon Frise

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Dalmatian

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Giant Schnauzer

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Italian Greyhound

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Weimaraner

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Samoyed

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Scottish Terrier

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Bloodhound

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Akita

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Saint Bernard

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Great Pyrenees

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Miniature Pinscher

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Cairn Terrier

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Airedale Terrier

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Chinese Crested

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Irish Setter

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Irish Wolfhound

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Bullmastiff

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Chinese Shar-Pei

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Alaskan Malamute

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Brussels Griffon

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Lhasa Apso

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Keeshond

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Bull Terrier

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Old English Sheepdog

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • English Setter

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Pekingese

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Border Terrier

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Basenji

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Standard Schnauzer

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Chow Chow

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Dogue de Bordeaux

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Leonberger

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Flat-Coated Retriever

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Borzoi

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Japanese Chin

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Gordon Setter

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Wire Fox Terrier

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Welsh Terrier

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Afghan Hound

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Tibetan Terrier

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Parson Russell Terrier

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Norfolk Terrier

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Norwegian Elkhound

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Saluki

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Bearded Collie

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Welsh Springer Spaniel

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Greyhound

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Scottish Deerhound

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Lakeland Terrier

    all-dog baseline VetCompass 2014, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs, all breeds

    15% $432 typical
  • Rottweiler

    clinical or cohort VetCompass Rottweiler 2017, 2013

    UK primary-care dogs of this breed

    12% 10.7% to 13.5% $432 typical

Where these figures come from

  • VetCompass GSD 2017 Grade A

    O'Neill DG, Coulson NR, Church DB, Brodbelt DC. Demography and disorders of German Shepherd Dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. 2017;4:7.

    View source
  • VetCompass 2014 Grade A

    O'Neill DG, Church DB, McGreevy PD, Thomson PC, Brodbelt DC. Prevalence of disorders recorded in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England. PLOS ONE. 2014;9(3):e90501.

    View source
  • VetCompass Rottweiler 2017 Grade A

    O'Neill DG, Seah WY, Church DB, Brodbelt DC. Rottweilers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. 2017;4:13.

    View source

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