A case report of possible Legg–Calve–Perthes disease on Roman dogs from Gaul (France)

This case study reviews the first archeological cases of avascular femoral head necrosis, known as Legg–Calve–Perthes disease, on two small Roman dogs from ancient Gaul (France). LCPD diagnosis is difficult in advanced degenerative stages of the disease and one of its differential diagnoses is slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). In both cases presented here, the development of this disease is probably related to the small morphology of the two dogs. Small dogs appeared to emerge in the Roman Empire when the dog became highly specialized. This disease raises questions about the health conditions of these small dogs in Roman times.