Displasia of the elbow

Displasia of the elbow is a disease of the development, consists of a bony upheaval that begins with arthritis and triggers a osteoartrosis.
This disease appears habitually in the dogs of great races and giant (German, Farm Shepherd, San Bernardo, Rottweiler, Mastin Napolitano, etc.), the process can be uni or bilateral being the males affected with more frequency than the females.
Its origin is genetic multifactorial and it is transmitted to the descendants, but the appearance of this pathology also obeys to environment, the feeding, the corporal weight, the firmness of ligaments, physical exercise, traumatismos.
At level of the elbow three different types from osteoartrósicas alterations can be produced:

1. - Not-united ancóneo Process
2. - Disecante Osteocondritis
3. - Fragmentation of coronoides apophyses

In general in the three first symptoms they appear during the growth (4 and 5 months of age), the dog presents/displays intolerancia to the exercise, that is pronounced by cojera, this one can be when initiating a movement, or after prolonged exercise.
In some cases, in which the artrosis is very discreet, the dog can maintain an almost normal degree of activity during all its life.
At the diagnosis one arrives by the clinic, sum of symptoms and signs gathered in the anamnesis that the veterinarian will have to make, in addition will ask for x-rays.
The only one of these pathologies that present/display radiological symptoms at the age of four to seven months, is the ancóneo process, the rest as of the year.
At the most premature the diagnosis is made, before will be able to be restored an suitable treatment, avoiding therefore the formation of a artrosis that, on the one hand will produce pain, and by another one it will limit the functional capacity of the elbow affected during the rest of the life of the dog, with the consequent upheavals caused to he himself.

Treatment
The treatment must be always surgical, based on the degree and antiquity of the injury. First its spontaneous resolution is due to try, and even though that some authors give rest by the pain that produces, is preferable to administer analgesia.

Prognosis
The evolution is very variable based on the type and the degree of the injury, but in general he is unfavorable without surgery. The surgical treatment, and if it is made before the appearance of the osteoartrosis, the prognosis are good.
In the cases that already exist degenerative changes, and in spite of to have made the surgery, although the pain disappears, is left the limitation of the movement to articulate.

Prevention
* The dogs of races had and that they have a precocious development and of great size must contribute to it him to a diet avoiding excesses of proteins, as well as the abuse calcium and vitamins.
* During the growth stage, the exercise must be limited avoiding games in which the dog jumps (ej. frisby) and to avoid small repeated traumatismos, that prearrange to produce or to aggravate the injuries.
* Genetic control: It is demonstrated that the inheritance influences in the appearance of displasia of elbow, is recommended to restrict the reproduction independently of which they suffer the disease, of which the affection degree is great or small (this will avoid long term that extends this serious pathology).

Bibliography

Author: MV Adelaida A. Goldman

Otras secciones interesantes...
Dog Care Basics - Diseases - Cat Breeds - Company - Natural feeding - Balanced feeding - Basic health care - Puppies - Heart disorders - The Veterinary Doctor - Poisonings - Bones and muscles disorders - Hormonal disorders - Ophtalmology disorders - Cat Behavior and training -