
Buster has ED.
He was fine, untill one day when he was about 5 months old he developed a limp. Turned out to be UAP
(elbow displasia can be any one or combination of a few different disorders occuring in the elbow)
.
The specialist gave me the option of not opperating and just seeing how Buster would do with a controlled exercise programme
(building up the level of exercise gradually to increase the strength of the muscles to support the joint & keep the joint mobile)
& weight management (I CAN NOT let him carry excess weight). Initially he was on Metacam, but after great results with glucosamine suppliments he came off the metacam.
He is now nearly 2 years old. Unfortunately the limp has returned, after he stumbled while jumping around out on a walk. Resting improved the limp, but when I took him out on a walk again it brought it back. Obviously the walk was too long for his bad elbow to cope with (lack of exercise will cause it to stiffen & the muscles to weaken, so this could be why Zumas leg got worse after you cut his walks down) I'll see how he does over the next few days and if there isn't continued improvement I think he'll have to go back on metacam for a while to see if that can help while I work on strengthening his leg again. If he can't manage without Metacam I'd rather get him opperated on, I think he's too young to be on pain meds permenantly if it's avoidable.
I know it is a very worrying thing to find out they have ED, but it doesn't have to mean an opperation, depending on the type & severity of the condition. If an opperation isn't possible due to too much damage allready in the joint then an elbow replacement can be done (I didn't know that was possible untill the vet talked me through possible future options with Buster).
Lots of luck with Zumas results.