Ateliotic Dwarfism in the German Shepherd Dog

Two types of ateliotic dwarfism in 3 German Shepherd dog puppies are described. Low somatomedin levels in serum and impaired growth of skeletal tissues were found in all 3 cases. One dog (case 2) had a histologically undeveloped adenohypophysis, and the dwarfism was apparently due to a generalized lack of adenopituitary function. The 2 other dogs (cases 1A and IB) had histologically normal adenohypophyses, and their condition was probably due to a reduced response to endogenous growth hormone in peripheral tissues.