Bone volume and regional density of the central tarsal bone detected using computed tomography in a cross-sectional study of adult racing greyhounds

Abstract AIMS: To determine whether left-to- rightasymmetry of the central tarsal bone ( CTB) of racing greyhounds was detectable using computed tomography (CT) in live dogs; to quantify the asymmetry in terms of average bone volume, volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), and dorsal cortical shape, and to determine if age, gender, bodyweight, number of starts or history of tarsal injury were significant covariates. METHODS: One trainersupplied 11 male and seven female, unrelated, skeletally mature, actively racing greyhounds, including dogs with a history of tarsal injury diagnosed by the trainerand/or track veterinarian (n=8), and dogs without a history of tarsal injury (n=10). Using CT, standardised parameters of the CTBwere measured including volume and average vBMD of the leftand right CTB, vBMD of regions within the CTB, and bone shape. RESULTS: There was no difference in the volumes of the leftand right CTBand no association with number of racing starts. Volume of CTBin dogs with a history of...