Just found out our 7 month old Springer has Elbow Displcia, has anybody out there been throught this.  Did you go through any of the operations that were offered, was it pain managed, is it something that can be grown out of?  Any advice would be of help.

I thought that the dogs had to be over 12 months old before Xrays confirmed dysplasia, at 7 mths the bones and joints are still immature. 

My dog (English Mastiff) has elbow displasia, he was diagnosed at about 5&half months. His is UAP (uninited anchoneal process).

The specialist gave us the option of NOT havaing an opperation. We went with that option. To start with, pup was on Metacam (for about 2 motnhs I think, before he didn't need it anymore). Weight control and controlled excersie were the way forward for us.
To start with, pup was so crippled he could barely shuffle 4 yards so you can imagine how short his daily walks were. We graduly increased his walks (10 yards, 15 yards, bit further, bit further etc....).

He is now 4 years old. I am glad we decided against the opperation as he is doing great, HOWEVER< his elbows have seized up - inone way this is good as a joint that doesn't move, doesn;t cause pain from movement, but it does limit what his front legs can do, so if you are considering going the same route as we did (no opperation), have a word with the vet/specialist about getting some physio in place from the start, to help keep as much range of motion in the elbow(s) as possible.

I hope that helps a bit.

> I thought that the dogs had to be over 12 months old before Xrays confirmed dysplasia

Elbow displasia is a term that covers many different problems with the elbow joint, if there is a problem it can be seen & diagnosed early on. I think it's HIP displasia that may be diagnosed later as the hips form differently then the elbows.

Eg, a pups hips may show looseness that will change with growth, an elbow may show something obvious like a bit of bone has not fused (such as UAP).

Just thought of a few more things.

Joint suppliments such as cod liver oil and glucosamine HCL are great. GLucosamine HCL is better than Glucosamine suplhate, you can get it from the vets but also cheaper elswhere and you can use 'human' glucosamine HCL suppliments but be carefull as some of the human ones have things in them that have contra-indications if your dog is on NSAIDS (such as metacam) - so get the vet to give you the OK on any human supplimets.

Also allthough my pup only needed Metacam for the first 2months, occasionally he'll get a limp that requires a bit of pain relief so he'll have Metacam, but he's only needed it twice since a pup (both times for only 1 week).

Both my Chows were diagnosed with this at 5 months, the x-rays showed it was severe with fragmented coronoid process. 

I chose for them both to have the arthroscopic surgery straight away, the earlier it is done the better the outcome.  They had to have 6 weeks cage rest and monthly pentosan injections for a year.  After the recovery period I tried to walk them but it always left them lame, it was very hard. 

Once they reached 2 years everything started to look up and I could walk them normally with no lameness at all, maybe something to do with them having finished growing?

I lost Balto last year to cancer but I still have his brother Baloo (7 years old) and although he has lots of problems with his hips, knees and ankles his elbows have held up fine.

I made my decision based on their age, they had their whole lives ahead of them, I didn't want them to possibly have a lifetime of pain medication, I wanted it over for them.

The hardest thing was the 6 weeks of cage rest, only going to the toilet on a lead, very hard on a puppy.  It was worth it in the end, it was the right decision for us.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Thanks for all the reply's, it seems I will have lots to consider before making the final decision.  Have a few more questions to ask when do go back to the vets.  Thanks again.
Yvonne

Dogs have to be 12 months to be hip scored, HD can be evident before this but you can't get a formal score for them.

My Bulldog was diagnosed at 17 weeks. Basically his ulna was not part of his elbow joint as it should have been. The bone continued to grow because he was a pup. The situation was extreme and even though I was advised against surgery by a famous Bulldog breeder, I went ahead with the surgery. The difference just on x ray between the two elbow joints was very marked. He was in overnight for about three days and discharged with an external fixater holding the elbow together with eight pins. He had had 4 mm of bone removed also.This meant that the affected leg was shorter than the other three. Various people have said to me that they wouldn't have put him through the surgery but would have had him put to sleep.Humphrey is now nearly four years old and can run as well as any healthy Bulldog out there. He is the most friendly, soft dog you could ever hope to meet.He is completely bombproof with children and tiny puppies-the most beautiful temperament. Dogs live short lives compared to us, and they are our best friends-they deserve to live a pain free life if that is possible. I don't regret the surgery one bit, but be guided by an orthopaedic vet.