It is wonderful when people take care of our smaller brothers - animals, keep dogs, cats, birds, fish, hamsters and other wildlife in families. It is nice to see that people are not stiffened and give a particle of their heart to animals not for something, but just like that. And for them, the diseases of their wordless favorites are very difficult and painful. Each animal owner would like to know how to alleviate the suffering of his pet, but how to do it? In our article, we will talk about dysplasia of the elbow joint in dogs. We hope that this will help to diagnose the disease in a timely manner and take effective measures to rid the dog of this ailment.
What is dog elbow dysplasia? Photo
In the animal’s body, as in humans, abnormal phenomena occur in the development of internal organs, ligaments, bones, and other systems. Dogs are also prone to such troubles. Their anomalies are caused by genetic heredity, and a predisposition of one or another breed to any anomalies in development is also possible. Nowadays, dogs of various special breeds are rarely used for their intended purpose and fulfill the physical load that is inherent in them by nature. Few people appreciate a dog’s special qualities - endurance, delicate flair, hunting qualities and other useful functions that pets practically do not use.
Most often, for people, a home dog is a friend and favorite who, with his devotion and cordial attitude, warms the soul. But as a result of such a reverent and caring attitude, a thoroughbred dog loses its functions and skills that are unnecessary in his present life, and in return acquires various diseases. Today, dysplasia of the elbow joint in dogs is often diagnosed. Cases of the disease significantly increased not only in our country, but also abroad. The needlessness in modern human life of many canine functions leads to the atrophy of skills and characteristics of the breed that have become unclaimed. What kind of disease is this - dog elbow dysplasia?
Dysplasia is an abnormal development of cartilage and bone tissue, as well as the ligamentous apparatus of the elbow joints. It leads to grave consequences. In dogs, degenerative changes in the elbow joint develop. This disease comes in a period of intensive growth - 3.5-4 months old. The nature of such a phenomenon as dysplasia of the elbow joint in dogs consists in a genetic predisposition, uncontrolled feeding of the dog with high-calorie foods, excessive body weight and rapid growth.
What breeds are predisposed to this disease?
A breed predisposition to this pathology exists in dogs of medium and large breeds, such as Rottweiler, Shepherd, Labrador, Cane Corso, Bullmastiff, Bernese Shepherd, Chow Chow. Such a general concept as elbow dysplasia in dogs combines several different pathologies that can be combined with each other.
Causes of elbow dysplasia
The reasons why there may be dysplasia of the elbow joint in dogs have already been mentioned earlier - this is heredity, accelerated puppy growth, and an unhealthy diet. The following health problems fall under this diagnosis:
- exfoliating osteochondritis;
- a disease of the medial component called compartment syndrome;
- fragmentation of the medial coronoid process and epicondyle of the shoulder.
As a result of these manifestations, cartilage exfoliation and fragmentation of various components located in the elbow joint occur. Together, this is a certain type of osteochondrosis, which is based on the pathological ossification of cartilage or cartilage of the growth zone in the presence of a fragmented hooked process or medial epicondyle of the shoulder. In the pathology of the medial coronoid process, the mechanism is different - in this case, the difference in the growth rate of the radius and ulna bones leads to a violation of the congruence of the elbow joints. If the radius is shortened or the ulnar is too long, this causes a violation of the congruence of the joints, and as a result, the coronoid process is subjected to excessive stress and begins to gradually fragment.
According to experts, the fragmentation of the hook-shaped process occurs when excessive pressure of the radial head is directed to the shoulder block. This is possible if the ulna is shortened and the radius is excessively long. In the medial compartment syndrome, the loss of cartilage in the medial component of the joint is characteristic. All of them may well be combined together, but most often there is a combination of POC (stratified osteochondritis) and fragmentation of the medial coronoid process, as well as with other types. What are the symptoms of elbow dysplasia in dogs?
The main symptoms of the appearance of the disease in dogs
In order to successfully treat the disease, it is necessary to identify it in a timely manner. This is all the more important because the treatment of elbow dysplasia in a dog at the initial stage (a photo of a picture of this ailment is presented above) is much more effective and allows you to quickly cope with the pathology. Therefore, owners need to carefully monitor their pet during its growth and development of the qualities inherent in its breed. Watch his behavior and if you suspect dysplasia, contact your veterinarian. Symptoms that indicate the presence of the disease depend on the degree of dysplasia of the elbow joint in dogs, age and physical fitness.
The first symptoms of dysplasia can occur even at a very young age, and from 4 to 8 months will develop gradually. For dysplasia of the elbow joint, some lameness is characteristic after a period of physical activity or after sleep. Puppies prone to this disease quickly get tired, do not respond well to physical activity, even walk reluctantly. Although the main clinical sign of this pathology is pain, but lameness indicates your dog’s predisposition to any type of dysplasia. Owners need to carefully monitor what behavior the dog has with dysplasia of the elbow joint.
As a rule, a Labrador or Bernese mountain dog is located to fragmentation of the medial coronoid process, and the German Shepherd and Cane Corso are hook-shaped. Often signs of clinical pathologies are bursitis and synovitis, in the presence of which the dog's elbow joint significantly increases in size and severe tissue edema is possible. Older dogs that develop arthrosis have fairly limited joint mobility. Their elbow joints may crunch when moving, and the dog shows noticeable lameness. Moreover, this lameness intensifies after sleep or intense physical exertion of the limbs. Very often there is dysplasia of the elbow joint in a dog of 9 years old, if it leads a well-fed and calm lifestyle, and does not practice the skills characteristic of its breed.
Diagnostic Features
Elbow dysplasia is the most common cause of limpness in the dog’s front legs and limited movement when walking or running. In order for the treatment of elbow dysplasia in dogs to be successful and timely, it is necessary to diagnose it as soon as possible. You need to understand that the first signs appear in dogs at a young age - up to one year. If the puppy's elbow joint has any hidden pathology, then with age it will develop incorrectly and will significantly reduce the degree of your pet’s working capacity. Therefore, it is so important to detect the first signs of elbow dysplasia in dogs in early childhood, while the joints are not yet very developed and the direction of their development can be adjusted.
The young age of the puppy is very misleading to many, and they reassure their suspicions that such a baby cannot yet have any serious problems with the elbow joints. But such owners need to know that it is at a young puppy age that a mass of various pathologies is manifested. And if you close your eyes to them, this is fraught with big problems with the health of the dog in the near future. Therefore, do not entertain yourself with illusions and provide your beloved pet with timely help.
Today, diagnosis is carried out by x-ray, computed tomography and arthroscopy. X-rays are taken in several projections - a straight, bent and bent limb. If it is not possible to see some secondary signs in the picture, it is recommended to undergo arthroscopic examination. This is a minimally invasive method that allows to identify cartilage lesions and fragmentation present in the joint. Only the use of arthroscopic examination makes it possible to evaluate the cartilage structure, which is impossible with either RG or CT. Computed tomography is extremely effective in detecting abnormalities in the congruency of the elbow joints, all kinds of deformations or fragmentations.
Degrees
To evaluate the results of the studies, special notation is used for the degree of elbow dysplasia in dogs, of which there are currently five:
- degree zero - there are no symptoms of dysplasia (ED-);
- borderline form, when there is a zone of increased bone density (ED +/-);
- minor arthrosis of the 1st degree (ED +). This condition corresponds to the appearance of formations on the bones of 2 mm in size in one area or in several;
- the middle degree is the 2nd degree, or ED ++, when bone growths are 2-5 mm in one or more places;
- severe arthrosis - 3rd degree, or ED +++, with growths greater than 5 mm.
When do I need to urgently go to the veterinarian?
If you value the health of your puppy, then be sure to conduct a full examination in three to four months. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your baby has the following symptoms:
- lameness;
- heaviness when standing up, the need to walk around;
- elbows set up for themselves;
- abnormal eversion of the paw;
- fast fatiguability;
- swollen joints;
- bent limbs.
Therapeutic treatment for dysplasia
Depending on the degree of joint damage, there are several types of therapy. Therapeutic treatment consists in taking various anti-inflammatory drugs, using physiotherapy and a ban on high loads. This type of treatment is indicated for adult animals in which lameness is negligible. Surgical methods are applied to young puppies in order to correct joint dysfunction at an early stage and direct its further development in the right direction. Through the operation, it is possible to normalize the joint load and stop the development of future elbow dysplasia in dogs.
Healing Surgical Methods
Operative are divided into healing and facilitating. The treatment method practices a special bone cut at an early age - osteotomy. Such an intervention allows you to properly distribute the load on the joints, which gives him the opportunity to recover. Such operations are performed before the dog reaches the age of one. Even if today your puppy is barely limping, it makes sense to go on such an operation so that in adulthood he can walk and run without restrictions. Sometimes such an operation is also performed on an adult dog - a fragmented medial coronoid or hook process is removed, which, from excessive load, has broken off from the diseased joint.
Facilitated Surgical Method
Facilitating operations are PAUL (abduction osteotomy) and elbow arthrodesis. Proximal Abducting ULnar Osteotomy is performed for adult dogs with a medial compartment syndrome or lesion of the inside of the elbow joint with abrasion of the articular cartilage and developed arthrosis. This operation consists in the displacement of the elbow bone and its fixation on a special plate. The load falls on the healthy outer part of the elbow. Arthrodesis is also called joint fixation. It is used for the painful reaction of joints to movement. During this operation, the articular surfaces are removed and the joint is fixed at the desired angle, allowing it to grow together correctly and develop well in the future.
Reviews of doctors about a similar disease and its treatment
Doctors say that the prognosis for a cure depends on when you came to a veterinary clinic with a similar problem. The sooner this is done, the greater the likelihood that it will be possible to effectively overcome the ailment. Although, as doctors note, it is worth considering the type of disease. Note age also matters. In young animals, operations are more successful.
Conclusion
This material introduced dog lovers to when and how to diagnose forelimb pathology in dogs, at what age it is best to do, and what treatment is possible. Do not miss the appearance of deviations in the development of your puppy and help him become a full-fledged representative of his breed.