Canine Elbow Dysplasia Treatment

Canine elbow dysplasia is an umbrella term for a variety of conditions that all lead to the same result -- making the dog lame in the front legs because of problems in the elbow joint. Large breeds of dog , including all retrievers, Newfoundlands, Rottweilers, German shepherds, Chow-type large dogs, and Bernese mountain dogs, are most prone to elbow dysplasia.

  1. Time Frame

    • Puppies can be as young as four months of age when signs of the disorder start. However, some dogs do not begin to show any signs until they are full-grown adults at about two or three years of age. Depending on how severe the elbow dysplasia is, treatment can be a one-time surgery or last the rest of the dog's life.

    Diagnosis

    • The first step in treatment is to determine how severe the elbow dysplasia is. The dog is given X-rays or CT scans of the elbow joint. If the elbow joint is severely deformed, then the only choice of treatment is surgery. According to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), the dog may have to have exploratory surgery just to diagnose how bad the situation is.

    Surgery

    • The OFA recommends that the best type of surgery for dogs with elbow dysplasia is arthroscopy, which is a specialized type of surgery involving cutting directly into the elbow joint. Not all canine veterinarians can perform arthroscopy, so the dog may have to be referred to another veterinarian. According to Dr. Nicholas Trout, surgery works best for puppies and young dogs.

    Medications

    • Medications for canine elbow dysplasia include the NSAID painkillers aspirin and Rimadyl and a type of arthritis medication called chondroprotectants such as Adequan (the brand name for polysulfated glycosaminoglycan). The "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" recommends the nutritional supplement glucosamine chondroitin sulphate. The OFA notes that when just using medications, it can take up to one month before the dog shows any sign of feeling better.

    Additional Treatments

    • In addition to surgical and medical treatments, the dog should be put on a diet. Overweight dogs can damage already problematic joints. There has been some success with pain management with the regular use of acupuncture, but this does not treat the joint disfigurement that causes stiffness and pain.