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Dogs with Elbow Dysplasia

Although elbow dysplasia in dogs is an irreversible hereditary disease, having your puppy checked for it can help lessen its effects.

Elbow dysplasia is the second most common cause of elbow lameness in dogs.  Some people call this osteoarthritis, but actually dysplasia refers to an actual developmental defect, usually genetic. 

Dogs with Elbow Dysplasia

Elbow Dysplasia

If left untreated, this usually results in osteoarthritis down the road.  True elbow dysplasia needs to be diagnosed after the growth plates have closed, after 4-12 months old.  Some patients may not show lameness until later in life, when arthritis really kicks in.  If caught early enough, as soon as they are symptomatic, surgery can be done to remove damaged tissue, and fix elbow joint.  However, even surgery is not a cure.  This may help slow down progression of arthritis, however, arthritis will still form.

Bones Need to Grow Correctly

Elbow dysplasia, a degenerative joint disease (DJD) complex, is defined by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) as involving three key locations where an abnormality in bone growth may occur:

  • Ununited anconeal process (UAP)
  • Osteochondrosis (OCD)
  • Fragmented medial coronoid process (FCP)

When an OFA result solely shows DJD, it is generally considered that lesions related to coronoid process disease are present. Most cases of elbow dysplasia can be explained by this.

What Is the OFA?

Data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) show that over 79 breeds of dogs are affected with elbow dysplasia. To assist breeders in enhancing the genetic health of dog breeds, the OFA analyzes dogs for inherited medical disorders. It is a voluntary screening process that involves an examination and paperwork from your personal veterinarian. The OFA receives the results and provides a certification score. Breeders can prevent inherited disease by using the statistics to guide their breeding decisions. To be screened and become a part of the OFA, dogs do not need to be purebred.

OFA records show that the Chow and Bulldog breeds have the greatest rates of elbow dysplasia. Interestingly, elbow dysplasia has never been documented in Beagles or Pyrenean Shepherds.

The Joint is Graded by OFA

OFA assigns a grade based on the degree of alterations in the joint if it isn’t normal. Elbows fall into the following categories:

  • Grade I Elbow Dysplasia:Minimal bone change along anconeal process of ulna (less than 2mm).
  • Grade II Elbow Dysplasia: Additional bone proliferation along anconeal process (2-5 mm) and subchondral bone changes (trochlear notch sclerosis).
  • Grade III Elbow Dysplasia: Well-developed degenerative joint disease with bone proliferation along anconeal process being greater than 5 mm.

The degree of degenerative joint degeneration shown on radiographs is the basis for these grading. Joint abnormalities cause the bony degenerative changes. Evaluations of the elbow should begin at age two. Normal wear and tear on your dog’s elbow joints over time may cause changes in the bone called osteoarthritis, which would mask any inherited developmental issues.

A flaw in the elbow joint’s ultimate development in a puppy causes elbow dysplasia. Three bones mesh together to form the complex elbow joint: the humerus, which is the large bone that descends from the shoulder, the radius, and the ulna, which are the two smaller forearm bones. Arthritis can develop and cause lameness if there is a deviation from the normal alignment of these bones that create the elbow joint.

Dogs with minor elbow dysplasia might not exhibit lameness until later in life, while severe dysplasia can be severely crippling. Dogs that are male are more commonly impacted. Dogs who are overweight or excessively active run the risk of sustaining joint problems. Between 30 and 80 percent of canines are thought to be afflicted bilaterally, which complicates diagnosis. These dogs may have a reduced range of motion and an overall shortened stride rather than the head bobbing that is typically associated with lameness in the front legs. Manipulation will cause pain in both legs. It is usually advisable to radiograph the other leg in case it is also afflicted if your dog is lame in one of its front legs.

The dog may exhibit swelling in the elbow joint of its front limb if it has severe elbow dysplasia. An almost fused joint will feel firm to the touch due to bony changes. Warmth, fluid accumulation, and inflammation are possible in the early stages, but they will go away with time.

Diagnosis of Elbow Dysplasia

A lameness test, which involves flexing and stretching the elbow joint and observing your dog’s movements, is the first step in the diagnosis process. It’s likely that your veterinarian will advise elbow joint X-rays. An extreme flexed-joint X-ray view is necessary for OFA examination, but your veterinarian may also get alternative views to assess the severity of the issue. A CT scan or arthroscopy may be suggested in addition to referring a patient to a board-certified veterinary if the diagnosis is unclear.

While medical care can help your dog with painkillers, joint supplements, bracing and rehabilitation programs to build muscle and reduce joint strain are all possible components of medical therapy.

Not everyone can afford elbow replacement surgery, due to the cost.  This is where our Posh Dog Elbow brace can be very helpful.  We have worked both with patients pos-op after surgery, to help support and maintain normal movement and support post-op, as well as for patients that could not afford the surgery (or their dog was not a surgical candidate).  Some patients come to us with arthritic changes already happening in the elbow, and they are not great surgical candidates for that reason as well, so bracing may be a great alternative.  When looking for an elbow brace, especially for dysplasia, you must find a custom product that will help aid in offloading/act as a shock absorber.  This is exactly what Posh Braces do, and why we work with many rehab practitioners as well as surgeons.  Taking the pressure off the elbow can help relieve the symptoms of elbow dysplasia, and hopefully slow down the production of arthritis, similar to surgery.  We are here to support your dog through this process, both with helping you measure for our elbow brace, as well as helping you with the fitting process. 

Don’t let elbow dysplasia ruin your dog’s quality of life, call Posh for more information you can contact us via our contact form our visit our Facebook page.


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