I am a frequent visitor to this site, when I have a problem with my dog I can normally  look at past postings and find answers to to most of my concerns.
However this time I really need advice Blu my doby is now 20 months old, he is a very very active dog! leaps over fences runs through bushes a bit of a handful to say the least!!
About 4 weeks ago he developed a limp front left leg, this limp was itermittant, but more noticable after a rest, we decided to lead walk him for a while to see how that went, no good, so we then rested him for  week ( garden only)  the limp got a bit better but was still there. I  checked his pads, nails,  leg for hot spots all the things I could think about, didn,t find anything,
So took him to the vets a week ago monday. Straight away the vet pointed out a lump on Blu's elbow. I felt such a fool as when he showed it to me is was so obvious. The vet says he has the equivelant of housemaids knee a build up of fluid due to a knock probally.
This lump has not got any better at all. Blu is not limping now, but he has not been walked for the last two weeks as the last time we lead walked him the limp came back. He is due back at the vets on friday but the vet did say that this a very complicated joint so I  am now prob looking at xrays maybe an op.
My concerns are that this lump is hard and to me feels like bone and is the size of a conker, his gate is all wrong and his leg is starting to turn inwards, when you look at  the leg front on it looks really bowed.
He is is on Glucosamine and he eats natures menu just in case that is relevant.
Does anybody have any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions, because any would be gratfully recieved

Couldn,t wait till friday phoned the vet today and Blu is booked in for xrays tomorrow, vet is very concerened that it is elbow dysplasia,
already the thought of that really distresses me. Why did I not notice it before I am so cross with myself!!!!!
can anybody tell me what I can expect over the next couple of months and what could happen to my boy? and why does it happen? and why now at 20months?

Hi Sally
I'm no expert but you say Blu is a doberman (large breed) and therefore susceptible to hip and elbow displaysia.  A number of things can cause this, from growing rapidly, too much exercise and the wrong kind of foods, it could be hereditary.  It could also be a combination of all of these.
It's not the end of the world, and as long as you have a good orthopeadic surgeon to carry out any surgery necessary and complete rest after the surgery there is every chance of success.
In the meantime, don't exercise him, don't allow him up the stairs or jumping on furniture etc and ask your vet about hydrotherapy, a great low impact exercise for him.
I'm sure you'll get more advice from some of the experts on here soon.
Good luck
Maria

ok I don,t no why there isn,t anybody there to help or give advice, I really need it  Blu has severe elbow displaysia, and his outlook is not good. I am desperate to know that there is something that can be done, my vet has said today that things don,t look good.

Elbow Dysplasia & more
It's not the end of the world but your vet needs to do some research into treatment

I think you need to see an orthopeadic specialist - request a referral from your vet.  Which area do you live as I have experience with 2 different orthopeadic surgeons (in different areas)!

Blu has been refered to an  orthopeadic specialist in crowthorne, the xrays have been sent to him and I am waiting for a call, so far my own vet has said things like replacement elbow or pinning his leg to give him a straight leg.
I am just going to wait till the orthopeadic specialist  gives me his report on the xrays. at the moment I have a dog who I can,t walk he is being very destructive he ripped his bed to shreds, he is also quite snappy and I don,t know what to do that will relieve the boredom for him

He may be in pain, that could be the cause of the snappiness.  Has the vet suggested any painkillers?
Maybe a kong filled with his favourite treats, or a nice juicy bone would help with his boredom.

I would also want the orthopeadic specialist to examine the dog, ex-rays obviously do help.  However, the same orthopeadic specialist that saw our dog's ex-rays, gave a different opinion after examination.   He will also need to be examined by the specialist before surgery.