Poor dogs....

Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound, 2020

Elizabeth Watson, Laura Niestat

Background
Strangulating hair mats in dogs occur when chronically matted hair encircles a limb, leading to soft tissue constriction, ischemic necrosis, and potentially osseous changes. While veterinarians recognize hair mats as a medical concern in cases of neglect, the radiographic and osseous effects of chronic strangulation have not been fully described. This study aimed to characterize the radiographic findings associated with strangulating hair mats and determine clinical indicators that differentiate soft tissue lesions from those with concurrent bone involvement.

Methods
A retrospective case series was conducted by reviewing medical records from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Hospital between 2014 and 2019. Dogs were included if they presented with strangulating hair mats and had orthogonal radiographs of the affected limb. Two observers, including a board-certified veterinary radiologist and a forensic veterinarian, assessed radiographs for osseous abnormalities such as bone atrophy, lysis, remodeling, fractures, periostitis, subluxation, and sequestrum formation. Histopathology results were reviewed when available.

Results
A total of 27 dogs with 43 strangulating hair mat lesions were identified. Small-breed dogs with long hair, particularly Shih Tzus (n=14), were overrepresented. The radiographic findings included circumferential soft tissue defects (100%), focal bone atrophy (21%), bone remodeling (9%), focal bone lysis (14%), and joint subluxation at the level of constriction (9%). Osseous lesions were confined to the distal extremities, with no cases affecting the proximal limbs. Histopathology from 19 cases confirmed ischemic necrosis as the primary underlying process, with two cases showing osteomyelitis. No clinical features, such as lesion depth or location, reliably predicted the presence of osseous changes.

Limitations
This study was retrospective, and histopathology was not available for all cases. The sample population consisted primarily of small-breed dogs, limiting generalizability to larger breeds. Additionally, some dogs were excluded due to a lack of radiographic imaging.

Conclusions
Strangulating hair mats can cause significant osseous changes in affected dogs, including bone atrophy, remodeling, lysis, and joint instability. Because clinical features did not reliably predict osseous involvement, radiographic evaluation is recommended for all cases of strangulating hair mats to guide appropriate treatment. This study highlights the forensic and medical significance of chronic hair matting as a form of neglect with potential long-term orthopedic consequences.

(A) Dorsopalmar radiographic view demonstrating atrophic bone and a complete defect in the distal fifth metacarpal bone and (B) a lateral photographic view following surgical debridement of a strangulating hair matting lesion, and (C) the admission photo of the 7-year-old Yorkshire Terrier with hair matting in all four limbs and (D) the patient following shaving of the hair mats, grooming, and healing of the surgically debrided constricting wound (2.5 mAs, 86 kVp)

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