Craniomandibular osteopathy in a golden jackal (Canis aureus)

Craniomandibular osteopathy is a rare disorder in dogs, characterised by subperiosteal and extraperiosteal new bone proliferations on the skull, on the mandibles in particular and occasionally on long bones. Data about craniomandibular osteopathy in the golden jackal (Canis aureus) are lacking. This paper describes craniomandibular osteopathy in a seven-month-old animal. The mandibular region and the distal section of the hindlimb were examined radiologically and by CT. Both imaging modalities showed ossifying periosteal deposits localised on the left side of the mandible and irregular periosteal ossifying deposits covering the surface of the crural bones. Histopathology revealed new bone formation in the endosteum, periosteum and trabecular bone of the mandible and in the distal section of the hindlimb, but no inflammatory cells were found. Craniomandibular osteopathy in free-living canids has not yet been reported. However, the macroscopic imaging and histopathological features in this pup were consistent with the disease.