Elbow Dysplasia in a Puppy

As a dog owner, you take good care of your pet. While a healthy puppy is ideal, there is a chance that it may suffer from elbow dysplasia. Although this is not a life-threatening condition, it can significantly affect its mobility. Considering the nature of this condition, it is important to identify and understand elbow dysplasia in order to seek treatment.

  1. Elbow Dysplasia

    • Elbow dysplasia is a condition that affects puppies from large breeds, such as German shepherds, golden retrievers, Saint Bernards and rottweilers. It is a blanket term that refers to elbow arthritis. A puppy's elbow contains three parts: radius, ulna and humerus. Normally, these components develop and fit together for proper elbow function. With elbow dysplasia, an abnormal space occurs between the radius and ulna, causing complications. A major problem is that the abnormality forces the elbow to carry much more weight. Cartilage can crack, forcing joint fluid into the fissures. The end result is significant pain that occurs between the ages of four and six months.

    Causes

    • According to Pet Education, elbow dysplasia is not an independent disorder. Instead, it results from at least one of the following problems: "osteochondrosis, fragmentation of the coronoid process, ununited anconeal process or elbow incongruity."

      Osteochondrosis affects the elbow's bones and cartilage, tearing the cartilage. As a result, a piece of cartilage may rip loose, or break off entirely, floating freely in the joint.

      Fragmentation of the coronoid process results in a gradual degeneration of part of the elbow called the ulna. In ununited anconeal process, the elbow does not fully join together. In turn, the cartilage must keep the elbow relatively in place. With elbow incongruity, two of the elbow bones -- the radius and ulna -- do not grow at the same speed, wearing down the cartilage. These issues may be triggered by genetics, injury or poor nutrition.

    Symptoms

    • Signs of elbow dysplasia can manifest themselves as early as four months. Severe limping is the obvious symptom. The puppy may hold its front leg out while walking, or simply not walk on it at all. The symptoms reach their peak between the ages of six and 12 months, then they become milder and occur in cycles. If left untreated, elbow dysplasia will cause arthritis as the dog reaches adulthood.

    Treatment

    • Most of the causes of elbow dysplasia can be treated with a combination of strict diet, exercise and anti-inflammatory drugs. The diet keeps the dog's weight from straining the affected elbow. Swimming is the preferred exercise, because it is low-impact. The drugs help reduce swelling and pain. In more severe cases -- or with ununited anconeal process -- surgery is the only option.