UAP (one type of elbow dysplasia) just diagnosed in 13 month old intact male - please help - Page 2

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by kmaot on 30 September 2016 - 11:09

Thanks for the replies. I am not going with "just a screw". That decision I have already made. I still can't quite figure out how it happened but surgeon said it was mild. It is still attached.

I wonder if anyone has managed using Pentosan (Cartrophen) and Adequan OR if UAP removed....how "unstable" was that joint afterward and what restrictions were there on exercise?

thanks

by Koach on 30 September 2016 - 17:09

Would have been interesting to see the other elbow. The "dysplasia" shown in the x ray posted seems more like an induced occurrence rather that acquired one. JMHO.

Prager

by Prager on 30 September 2016 - 18:09

Left hand side also indirectly indicates such notion. Theory being that dogs are "hight handed" thus they put ore pressure on the opposite left side. Thus more elbow dyspl. is on the left legs. Just a theory.

Jenni78

by Jenni78 on 30 September 2016 - 22:09

It is mild in the sense that it's not floating around like some are, however, that is not a guarantee that it won't ever. Adequan never hurts, but I would not worry about instability on an elbow w/UAP removed. Sure, you'll have some arthritis, but you'll have that if you leave it in. I had a dog who was found to have never had an anconeal process! It was discovered on x-ray, then we did arthroscopy, assuming it was floating around in there causing damage and nothing. Smooth, like it had never been there at all. Bizarre. Vet took pics and sent to several other vets to confirm his findings, as he had not ever seen that.

Pano often doesn't show up on x-rays, so you absolutely could be dealing with a situation where the elbow isn't right, but it's not what's causing the current problem.

Hard frontal landings, however, are killer. I do not allow them onto unnatural surfaces until full growth is completed. Their bodies are simply not meant for it; it has nothing to do with "babying" them.

Hundmutter

by Hundmutter on 01 October 2016 - 06:10

Thumbs Up Jenni


by kmaot on 01 October 2016 - 16:10

Thanks guys. Question however....assuming induced (I do NOT know) and thus not a discrepancy in growth between radius and ulna.....or issue with ball and socket....would that not then mean there would be no additional stresses placed on it? My understanding is that often with GSD it is the issues noted above that create problems with UAP in the breed.

TIG

by TIG on 02 October 2016 - 16:10

Prager As in humans you get both right & left handedness in dogs. Two easy ways to tell 1. Let the dog naturally stack 2. In herding you have go by & away dogs. Their default is their comfort zone based on their handness. You see the same thing with gaits in horses.

Also re one sided joint deformities, I oft see folks trying to explain them as injury but at least in hips have seen ( and researched on OFA db) families that consistently over generations produce 1 sided hd almost often the same side passed down whether rt or left.

OP GSDs have a very low incidence of true UAP something around 1-3%. The very few dogs I have seen operated on did suffer significant restriction in gait but that may have also been from less than good surgery. After operation I suggest swimming to build muscles and instead of drugs use SAMe(get @Costco). Great for joint pain. Safe. Wide dosage range. Start w one a day 400mg. Seen it work well in old dogs a joint issues. It kept me up & walking for 10 yrs w/ 2 bone on bone knees. NOTE It does have a loading period of several weeks. Only contradiction I know is drugs that raise the serotonin level. You can also get a chewable for dogs from Nutramax but much more expensive.

Jenni78

by Jenni78 on 03 October 2016 - 14:10

TIG, families could also suffer the same conformational faults leading to injury/damage (such as TV, CE, etc.) or be subjected to the same feeding and exercise protocols. Family occurrences don't necessarily mean direct heredity.

OP: not sure what you are calling "induced." If it was damage due to jumping out of a truck at a young age (ouch- hate to even think about a puppy doing it), then the damage was likely in the "wrist" not the elbow, so yes, you would likely have a "step" as they call it. I don't see a clear step on your x-ray. I am not a radiologist, but I'm pretty decent at reading hips and elbows. It could mean that the injury, if it was an injury, was after most of the growth had occurred in the radius and ulna, but before the anconeal process fused. If he were mine, I'd treat as pano for a SHORT TIME to see if it improves (and keep an eye out for any swelling in the joint) and if not, proceed to have the joint cleaned out arthroscopically. If it improves, re-xray and see what it looks like. If you see arthritic changes, then again, proceed with surgery. If he improves and there are no arthritic changes, perhaps you can do a "wait and see." Do not let too much time pass- nothing good comes of allowing a bone fragment to float around and damage tissue.





 


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