Most people know what hip dysplasia is and the breeds that are most likely to be affected, however many people are unaware of that elbow dysplasia is also a common orthopedic condition. Elbow arthritis is the second most common cause of elbow pain in dogs, second to osteoarthritis.
What is elbow dysplasia? Elbow dysplasia is an inherited condition that causes multiple developmental abnormalities of the elbow joint. The radius, ulna and humerus make up the elbow joint, which is classified as a hinge joint. Elbow dysplasia is diagnosed from multiple abnormalities named: fragmented coronoid process (FCP), osteochondrosis (OCD), joint incongruity, cartilage loss, and an ununited anconeal process.
Breeds predisposed to elbow dysplasia.
Large breeds are over-represented with Bernese Mountain dogs, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers at the top of the list. However, Pugs also have a high prevalence of elbow dysplasia. Since elbow dysplasia is an inheritable condition, any dogs that develops it should not be used for breeding.
Symptoms of elbow dysplasia
The most common symptom is front leg lameness that does not get better with exercise restriction and rest. Lameness is most notable when the elbow dysplasia is only present on one side. If both elbows are affected then you may notice a short, choppy gate on the front legs as well as reluctance to want to exercise and stand. The elbows may be swollen and are often painful when when palpated.
Diagnosis of elbow dysplasia
Puppies can be diagnosed with elbow dysplasia as young as 4 to 6 months of age, but usually it is diagnosed later because of worsening of clinical signs. An x-ray is the first step to diagnosis and often all that is needed for diagnosis. In less severe cases, CT and arthroscopic surgery may be needed for definitive diagnosis.
Treatment of elbow dysplasia
Unfortunately, surgery is the main treatment option and it will not cure your dog of joint issues. Typically surgery is done via arthroscopy, which means there are very small incisions and cameras are used to visualize the joint. Open surgery with larger incisions are rarely needed. For severe cases there is an option for elbow replacement. This is newer procedure and does come with some risks that would need to be discussed with your veterinary surgeon.
Medical management of very mild cases may be helpful and requires a combination of keeping your dog very lean, physical therapy (including acupuncture and laser therapy), pain medications, and nutraceutical joint supplements (glucosamine/chondroitin). Medical management will not fix the orthopedic abnormalities your dog has but can help alleviate pain and allow them to live more comfortably.
In general the more mild the elbow dysplasia the better the outcome. It is also important to address elbow dysplasia as early as possible. The longer a dog lives with elbow dysplasia the more arthritis builds within the joint in a short period of time. Unless your dog has a complete elbow replacement, your dog will never be cured of elbow dysplasia. Despite 85% of dogs becoming more comfortable after surgery, x-rays do show that all dogs will continue to build arthritis in that joint. The goal is to try to slow the progression of arthritis as much as possible, which means medical and surgical options should be combined for the best longterm outcome.
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