Elbow Dysplasia? - Page 1

Hi Everyone,

I have a 19 month old German Sheperd that might have elbow dysplasia.Im curious to know if anyone here is familiar with noticing elbow dysplasia in the xrays?

My dog had a limp when he was about 11 months old and I took him to the vet thinking he tore a ligament or something and the orthopedic vet took xrays and did the whole examination on him and had no conclusion. He said everything looked fine (even his elbows). Well, its been a couple months and nothing has gotten better and now he took new xrays and says that it seems like elbow dysplasia and to confirm he needs to do a cat scan but it costs about $1500 and I dont have $1500 available till at least another two weeks but wanted to get some opinions on my situation because this is hard on me emotionally with my dog(Im very attached to him). The dogs parents and grandparents were all elbow dysplasia free also. Here I am attaching the xrays: Thank you in advance for your help. The first 3 are the left elbow xrays at about 11 months old. The rest are the right and left elbows at a year and a half.

(Right)

Why dont you have OFA evaluate them? You do not need a cat scan.

I have no idea why a CAT scan would be needed to diagnose elbow dysplasia! An x-ray is all that is needed, and those look like very nice, clear, digital x-rays. Although I'm not a vet, I am very used to looking at animal bones (background in nursing, also studied mammalian archaeo-osteology) and I see NOTHING on those x-rays that shouldn't be there. No spurs, no chips, no failure of growth plates to close. Everything looks very normal to me.

If the vet suspects soft tissue damage, that's a different story...That may be why he wants the CAT scan.

Actually, there are several things that a regular xray cannot detect. FCP, for one. UAP is easily diagnosed via X-ray, but the term "elbow dysplasia" is an umbrella term for several conditions. Based on the arthritic changes, I'd say a CAT scan wouldn't be a bad idea- but it should've been done a while ago- now any fix is only going to prevent further breakdown. Surgery for, say, FCP, should've been done long ago to attain best prognosis. 

Have a  Arthrogram done. Most vets can do them and much less expensive then have them sent to a vet Orto and read. OFA on elbows are too subjective. I still get them done but i also have them sent independently read. Perfect example, My axel at 3 years old showed garde 1 djd on his right elbow. at age 7 he was injured at our regionals and whn I brought him home had his foot xrayed and I told my Vet shoot his Elbow while your at it. At 7 years old thew elbow looked fine. Sent the xrays to a Ortho vet and the report came back the elbow was normal with no signs of any arthretic decay. I always double check elbows if OFA is questionable.

Try some Adequin injections, good stuff!!

Arthritic changes??  What arthritic changes?

although I am not an expert on elbows I sure do NOT see hugh problems;  I would get second ortho opinion or send into OFA for grading but to cerf elbows they need to be 2 I think,  however, they will give you their opinion at this time and age.  Good luck.  Nan

PS:  until he quits limping I would crate rest and give natural anti inflammatory with food.  Salmon oil with Vit E type thing.  Make sure he is lean.  Nan

I don't have time to go into a lot of detail. Please compare this dog's flexed view to the one below. The one below is a normal elbow.