Elbow Dysplasia Surgery Update

[woody2shoes]

Hi,

Just wanted to provide an update on my young lab bitch who was operated on 6 months ago for bilateral elbow dysplasia (specifically Fragmented Coronoid Process). If there's anyone out there going through this sort of thing themselves, I thought it might be useful to post my most current feedback.

I am delighted to say that 6 months post surgery, my girl is looking remarkably sound. It took a while for her to become confident moving freely and I had a couple of set backs early on but once her muscle tone returned, there's been no holding her back. She still has some minor swelling over the outside of both joints but this is slowly improving with time and is expected to disappear eventually. She is now 12mo, in full training for retrieving trials and is keeping up with my other young lab bitch without any problems.

I am still feeding her Eaglepack Giant/Large Breed puppy formula (not sure when to change to an adult formula - or if at all!) and she is on Jointguard and Fish Oil Capsules daily. She is free of any pain killers or Anti Inflams and has been for 3-4 months now. I am stoked.

I can only say that I am very, very happy that I tackled this problem head on. Her gait will never be as nice as that of an unaffected dogs but having said that, she moves with no apparent problem - except coming downhill at speed. I notice then that she appears stilted and a little awkward. I guess that's a sign that those joints just aren't put together right.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

w2s

[goldielover]

W2S - Thanks for the update. Sounds like she's doing very well - wonderful to hear!!

[rivergem]

Thanks for your post woody2shoes... My 11 month old black lab has just had both his elbows operated on (arthroscopy) as he had bilaterial elbow dysplasia (fragmented coronoid process). In his xrays he also has a weird hip socket so we need to xray again near xmas. River had his op on one elbow and then 2 weeks later on his other elbow. I found the op was extremely non-invasive, he pretty much came away walking and wanting to get up to all his usual puppy trouble. I actually kept him at a different place then mine, so he wouldn't hurt himself playing with my other lab. He has been back home for just over a week (a month since his first op) and life is as usual. He was really good in that he didn't get any swelling, although I am really careful to keep an eye out just in case.

Have just started him on Joint Guard, although is too early to see if it helping him at all. The cartlidge around his elbow is not the white smooth stuff it should be so I am trying everything to help his joints now. Riv also has fish oil tablets every couple of days.

I am really happy so far and hope that through having the op on both his elbows, together with ongoing treatmeant (JointGuard etc) that Riv will hardly notice any difference - apart from yes, his slightly swaltering gait.