Elbow lameness in a 7 month old pup - Page 1

  I have a 7 month old female GSD both parents elbows were normal and hips were good .    Approximately one month ago she developed a mild to moderate right forelimb lameness, worse after laying down for a while and after running intensely around the yard.  I restricted her to a leash and started here on Myristol and she seemed to improve.  My hope was that it was panosteitis.    Last week the limp returned and was quite noticeable during a puppy agility class.  I decided it was time to get her radiographed.   The local SA veterinarian didnt notice anything remarkable in the elbow but sent the radiographs to a board certified radiologist who read the left elbow as normal but the right elbow as having sclerosis of the subtrochlear region of the right ulna and an indistinct right medial coronoid process.  She felt the puppy has mild right elbow osteoarthrosis likely secondary to elbow dysplasia.  The recommendation was for a CT scan or arthroscopy to more definitively examine the joint.  I suppose an OCD lesion or fragmented medial coronoid process is most probable.  My questions are....
1) Does anyone have experience with arthroscopic surgery of the elbow joint and subsequent results.
2) Can a dog with elbow dysplasia be managed for a moderate athletic function?
3) Would you proceed with a CT or the arthroscopy?

sincerely
James C Meyer

1) If there´s a fragment the arthroscopic surgery ist the best you can do. 2) Yes, it can. 3) I´d always proceed with a CT or NMR before arthroscopy to have the correct diagnosis to decide wether an arthroscopy is necessary or not.

I would tell you it's probably Panos,maybe too much food not enough exercise ......Vets have a dedicated way to find fancy words to create a problem...give her time,and less exercise

Thanks Til

  I think the CT is the way to go and if there is a fragment have it removed to minimize future osteoarthritis.   Thanks for the input.