
All dogs are exceptional companion animals as the link that the owner may have With them and vice versa on numerous occasions it is indescribable, so kind is this animal that we should not be surprised that it has been considered as man's best friend and that it 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 genuine weakness for large-sized dogs, finding such beautiful breeds as the German shepherd, the golden retriever or the Bernese mountain dog.
However Sometimes a great size predisposes our friends to suffer various diseases, so that you are informed, in this article of Animals and Pets Online 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 during the growth stage.
Tissue tissue is altered and does not develop properly, arthritis first occurs, that is, inflammation of the joint, and finally osteoarthritis occurs, which consists of progressive wear of the bone tissue and the structures that form the joint.
This is a disease of genetic origin that is transmitted from generation to generation, however, so that other factors such as the environment or food environment will also be decisive.
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 shepherd German.
Symptoms of elbow dysplasia in dogs
Being a disease that affects the development and growth of the dog, the first symptoms begin to be observed between 4 and 5 months of age .If a dog suffers from elbow dysplasia it will manifest it as follows:
- Lameness at the start of the movement
- Lameness after prolonged exercise
- Intolerance to Exercise
- Signs of pain
If we observe in our puppy some of the following symptoms we must go to the veterinarian without delay .It is very important to perform An early diagnosis of elbow dysplasia, in this way, a treatment can be instituted as soon as possible, reducing pain and maintaining the maximum functionality of our dog's joint.
If the diagnosis is not done on time, the functional capacity of the dog will be affected for life and this will lead to a progressive decrease in the quality of life of our pet.
How is elbow dysplasia diagnosed in dogs?
To diagnose elbow dysplasia in dogs, the veterinarian will rely on the patient's medical history, on the symptoms that are present and also perform a complete physical examination to evaluate other signs that could indicate the presence of this disease.
Obviously also will request diagnostic imaging tests , usually x-rays, however, on some occasions elbow dysplasia is not seen on the radiograph until the dog does not have 1 year old.
Treatment of elbow dysplasia in dogs
The treatment of elbow dysplasia can be done in various ways and obviously it is preferable to use the less invasive treatment, therefore, as a first option you can resort to a orthopedic complement that properly fix the elbow joint, it is also possible for the veterinarian to prescribe rest to wait for a spontaneous resolution of the disease or to administer analgesics to reduce pain.
surgery is reserved for severe cases, but is usually used to treat this disease.
The evolution of The disease varies greatly depending on the extent of the injury, although the prognosis is generally very favorable if the surgery has been performed before osteoarthritis appeared and is usually unfavorable if no surgical intervention has been performed.

Can we prevent elbow dysplasia in dogs?
This disease cannot always be prevented, but if it is in our hands to adopt various dietary hygienic measures that reduce the possibility of our dog suffering from elbow dysplasia, let's see below which They are:
- In dogs predisposed to this disease and with an early development we must avoid excess calcium, vitamins and proteins in the diet.
- It is important to genetically control this disease and avoid reproducing those specimens that suffer from it.
- During the growth stage we must ensure a limited physical exercise , avoiding all those practices with risk of trauma or that are of great joint impact.
This article is merely informative, at Animals and Pets Online we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis.We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian at the If you present which any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Elbow dysplasia in dogs-Symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our Hereditary Diseases section.
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