A leading cause of dog arthritis for larger canine breeds is elbow dysplasia, but there are ways veterinarians can control or cure this debilitating and painful disease.

Elbow dysplasia seems to have a genetic base but as things are not as simple as that. Elbow dysplasia always starts in puppies and can manifest in a number of forms:

Elbow fragments not fusing properly or breaking off the ulna bone (ununited anconeal process or fragmented coronoid process)

A piece of a cartilage that dislodges and flaps or floats in the joint (osteochondritis)

A joint where the pieces just don’t fit smoothly together, causing them to rub each other and wear down the cartilage (joint incongruity)

Although elbow dysplasia develops in a dog’s formative months, it may not show itself until much later in life. The symptoms in this early stage can be vary from quite mild to severe - stiffness, considerable pain and lameness, inactivity, licking at the joints and even behavioral changes.

If a young, large breed dog displays symptoms of elbow arthritis such as those above, it is highly likely that the dog has elbow dysplasia.

Early and correct diagnosis of elbow dysplasia should be made. Your veterinarian may arrange for a series of tests such as arthroscopy, X-rays and sometimes an MRI. X-rays are always the baseline test for any arthritis and may show signs of arthritis and evidence of joint incongruity but usually not much more specific than that. Arthroscopy (inserting an endoscope through a small incision and exploring the joint) is a minimally invasive and very helpful way to check out the elbow joint in dogs. MRI is sometimes used but not that often unless it is part of the surgical planning process.

Once the diagnosis is made, your veterinarian can then approach the problem in a variety of ways. Opinions will vary but it is my opinion that surgery is often not the best option for elbow dysplasia, especially if there is already arthritis in the joint. If the arthritis is severe and crippling then surgery can be great but in milder cases the results of surgery are often no better than to not operate.

Surgical Options

There are a number of surgical options as detailed below:

Ulnar osteotomy – taking a piece of the ulna out to relieve pressure on the elbow, can be helpful for fragmented coronoid process and ununited anconeal process.

Arthroscopy to examine and remove pieces of cartilage that may be floating around the joint as seen in osteochondritis

Elbow replacement surgery – this is a relatively new procedure and is still being developed.

Fusion of the elbow joint can stop the arthritis but the leg becomes no more than a walking stick for them unless they can move the elbow. Avoid this and consider amputation in preference - they will be happier...

To most dogs, the best suggested treatment is conservative medical intervention. This includes changes in the diet, exercise and different leg exercise routines to manage pain and improve mobility.

Trigger point therapy and acupuncture can also be used. Your vet may also prescribe omega 3 fatty acids, prescription anti-inflammatories and pain killers to ease pain and joint inflammation. A baseline of glucosamine and chondroitin such as Cosequin is also a big help.

Through proper treatment, dog arthritis from elbow dysplasia can be prevented or controlled, therefore helping your dog have a better life. Visit my blog for more information.