All dogs are exceptional pets because the bond that the owner can have with them and vice versa on numerous occasions is indescribable, this animal is so kind that it should not surprise us that it has been considered as man's best friend and is currently used as a therapeutic means for numerous disorders.
There is a great diversity of dogs and there are many people who feel a real weakness for large dogs, finding among them such beautiful breeds as the German Shepherd, the Golden Retriever or the Bernese Mountain Dog.
However, sometimes a large size predisposes our friends to suffer various diseases, so that you are informed, in this AnimalWised article we talk about the symptoms and treatment of elbow dysplasia in dogs.
What is elbow dysplasia?
Elbow dysplasia in dogs is a disease that affects the elbow joint (unilaterally or bilaterally) and originates from during the growth stage.
The bone tissue is altered and does not develop properly, arthritis first occurs, that is, inflammation of the joint, and finally osteoarthritis occurs, which consists of a progressive wear of the bone tissue and the structures that form the joint.
It is a disease of genetic origin that is transmitted from generation to generation, however, other factors will also be decisive for it to appear factors such as the environment or diet.
The dogs that usually suffer from this disease are those that belong to a large breed, we can highlight the following: Neapolitan Mastiff, rottweiler, saint bernard, labrador, golden retriever or german shepherd.
Symptoms of elbow dysplasia in dogs
As it is a disease that affects the development and growth of the dog, the first symptoms begin to be observed between 4 and 5 months old . If a dog suffers from elbow dysplasia he will manifest it in the following way:
- Lameness at start of movement
- Lameness after prolonged exercise
- Exercise intolerance
- Pain signs
If we observe any of the following symptoms in our puppy we should go to the vet without delay It is very important to make an early diagnosis of dysplasia of elbow, in this way, treatment can be established as soon as possible, reducing pain and preserving the maximum functionality of our dog's joint.
If the diagnosis is not made in time, the dog's functional capacity will be affected for life and this will mean a progressive decrease in our pet's quality of life.
How is elbow dysplasia diagnosed in dogs?
To diagnose elbow dysplasia in dogs, the veterinarian will rely on the patient's medical history, the symptoms that the patient presents and will also perform a complete physical examination to evaluate other signs that could indicate the presence of this disease.
Obviously you will also order diagnostic imaging tests, usually x-rays, however, sometimes elbow dysplasia is not seen on x-ray until the dog is 1 year old.
Treatment of elbow dysplasia in dogs
The treatment of elbow dysplasia can be carried out in various ways and obviously the preferable method is to use the least invasive treatment, therefore, as a first option, you can resort to a orthopedic complement that adequately fixes the elbow joint, it is also possible that the veterinarian prescribes rest to wait for a spontaneous resolution of the disease or administer analgesics to reduce pain.
The surgery is reserved for severe cases, but is commonly used to treat this disease.
The course of the disease varies greatly depending on the degree of the injury, although the prognosis is generally very favorable if the surgery has been performed before the osteoarthritis appeared and is usually unfavorable if it has not been performed no surgical intervention.
Can we prevent elbow dysplasia in dogs?
This disease cannot always be prevented, but it is within our power to adopt various dietary hygienic measures that reduce the possibility that our dog suffers from elbow dysplasia, let's see below what they are:
- In dogs predisposed to this disease and with early development we must avoid excess calcium, vitamins and proteins in the diet.
- It is important to genetically control this disease and prevent those specimens that suffer from it from reproducing.
- During the growth stage we should try limited physical exercise, avoiding all those practices with risk of trauma or that are of great impact articulate.
