Elbow Dysplasia

Elbow dysplasia is a common genetic disorder affecting the elbow joints of dogs, particularly large and giant breeds. Unlike hip dysplasia, it's a collection of several distinct developmental abnormalities that can occur simultaneously or independently, including fragmentation of the medial coronoid process, osteochondrosis of the humeral condyle, ununited anconeal process, and elbow incongruity. These issues lead to abnormal joint mechanics, inflammation, pain, and inevitably, early onset osteoarthritis. Symptoms often appear during growth. Diagnosis relies on physical examination and X-rays, sometimes requiring CT scans. Treatment can be conservative (pain management, weight control) or surgical, aiming to correct the underlying abnormality and minimize long-term arthritic changes.