Elbow Dysplasia

[Xmasha]

i dont know why im posting, im just a little bit gutted. We've had a shocking run, with Rocky the foal being very poorly, then Bob the cat passing away. Now poor Stirling has had to have an op
He limped a couple of weeks ago, so we rested him, just assumed he had tweaked something. Anyhow, it happened a couple of times, always after him having a rest and getting up. So whizzed him to the vets Tuesday night, and the vet recommended he sees the orthopaedic vet. They had a space for yesterday , vet wanted to xray. Vet called and they confirm he has elbow dysplasia in both legs. Both legs have a malformation which has led to bone chips.
Vet says its genetic. How can this be ? I researched the breeder and his mum and sire, both had verified health results with elbows at 0/0 . Even his grandparents have 0/0. Vet says it does happen, and he says the health score system needs a good overhaul.
The op went ok , but they found a fair amount of ulceration , on a scale of 0 - 10 they said a 6 . Vet reckons this will have started when he was around 4 months old . Because of the amount of ulcers they want to do the other leg next week . He just needs to be sound enough .
He seems bright this morning . We’ve done everything by the book , weighing his feed / timed exercise etc etc . I feel so bad for him , especially as it’s been going on for a while . How the heck did I miss it

Anyone else been through similar ?

 

[Barton Bounty]

He is saying, ‘wat is dis ting on my neck’

I really hope he is feeling better soon!

Dont be so hard on yourself either!

Im sorry your having such rotten luck! Fingers crossed the next operation will go smoothly too

 

[Clodagh]

Oh that’s shit news.
To give you hope, I’m not sure if it is similar but Brandy had fissures in her growth plates at about 6 months ish. We were recommended an operation and 3 months cage rest. We declined and just rested her, we’re very careful with everything, kept her lean and fit and she ended up working until she was about 12 years old. She didn’t work as hard as the others but did many a days shooting.
Not saying you shouldn’t operate, I’m sure it is best, but the outcome should be ok. Just be vigilant with his waistline.

 

[CorvusCorax]

What age is he? And how far back on scores were you able to go? Did you get talked through the plates/see them?

Agree keep him lean, resting and on the floor.

I don't know if there are forums or a database for the breed but you could find it's as much as one dog or the combination of one dog's lines with a another animal's lines that could have the genetic implication, I could list dogs that I see in a pedigree in my breed (even though they themselves have good scores and throw dogs with good scores too) that I personally avoid because I don't want to risk it.

 

[Xmasha]

He is saying, ‘wat is dis ting on my neck’

I really hope he is feeling better soon!

Dont be so hard on yourself either!

Im sorry your having such rotten luck! Fingers crossed the next operation will go smoothly too

Thank you xx

He’s not impressed with his collar , but it’s better than the cone . Apparently he had a strop in the vets when they put that on . He threw himself on the floor and refused to move . Such a little diva

 

[Barton Bounty]

Thank you xx

He’s not impressed with his collar , but it’s better than the cone . Apparently he had a strop in the vets when they put that on . He threw himself on the floor and refused to move . Such a little diva

They are definitely much more soft than the plastic cones

I can imagine my dog doing that too I had to carry her in there after her tooth abscess, she planted and just said ‘hell no’

 

[Xmasha]

Oh that’s shit news.
To give you hope, I’m not sure if it is similar but Brandy had fissures in her growth plates at about 6 months ish. We were recommended an operation and 3 months cage rest. We declined and just rested her, we’re very careful with everything, kept her lean and fit and she ended up working until she was about 12 years old. She didn’t work as hard as the others but did many a days shooting.
Not saying you shouldn’t operate, I’m sure it is best, but the outcome should be ok. Just be vigilant with his waistline.

Thank you Clodagh, that’s reassuring x
We measure his food and he does have a waist . But it’s something we will focus on even more so going forward .
The vet said as the bone had chipped off there wasn’t an option to leave it . Both have chips that are floating . We know that on the right one it’s rubbed and caused ulcers .

 

[wren123]

Oh poor little mite, what a shame.
What exactly did they do in the operation?
To give you hope my lab had issues with one elbow, x ray not good. She remained sound until pts at 15. She was on the yumove advance you can only get from the vet plus no throwing balls or sticks, keeping her slim and regular exercise. Librela was given in her final year to great effect.

 

[Xmasha]

What age is he? And how far back on scores were you able to go? Did you get talked through the plates/see them?

Agree keep him lean, resting and on the floor.

I don't know if there are forums or a database for the breed but you could find it's as much as one dog or the combination of one dog's lines with a another animal's lines that could have the genetic implication, I could list dogs that I see in a pedigree in my breed (even though they themselves have good scores and throw dogs with good scores too) that I personally avoid because I don't want to risk it.

He’s 12months .
I only checked mum and dad scores . But have since checked further back . His grandfather and grandmother on his dam side both have 0/0 scores . I have t managed to find his grandparents on his fathers side yet as they are from Australia. Is it easy to get on Australian version of the KC to check ?

 

[Xmasha]

Oh poor little mite, what a shame.
What exactly did they do in the operation?
To give you hope my lab had issues with one elbow, x ray not good. She remained sound until pts at 15. She was on the yumove advance you can only get from the vet plus no throwing balls or sticks, keeping her slim and regular exercise. Librela was given in her final year.

That’s great news wren123 . Thank you

The op was to remove the bone chip and they did something else to help with ulcers on the bones . He had ulcers on the top and bottom bones ( if that makes sense )

 

[CorvusCorax]

He’s 12months .
I only checked mum and dad scores . But have since checked further back . His grandfather and grandmother on his dam side both have 0/0 scores . I have t managed to find his grandparents on his fathers side yet as they are from Australia. Is it easy to get on Australian version of the KC to check ?

I'm not sure, I think Australia uses the same scheme (0-3 with 3 being the worst) as loads of people scored under the Australian scheme when there were backlogs in the UK due to covid. If your vet was giving a score, what would it be?

 

[wren123]

OK I do recall the vet mentioning a bone chip but it was some time ago. We had good insurance at the time but the vet said no operation needed.
Honestly the yumove advance was nothing short of miraculous, the yumove I got from Amazon didn't help at all.

 

[Clodagh]

I wouldn’t agonise too much about why it happened, fact is he’s your dog and you and him have to deal with it.
Agree a good joint supplement forever and physio and hydrotherapy when the vet say he can.
I would let the breeder know. We did with Brandy’s and they offered us some money back, we didn’t take it as there were health tests going back forever.

 

[Panda2000]

i dont know why im posting, im just a little bit gutted. We've had a shocking run, with Rocky the foal being very poorly, then Bob the cat passing away. Now poor Stirling has had to have an op
He limped a couple of weeks ago, so we rested him, just assumed he had tweaked something. Anyhow, it happened a couple of times, always after him having a rest and getting up. So whizzed him to the vets Tuesday night, and the vet recommended he sees the orthopaedic vet. They had a space for yesterday , vet wanted to xray. Vet called and they confirm he has elbow dysplasia in both legs. Both legs have a malformation which has led to bone chips.
Vet says its genetic. How can this be ? I researched the breeder and his mum and sire, both had verified health results with elbows at 0/0 . Even his grandparents have 0/0. Vet says it does happen, and he says the health score system needs a good overhaul.
The op went ok , but they found a fair amount of ulceration , on a scale of 0 - 10 they said a 6 . Vet reckons this will have started when he was around 4 months old . Because of the amount of ulcers they want to do the other leg next week . He just needs to be sound enough .
He seems bright this morning . We’ve done everything by the book , weighing his feed / timed exercise etc etc . I feel so bad for him , especially as it’s been going on for a while . How the heck did I miss it

Anyone else been through similar ?

Oh no I'm so sorry this has happened! Australia seem to have a Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC). This might help to find it to https://orchid.ankc.org.au/

 

[Xmasha]

I wouldn’t agonise too much about why it happened, fact is he’s your dog and you and him have to deal with it.
Agree a good joint supplement forever and physio and hydrotherapy when the vet say he can.
I would let the breeder know. We did with Brandy’s and they offered us some money back, we didn’t take it as there were health tests going back forever.

I’ve told the breeder , she’s a lovely lady and is genuinely upset about what’s happened .
I don’t want anything from her , I just thought it important she should know .
I can’t help wondering if he just has an issue with bone growth in general .he has a slight overshot jaw as well . Perhaps I’m clutching at straws and looking for answers when like you say I should just focus on what can be done

 

[Xmasha]

Oh no I'm so sorry this has happened! Australia seem to have a Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC). This might help to find it to https://orchid.ankc.org.au/

Brilliant. Thank you . I will have a look now

 

[skinnydipper]

If he doesn't already use one, I would recommend using a ramp for getting in and out of your vehicle.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I do actually think it's important to see which dogs are implicated in genetic disorders so that you (and others) may avoid those lines in the future if they so wish.

 

[Xmasha]

If he doesn't already use one, I would recommend using a ramp for getting in and out of your vehicle.

He goes in the back of the pick up . Which is quite high , he’s never been allowed to jump in or out . But have to say it’s a struggle lifting him in. I’ve looked for a ramp in the past but haven’t found one that’s long enough / not too steep . Will have another look

 

[skinnydipper]

He goes in the back of the pick up . Which is quite high , he’s never been allowed to jump in or out . But have to say it’s a struggle lifting him in. I’ve looked for a ramp in the past but haven’t found one that’s long enough / not too steep . Will have another look

Have a look at Petsafe Happy Ride extra long.

 

[Clodagh]

I do actually think it's important to see which dogs are implicated in genetic disorders so that you (and others) may avoid those lines in the future if they so wish.

I do get that, and actually someone on here when I talked about Brandy told me the name of a dog in her pedigree that threw elbow problems. Thing is he was popular and elbow results weren’t so much a thing back then.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I do get that, and actually someone on here when I talked about Brandy told me the name of a dog in her pedigree that threw elbow problems. Thing is he was popular and elbow results weren’t so much a thing back then.

Yeah a lot of people take a chance on a popular dog in my breed for what else he brings, I wouldn't risk it but people like what they like. His own scores are fine and lots of his progeny are. Some people think the issue comes from his mother/when he is put with certain lines and that triggers it.

 

[Xmasha]

Have a look at Petsafe Happy Ride extra long.

Brilliant, thank you x

 

[Xmasha]

Stirling has his left elbow done yesterday. Vet said slightly worse than expected as some of the bone had been rubbed more than the right and had turned a little yellow . Not quite sure what that means as the vet wasn’t exactly chatty yesterday. I wasn’t overly impressed as they wanted him dropped off at 8.45 having not eaten since day before, they didn’t do his op until around 5pm . To me that’s way too long to keep a hungry ( probably upset) puppy in a kennel.
Anyway he’s home , it’s done and I hope we can get him sound now .
He’s still his happy go lucky self

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Fingers crossed for you Asha

 

[twiggy2]

I have o ly just seen this, crap news indeed but hopefully as other have said with you being good on management you can minimise the impact it has on him and you in the future.
Hope he has a swift recovery from this surgery.

 

[wren123]

Well that's good he's still his normal happy self. I don't know what the yellowing bine means, what a shame for such a young dog to have these problems. I hope he goes on to live a good normal life, as I said earlier in the thread my lab with dodgy elbows did with a bit of extra care.
I love the look of show type labs and Stirling is a forum favourite of mine.

 

[Xmasha]

Well that's good he's still his normal happy self. I don't know what the yellowing bine means, what a shame for such a young dog to have these problems. I hope he goes on to live a good normal life, as I said earlier in the thread my lab with dodgy elbows did with a bit of extra care.
I love the look of show type labs and Stirling is a forum favourite of mine.

Thank you , Youve made Stirlings day, hes sent you a big sloppy lick.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Sorry, I've only just seen this. Neighbour's brown Lab had dysplasia in both elbows and had ops on both sides. I think he was about the same age as yours but he has grown up to be an apparently healthy reasonably active dog. I don't know them that well but chat if we bump into each other when out and about, so I don't know all the details.

 

[Xmasha]

Sorry, I've only just seen this. Neighbour's brown Lab had dysplasia in both elbows and had ops on both sides. I think he was about the same age as yours but he has grown up to be an apparently healthy reasonably active dog. I don't know them that well but chat if we bump into each other when out and about, so I don't know all the details.

That’s great to hear , thanks for that . The last few days he’s recovered so well from the first op , I had to stop giving him pain meds as he was a little too bouncy .
Hoping we get the same this time.