Hi there, we have a 9 month old female british bulldog.  Im convinced she has been limping since birth but nobody else could see it! she is now 9 months and started having a very apparent limp, we have had some xrays done on her arm and have been told she has development elbow disease which will need surgery to correct.  I read on a bulldog site that they should not have surger on their bones under one year because there bones are still growing and also im worried it could lead to other problems and further surgery if we go down that route.  If she didnt have surgery, what would happen to her arm? If anyone has any experience of this I would be so grateful for some help with this.  She is such a lovely dog, I just want to do whats best for her. thanks.

http://www.vetontheweb.co.uk/pet-clinic-detail.asp?id=205

http://www.liv.ac.uk/sath/conditions/elbow_displasia.htm

It depends exactly which condition she has (and they can have more than one). If they are planning to do an operation because the two bones (radius and ulna) in the forearm are growing at different rates, the op HAS to be done while the bones are still growing, so they can be made to get to the same length. With things like fragments in the joint (from diseases like OCD) the sooner they are removed the better.

Is your dog insured, and has your vet suggested referral to an orthopaedic specialist, as a specialist will be the best ones for the job and will also be able to explain in more depth. :-)

yes, she has been referred to a specialist in cambridge.  We are insured but our insurance company cant say whether they will pay out until they get claims forms?!.  Im going to see if they okay the claim for the xrays, the lady at the insurance co. said if they okay that then they are accepting her condition.  From what I gather it has not formed properly and needs realigning.  It will run at a couple of thousand at least. aaagh.

> From what I gather it has not formed properly and needs realigning

Unfortunately this discription could probably cover the various different elbow problems.

My dog has UAP (ununited anchoneal process - I think that's spelt right?), which means the nobbly bone at the back of the elbow is not fused into the place it should have, it's loose. The vet did want to opperate to re-attach the bone at forst, but after seeing a specialist and speaking to the breeder we decided to not opperate if we could controll the pain. Pup was 5 & half months old then, within a few months he was off the pain killers and with glucosamine suppliments, weught & exercise manegment we have avoided him needing the op, he's now 22 months :) He can have the opperation to re-attach the bone anytime he may need in the future.

It really does depend on what your pup has wrong as to weather the opperation can be put off untill he is older.