Joint dysplasia in dogs: features and causes of the disease. Elbow dysplasia in dogs: causes of pathology, symptoms and treatment

Experienced breeders know that most major purebred dogs susceptible to diseases musculoskeletal system. Animals with a massive build, high body weight and constantly experiencing severe physical stress often develop problems with joints. Dysplasia in dogs is a disease that is often diagnosed during puppyhood. Timely treatment of the disease will help to avoid serious consequences, one of which is complete immobility.

Features of the disease

Dysplasia is dangerous disease, in which the joint tissue in dogs is modified or destroyed (partially or completely). With the development of this pathology, too large a gap appears between the head of the bone and the glenoid cavity, and the bone begins to fit incorrectly to the joint (normally the fit should be quite tight). Upon contact, bone tissue begins to rub, joints are subjected to pressure, split, become flattened, etc.

This pathology is almost never congenital, but can develop in a dog as early as early childhood. Doctors, after looking at a high-quality x-ray, can diagnose “dysplasia” even in the initial stages (sometimes it is possible to detect dysplasia in 6-month-old puppies). Acute symptoms of the disease, noticeable to people around them, usually appear in animals by 1-1.5 years. It is during this period that intensive growth ends, and it is already possible to determine for sure the exact state of the dogs’ joint tissues.

Almost all joints in a dog's body can be subject to pressure and friction. But the most impressive load during movement always falls on the hip joint (abbreviated as TJ), because When running or jumping, the dog makes strong pushes and absorbs shock with its hind legs. Therefore, pelvic dysplasia hip joint occurs many times more often than knee dysplasia or elbow joint.

Who is at risk for the disease?

Unpleasant problems with the hip joints usually appear in massive, heavy dogs. Animals of large build and tall more often than others suffer from this disease.

Dysplasia can occur in divers, golden retrievers, shepherd dogs, Great Danes, Malamutes and some other breeds.

Reasons for appearance

It has been scientifically proven that main reason The occurrence of hip disease in dogs is burdened by heredity. If a female or male has deformed joint tissues, then this problem can be passed on at the genetic level to their offspring. But even if the puppy has a large genetic predisposition, this does not mean that he will necessarily suffer from this disease.

There are many reasons that provoke the onset of the disease. Dysplasia hip joints in dogs may occur under the influence of the following factors:

unbalanced diet (if the dog eats meat products in unlimited quantities, receive only protein in food or eat cheap, low-quality food, then over time she may develop severe joint pain);
excess phosphorus and calcium ( a large number of these microelements that enter the dogs’ body along with food or dietary supplements can negatively affect the development of joint and bone tissues);
obesity ( overweight increase the load and pressure on the joint tissue, resulting in their gradual destruction);
grueling workouts, hard physical activities(during the formation of the skeleton, any excessive loads may harm joints);
inactivity (if the puppy walks outside for 5-10 minutes and spends the rest of the time in the apartment, then due to lack of movement its joints may not develop properly);
injuries, bruises, sprains, dislocations of limbs.

Main symptoms

An attentive owner can always independently suspect joint dysplasia in his pet. This may be indicated by symptoms such as:

limping and swaying when walking;
incorrect placement of paws while running (while jogging, the dog can push off the floor with both hind legs at once);
frequent rest while running or walking;
stiffness of movement (it is difficult for a pet to get up from the floor, it is difficult to go up and down stairs, a dog with elbow dysplasia sometimes cannot even give its paw to a person on his command, etc.);
unusual position when lying down (if the dog is lying on its stomach, its hind legs may be unnaturally turned in different sides, you can understand exactly what this pose looks like by looking at the photo);
body asymmetry (with hip dysplasia the puppy tries to bear the main load from hind legs to the front, so it rib cage and the front legs become more massive, the pelvis looks narrower, and the muscles of the hind legs atrophy);
swelling, swelling in the joint area;
pain in the hip area that occurs when feeling the limb.

The sooner the owner notices these symptoms in their pet, the easier it will be to undergo treatment. If you get an appointment with a doctor on time, the chances that the dog will recover and return to a full life increase significantly. Hip dysplasia in dogs diagnosed in adulthood is much less treatable.

Diagnostic methods

To diagnose dysplasia, your veterinarian will need to conduct a thorough examination of your dog. The doctor will feel the animal’s limbs and conduct a mobility test (try to straighten the joints, listen to whether there are creaks, clicks or friction when bending the paws). Already at this stage experienced specialist will be able to preliminarily determine whether there is a pathology or not.

After this, the doctor can prescribe an x-ray to the dog (an x-ray is taken on animals only after anesthesia is administered; without anesthesia, it will be very difficult to take an x-ray due to the resistance of the pet-patient). Such a study will allow us to examine how the articular socket and femoral neck are located. A completed, clear image will give the doctor an idea of what pathological changes have already affected the hip joint.

Another survey aimed at objective assessment the condition of the joint tissue and the recognition of dysplasia in dogs is arthroscopy. During endoscopic procedure the veterinarian will be able to inspect the structure cartilage tissue using a miniature camera inserted through a small puncture into the joint cavity. Although this study is informative, unfortunately, it is carried out only in the most modern, well-equipped clinics and costs a lot of money.

After all the studies, the doctor will be able to determine the degree of hip dysplasia. In veterinary medicine, there are the following categories that describe the condition of dog joints:

A (articular tissue without pronounced pathologies);
B (susceptibility to pathological changes);
C ( easy beginner stage of joint dysplasia);
D (moderate dysplasia);
E (severe dysplasia).

Treatment

Dysplasia of pathologically altered joints in large dogs can be treated in two main ways: conservative and surgical. What treatment to prescribe is always decided individually and depends on the degree of damage to the articular tissues, the age and weight of the animal, its well-being, etc.

At conservative treatment pathologies of the hip joint, veterinarians usually prescribe medications to dogs medicines(specially designed for animals) and procedures that help alleviate their suffering to the maximum. Most often, the following groups of drugs are prescribed to animals:

chondroprotectors (medicines that promote the restoration of joints and cartilage tissue in dogs, prescribed in the form intravenous drips or intramuscular injections, and also injected directly into the joint);
antispasmodics (reduce pain that occurs in the animal when moving);
anti-inflammatory drugs (stop inflammatory processes);
dietary supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin (strengthen bone tissue dogs, promote joint regeneration in a short time).

If hip dysplasia in dogs has developed due to obesity, the owner will also have to completely review the diet, put the pet on a low-calorie diet and ensure that the dog gradually begins to lose weight. During the period of weight loss, the animal must be given vitamin complexes.

In addition to taking medications and vitamins, physical therapy treatment is often prescribed for hip joint disease. The most effective procedures are considered to be paraffin therapy, ozokerite, magnetic and laser therapy. Good healing effect will give a massage to the sore joint (it should be performed by a professional). Treatment of hip dysplasia must necessarily include moderate physical activity: swimming, light running, etc. But you cannot force dogs to jump and run fast.

Heal to the end severe degree dysplasia using gentle methods is impossible. If medications and procedures do not give the expected effect, and the pet’s condition only worsens, optimal solution The problem will be surgery, before which an x-ray will need to be taken again. During the operation, the doctor will be able to correct the shape of the pelvis femur so that its head matches the size and shape of the glenoid fossa.

The complexity and duration of the operation will depend on how advanced the dysplasia is. In some cases, the surgeon will only need to remove a small amount of cartilage. At severe course diseases, the following types of surgery can be performed:

Complete excision of the femoral neck and head. Prescribed for advanced disease. The recovery period after such an operation can be very long, but after complete rehabilitation the dog and its owner will be able to completely forget about the disease. The dog will be able to run, jump, do any physical exercise and enjoy life. At the same time, no prostheses, etc., will be implanted into the animal’s body.
Osteotomy. During this manipulation, the doctor dissects the bones and changes the location of the articular fossa. Thanks to this, the hip joint is in the correct location (an x-ray will show how it will look). Such surgical procedure can be performed only for uncomplicated forms of dysplasia, not aggravated by arthritis.
Endoprosthetics. The affected hip joint is completely replaced with a prosthesis made of titanium alloy. At full recovery After this procedure, the dog will be able to move normally without experiencing pain or discomfort.

Experienced dog breeders know this well. genetic disease , like canine hip dysplasia, which affects some large breeds. The disease can be diagnosed in early age, but in the absence necessary treatment it can lead to complete immobilization of the dog.

Causes and features of joint dysplasia in dogs

Hip dysplasia in dogs was first identified and described in America 70 years ago, while in humans this disease has been identified and treated for a long time. Subsequently, Swedish veterinarians proved that the disease, as a rule, oh, found in large breeds and is called hereditary factors. However, the size of the dog is not a determining factor in the occurrence of the disease, since even small breeds, such as chow chows, can also suffer from hip dysplasia.

Doctors' observations have proven that puppies can be born with normally developed joints, which are then susceptible to disease due to hereditary disposition. Moreover, in large dogs the disease progresses at high speed, as they rapidly gain weight, which puts a strain on weak joints. Moreover, this disease is dangerous for short-legged breeds.

Typically, hip dysplasia occurs in Newfoundlands, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, St. Bernards, english bulldogs, Boxers and Great Danes. Greyhounds are free from this disease. In 90% of cases, dysplasia is observed simultaneously on two hip joints, 4% occur on the left unilateral lesion, 6% on the right.

Hip dysplasia in dogs represents a developmental defect joint in the area of the glenoid cavity. At first the disease was called subluxation articular head, since this increases the gap between the articular cavity and the head of the bone. The bone does not fit tightly to the joint, resulting in friction and wear of the head. The joint becomes flattened and deformed.

Today, the definition of dysplasia in dogs includes any deviations from natural formation hip joint.

Pronounced symptoms of the disease appear at 1.2-1.5 years, after the end of intensive growth of the animal. However, genetic disposition cannot completely be the impetus for the development of the disease in the future. Veterinarians have proven that the onset of the disease is influenced by a combination of hereditary disposition and exposure to environmental factors.

Attention: It is best to prevent the presence of a predisposition to dysplasia at the stage of buying a puppy. Before purchasing, you must carefully read the parents' documents. But we must not forget that even several puppies from the same litter that are prone to the disease, once in various conditions life may have different development diseases.

Exist reasons that provoke disease and contribute to its development:

The most obvious sign of the disease may be lameness of the animal.

Attentive owner He will immediately be able to determine that something wrong is happening to his dog. Change in violation appearance and the animal’s gait indicates the development of the disease.

The following symptoms may indicate the disease:

Any of the above symptoms should be a reason for a visit to the veterinarian. Timely assistance to the animal can help slow down or completely stop the development of the disease. Dysplasia in dogs, which discovered at an early age When the bones are just beginning to develop, it is treated much faster.

Distinct symptoms of dysplasia in dogs appear at different ages and will depend on the individual characteristics of the animal. In mild stages, the disease is expressed only in some weakness hind legs, it will not affect the working condition of the dog. Lameness progresses with increasing physical activity. The animal quickly gets tired and refuses to carry out certain commands.

Diagnosis of the disease

Dysplasia can only be determined by a veterinarian after an X-ray examination, as well as a thorough examination of the dog. Doctor feels the animal's joints, determines their mobility, listens for the presence of friction or squeaks during extension and flexion of the legs. Most often, a professional veterinarian can make a primary diagnosis based on these signs.

The animal is prescribed an x-ray examination. The picture is taken only after the administration of anesthesia, since it is impossible to ensure the dog’s immobility without this. An x-ray will allow the veterinarian to examine the location of the femoral neck and glenoid cavity and identify the presence of deformities.

To obtain high quality pictures The following rules must be followed:

The picture is taken in a supine position, with legs extended parallel.
Each dog is filmed twice.
Small breeds are examined only after one year, large dogs– after 2 years.

Arthroscopy is an examination that is aimed at recognizing dysplasia and truly assessing the condition of the joint. The procedure itself is endoscopic. By inserting a small camera into the joint area through a small puncture, the veterinarian can view the structure of the cartilage. This examination is quite expensive and is not performed in all clinics.

Treatment of DTS in dogs

For the treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs, depending on the condition individual characteristics animal body and joint tissue, surgical and conservative treatment is used.

Conservative methods

Diseases of the hip joint can be treated drug therapy just on early stages development. This method is aimed at relieving pain and swelling, as well as restoring cartilage tissue.

Conservative treatment is based on the use of:

Antispasmodics that relieve pain syndrome- Analgin, Baralgin, No-shpa.
Chondoprotectors are products that are aimed at restoring articular and cartilage tissues (Glucosamine, Adequan, Teraflex, Artra, Chondrolone, Chionate, Pentosan, Mucosat). All remedies are used in the form of injections into the joint, intramuscular injections, intravenous drips. The drugs are used individually or in combination.
Mineral complexes based on glucosamine and chondroitins - Omega 3 or 6 complexes.
Anti-inflammatory drugs - Rimadyl or Nimesulide.

Together with medicines the animal is prescribed physiotherapeutic procedures.

The most effective are considered:

Ozokerite.
Paraffin therapy.
Massage.
Laser treatment.
Magnetic treatment.

Surgical method

Conservative therapy can't give all the time effective result in the treatment of DTS. If the disease has reached last stages, then it is necessary to carry out surgery. The complexity and duration of the operation will depend on the condition of the joint. In some cases, it is enough to remove only a minor cartilage growth inside the joint.

When the joint is severely deformed, then The following types of operations are used:

Osteotomy – correction of the location of the articular fossa and dissection of the bone. The joint accepts correct position. The operation can be performed during the uncomplicated stage of the disease.
Excision of the femoral head and neck. The operation is quite traumatic, and the recovery time after it can be very long. The joint is completely restored after excision, and the dog will be able to move freely without the use of any prostheses.
Endoprosthetics. Used at the last stage of dysplasia. The joint is replaced with an artificial one made of titanium alloy. Prosthetics are used when other methods have failed. After the rehabilitation course the animal continues to lead normal image life and move without pain syndrome.
Resection arthroplasty is the resection of a joint to reduce pain. This operation reduces the contact of the glenoid cavity with the head of the joint. After the operation, during movement, the friction of the head against the socket stops, and the animal stops feeling pain. This type of surgery is used for small species dogs weighing up to 25 kg.
Myectomy - removal of the pectineus muscle during puppy development. Practice proves that complete treatment this method does not give, but it can significantly restore motor function joint and reduce lameness.

Disease prevention

The main guarantee of the absence of hip dysplasia in dogs is genetic selection prevention. For getting healthy dogs needs to be produced mating of healthy parents. Breeders and dog handlers must be most interested in resolving the problem to maintain the health of the dogs being bred.

But parents may be carriers of the disease at the genetic level, so it is not always possible to exclude the possibility of its manifestation in the offspring.

Owners of dog breeds that are predisposed to hip dysplasia need to most carefully monitor the normalization daily ration animal to avoid obesity. Excessive weight is increased load on the joints, which, of course, is a provoking factor in the development of dysplasia.

Important: Reducing caloric intake by reducing the amount of meat consumed and replacing it with carbohydrates is the wrong way. This method will lead to the emergence of new health problems for the animal. Your pet's diet must be designed so that it receives all the minerals, vitamins and substances required for development and growth.

The occurrence of hip dysplasia is significantly influenced by the organization physical activity. Both excess and insufficient physical activity. You should not give a high load while the puppy is growing. At any age, constant running over very long distances is harmful.

When dysplasia is already developing, it is necessary to immediately reduce the time of play and exercise with the animal, as well as limit the load. A sign of excessive stress on the body may be your pet limping after a walk. Experts advise walking dogs with dysplasia on the lawn, excluding walking on asphalt roads. Swimming is beneficial for the animal, since in water the load on the joints is reduced, and other muscle groups receive the required load.

Humidity and cold, which lead to exacerbation of joint diseases, are contraindicated for sick dogs. Dogs with dysplasia must be kept in a dry and warm room, in otherwise they will begin to suffer from night pain and aching joints.

Hip dysplasia in dogs, which is genetic, sooner or later affects the animal, despite the measures taken preventive actions. The main task of the owner is to reduce pain and providing assistance to a sick animal to preserve motor activity dogs.

Large breed dogs are not always the standard of health and physical strength. It happens that it is their size, massive dimensions and great physical stress on the bones of the skeleton that cause health problems. In particular, the joints suffer. This pathology is called dysplasia, and it can cause serious complications, up to the complete immobilization of the animal. Fortunately, the disease is often diagnosed early stages, even at a young age of the pet, which allows you to take timely measures.

Characteristic features of dysplasia

Joint disease is a very serious violation health. Dysplasia leads to deformation and/or destruction of joint tissue. It begins with the fact that the gap formed between the head of the bone and the socket of the joint becomes larger than necessary for normal motor activity of the limbs. IN healthy joints the fit is tight and when moving they do not rub against each other, do not press or separate, as happens during the development of the disease.

Dysplasia is not transmitted at the genetic level, but it usually affects a pet during puppyhood. A well-done X-ray examination can reveal initial stages diseases even in very young dogs, about half one year old. But obvious symptoms appear at 1-1.5 years, when the dog’s skeleton is fully formed and developed.

Any group of joints is at risk. However, in practice, the hip is most often affected. This is quite understandable: when moving, it falls on it heaviest load when an animal uses its hind legs as shock absorbers when jumping or running (considering the size of the dog, the load is quite large). Therefore, hip dysplasia is tens of times more common than dysplasia of the elbows or knees.

There are two types of dysplasia:

Elbow
Hip joints.

Dog breeds prone to dysplasia

Hip dysplasia occurs in dogs of all breeds, including mixed breeds. However, this disease affects large and giant breeds more often than small ones. Some breeds are genetically more susceptible to instability (looseness) of the hip joint and thus show symptoms of dysplasia more often than others.

These breeds include:

German Shepherd;
Golden retriever;
Labrador Retriever;
Rottweiler;
German dog;
Saint Bernard;
mixtures of the above breeds.

Symptoms

Exercise intolerance;
jumping gait (especially on stairs);
cerebellar gait (the hindquarters visibly sway);
stiffness, pain;
difficulty getting up from a lying or sitting position;
sitting position “frog” (one hip is twisted);
reluctance to run, jump, climb stairs;
pain when touched;
hind limbs are lame, often worsening after exercise;
The hind legs are positioned closer together than the front legs (narrow position).
asymmetry of the body (with hip dysplasia, the puppy tries to transfer the main load from the hind legs to the front legs, so its chest and front legs become more massive, the pelvis looks narrower, and the muscles of the hind legs atrophy);
swelling, swelling in the joint area;
pain in the hip area that occurs when feeling the limb.

Causes

Behind last decades Hip dysplasia is spreading at a terrifying rate and has equally terrifying forms. The best specialists the world has long come to the conclusion that dysplasia is a genetically determined disease. This pathology is passed on from generation to generation.

This opinion is beyond any doubt. However, there is a hypothesis that this disease in some cases it can be caused, for example, by injury, and is, accordingly, an acquired rather than a congenital disease.

But this hypothesis is instantly shattered by the fact that sick puppies are more often born to dogs of certain breeds or even to the same male and female dogs. One would hardly think that this disease is more often acquired, for example, by Labradors, or that the puppies of a certain pair are so careless that all of them are constantly injured, provoking the occurrence of dysplasia.

Thus, the role of genetic predisposition to the occurrence of the disease is enormous. However, there are also factors that can contribute to the development of dysplasia. Among them:

lack of essential minerals;
inappropriate and early physical activity;
disturbances in balanced nutrition;
abnormal proportion of phosphorus and calcium;
excessive nutrition;
excess protein;
various diseases that disrupt the growth and development of an animal.

And although all of the above factors play a role in the development of dysplasia, their “contribution” to the progression of the disease is no more than five percent.

In addition, another confirmation genetic theory The occurrence of dysplasia is the fact that this disease bypasses outbred and stray animals, which are very often injured. Moreover, dysplasia occurred only in puppies that were the result of “unequal marriages” between outbred individuals and representatives of those breeds that are genetically predisposed to dysplasia.

Diagnostics

There is an opinion in scientific circles that diagnosis of the disease must be carried out when the dog is one year old, and in the case of representatives large breeds and even at the age of one and a half years. Usually this point of view is argued by the fact that it is at the above age levels that the joints are fully formed, which makes it possible to make a diagnosis. This approach is suitable for breeding dogs, that is, simply determining the presence of a disease without further goals.

However, if little puppy turns out to be unable to walk at the age of six months, it is impossible to leave him in this position for another 6 months. The disease can be diagnosed as early as 4 months after the puppy is born. This will allow you to begin to take certain measures to prevent osteoarthritis, as well as to improve your pet’s quality of life. In any case, it’s definitely not worth wasting precious time that could be spent usefully.

The diagnosis itself is carried out not on the basis of clinical signs of the disease, but relying on the results of radiography. Quite unusual is the fact that the filming itself is carried out while the animal is under anesthesia. There are reasons for this, however. Tension of the animal's limbs during filming can show a false state of affairs, which will usually appear better than it really is.

Treatment

Can be treated in two main ways: conservative And surgical. What treatment to prescribe is always decided individually and depends on the degree of damage to the articular tissues, the age and weight of the animal, its well-being, etc.

Conservative method

This type of therapy involves taking medications, physiotherapy, and homeopathy. The animal is injected with chondroprotectors, given intra-articular injections, a laser is applied to the diseased joint and electromagnetic radiation, warm it up, and also prescribe special therapeutic loads, for example, swimming can usually be very useful.

Nutritional supplements (chondroprotectors): GAG, chondroitin, glucosamine. They can be used for life, they reduce inflammation in the diseased joint and prevent further tissue destruction.
Anti-inflammatory drugs: Deramax, Rimadyl, Ketoprofen, etc. These drugs are intended for the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs. They effectively relieve inflammation and have an analgesic effect. Contraindicated for animals human drugs: Ibuprofen, etc.
Corticosteroids. These drugs are prescribed to older dogs when other medications have not brought improvement.

If the dog overweight, then it should be reduced as much as possible, since by reducing the pressure on the painful joint, inflammation also decreases, and this in turn promotes recovery.

The most effective procedures are considered to be: paraffin therapy, ozokerite, magnetic and laser therapy. A massage of the sore joint will give a good therapeutic effect (it should be performed by a professional). Treatment of hip dysplasia must necessarily include moderate physical activity: swimming, light running, etc. But you cannot force dogs to jump and run fast.

It is impossible to completely cure severe dysplasia using gentle methods.. If medications and procedures do not give the expected effect, and the pet’s condition only worsens, the optimal solution to the problem will be surgery, before which it will be necessary to take another x-ray. During the operation, the doctor will be able to adjust the shape of the hip bone so that its head matches the size and shape of the glenoid fossa.

The last stages of THD (4 and 5) are treated surgically. These methods are not cheap, but they are more effective. In some cases, only thanks to surgical intervention the dog can walk.

Surgical method

Resection arthroplasty. During the operation, the surgeon removes the head of the femur. Dr. Efimov proposed modifying this procedure: a muscle layer is made between the neck of the femoral bone and the glenoid cavity (a small piece of the buttock muscle is used). Subsequently, a plate similar to cartilage forms in this place, thanks to which the limb begins to move freely and painlessly. This procedure is indicated for animals whose weight does not exceed 25 kg. It can be done at any age.

Triple pelvic osteotomy. This procedure is performed only on young animals up to one year old, less often - up to two. During the operation acetabulum is isolated and rotated to an angle at which the head of the femoral bone will receive a large area of support and will not fall out of the joint. The fragment is fixed with a metal structure. This procedure is quite expensive and traumatic, but if all recommendations are followed, it gives an excellent effect.

Installation of endoprosthesis. During the operation, the neck and head of the femur bone are removed and replaced with implants. After graduation recovery period dogs begin to move painlessly. This method is very effective for treating large animals (at least 20 kg), but its cost is quite high.

Nutrition for dysplasia

Some dog owners, having become familiar with the mechanism of action of dysplasia, try to reduce the calorie content of their pet’s food by reducing the amount of protein and increasing the amount of carbohydrates. By doing this, they are trying to reduce the growth rate of their pet, hoping that this will at least stop the dysplasia.

This approach only guarantees the emergence of new problems. Here are the owners of animals with a natural predisposition to dysplasia and overweight It would be worth worrying about. The dog's body must be in good condition, consuming the right amount. useful substances and vitamins, as well as expend energy reserves.

Prevention

It is impossible to prevent the development of dysplasia in advance. The disease will definitely make itself felt if the dog has a predisposition to it.

correct conduct of breeding work (all producers must be examined for the presence or absence of dysplasia)
do not give animals heavy loads (especially during intensive growth of puppies);
do not force pets to run long distances;
feed the dog healthy food, do not overfeed, monitor your pet’s weight.

Dysplasia - serious illness, which cannot be left to chance. Without treatment, an animal with this disease will certainly become disabled and experience severe pain. Before purchasing a puppy, be sure to ask whether its parents have been examined for dysplasia, and raise the baby correctly.

Surgical diseases of dogs

Elbow dysplasia is a condition in dogs caused by abnormal growth of cells, soft tissue or bone in the elbow joint.
The condition is characterized by a series of four developmental anomalies that lead to malformation and damage articular surface. Elbow dysplasia in dogs is the most common common cause pain and lameness, especially among large and giant species. Among the breeds such as Labrador, Rottweiler, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Bernese Mountain Dog, Chow Chow, Bearded Collie and Newfoundland, the disease is most common. Average age The onset of the first clinical signs is usually 9 months. The disease has no gender differences - it occurs with equal frequency in both sexes.

Symptoms of damage to the elbow joint

IN at a young age, Clinical signs elbow dysplasia appear smoothly and not in every dog.

A common symptom of the disease is the sudden onset of lameness in one or both forelimbs due to degenerative changes in the elbow joint, which usually manifests itself at a more mature age of the dog - from one to two years.

Periodic or constant lameness in the forelimbs progresses over time and is especially noticeable after changing the animal's recumbent position.

The main symptoms of elbow dysplasia include:

Increased pain reactions when straightening or bending the elbow;
The dog tries to move the affected limb away from the body, constantly lifting it;
In some cases, severe swelling in the area of the elbow joints is possible;
The decrease in activity in the affected joint is clearly noticeable.

Causes of the disease

The occurrence of the disease is based on a genetic predisposition to the disease, abnormal development of the puppy and nutritional disorders.

Elbow dysplasia in dogs, photo. As can be seen from the micrograph, cracks form under the surface of the cartilage and only then do visible disturbances appear on the cartilage surface.

Diagnosis of elbow dysplasia

Your veterinarian will need to rule out a few possible reasons, causing similar symptoms of lameness and pain in a dog, in order to clarify the diagnosis of elbow dysplasia. For example, whether there was an injury, whether there is a suspicion of other similar diseases. Education cancerous tumor, can also explain similar symptoms, this factor must be taken into account when studying x-rays made in the affected area of the elbow. Both limbs must be examined.

Except x-ray, in case of dysplasia, it will be necessary to take a sample of joint fluid with a fine aspiration needle for subsequent laboratory testing for the presence of infectious inflammation and the possible presence of cancer cells.

Arthroscopic examination is performed more often in adult dogs and large breeds. The essence of the method is to use a tube-shaped instrument with a miniature video camera at the end, with the help of which examinations and treatment are carried out inside the joint.

As a rule, all of the above methods are quite sufficient to make a diagnosis of elbow dysplasia.

Treatment of elbow dysplasia in dogs

Surgical intervention is the most the best way treatment in this case.

In the early postoperative period As a rule, it is necessary to apply a cold compress to the affected area of the elbow in order to reduce swelling and pain. Cold compress applied for a period of five to ten minutes, every eight hours, for three to five days, unless the veterinarian’s recommendations suggest otherwise.

The dog's physical activity should be limited in all cases for at least four weeks after surgery, however, to avoid muscle atrophy, gentle warm-up exercises will be helpful as maintenance therapy until the dog can confidently ascend the affected limb. In addition, weight control is important aspect reducing the load on the affected joint.

From medications Drugs that reduce pain and reduce inflammatory reactions are often prescribed. Regimen may also be prescribed to slow the progression of arthritis and protect joint cartilage.

Prevention and prognosis

Excessive consumption nutrients that contribute rapid growth and weight gain in dogs, may have a significant impact on the development of elbow dysplasia. Therefore, monitoring the increase in weight and height in young dogs that are in the group increased risk(due to breed, etc.) can significantly reduce the risk of developing dysplasia.

It is recommended to avoid breeding dogs with a history of elbow dysplasia, as it is a genetic trait that runs in families. For the same reason, castration or sterilization of an animal that has suffered from this disease is recommended. If for some reason this is not possible, it is highly recommended not to allow the dog to be mated.

Annual examinations of the animal are recommended to assess the progression and deterioration of the condition. articular cartilage. Progression of degenerative diseases of others can be expected in the future. However, in general, the prognosis is good in dogs with all forms of elbow dysplasia.

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Dysplasia is a pathology of joint development. Unlike humans, dysplasia in dogs is not a congenital disease, but is directly related to heredity. This disease is considered the scourge of all large breeds, and almost every puppy that is expected to grow into a dog of heavy build and/or above average height is at risk. How and why does dysplasia develop? Is it possible to overcome this disease?

Puppy large breed quickly gains weight, especially if the owners want to raise a real giant or strongman - they stuff the baby with calcium supplements, feed them with meat and cereals, and various growth stimulants. The muscles grow, but the bones cannot keep up with them - the load on the joints becomes excessive. Add to this the slippery floor, exorbitant physical exercise(early exhausting training) and we will get a joint that is deformed to one degree or another.

There are 4 degrees of dysplasia in dogs, from mild changes to serious pathology, due to which the pet loses the ability to move normally. Grade “A” is the norm, from B to E - various disorders, depending on the severity.

This development of events is possible if the dog’s genotype contains “harmful” genes that place the puppy at risk. In Russia, these are almost all large breed puppies, since they began to remove dogs with dysplasia from breeding relatively recently. The heavier (more muscular) the dog, the higher the risk. And, unfortunately, dysplasia develops in predisposed puppies even when the owners raise the baby correctly, control the load, do not overfeed and do not try to artificially slow down or accelerate weight gain.

The point of preventing dysplasia in dogs is to minimize the consequences. If the joints of a puppy that receives adequate loads and grows balanced feed, are formed with pathology, with high probability It will be possible to maintain motor function and stop the progression of the disease. And if an already sick puppy is overweight, gains weight too quickly or is exposed to excessive stress, dysplasia will cause more significant harm to the baby.

When choosing a large breed puppy, it is important that both parents undergo a dysplasia test. Documents with negative results(Grade A) is provided by the breeder. This will not give a 100% guarantee that the baby will grow up healthy, but no further measures can be taken in advance. All babies are born with a normal skeleton and normal joints, without signs of pathologies. Problems appear only as you grow older. That is, at the time of purchase (when the puppy is 2-4 months old) it is impossible to predict whether the baby will have dysplasia or not.

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Signs of dysplasia

At an early age, the puppy's flexible skeleton grows quickly, and the bones and joints gradually harden. And only around six months, and sometimes earlier, do the first alarm bells appear. Lameness and pain are the only obvious signs of dysplasia in dogs, but they can sometimes be difficult to notice. Therefore, the owner of a large breed puppy should specifically look for these symptoms, paying special attention to the baby:

slight limp, stiffness after sleep;

habit of "pacing". The puppy does not jump up to meet you, but first tries to walk carefully, as if consciously stretching stiff muscles (this is from the outside; in fact, the puppy needs time to develop the sore joint);

“starting” lameness (at the beginning of the run the dog limps, then seems to move normally);

lameness after exercise, intermittent claudication (either appears or disappears without a trace for days or weeks);

the habit of “resting” in the middle of the journey, although the distance traveled cannot be called large. The puppy plops down on his butt and sits for a while, not wanting to go further;

refusal to go up and/or down stairs. Many breeders recommend carrying babies for walks in your arms, and only when the puppies are 4 months old should they gradually master going up and down stairs.

It is important to understand that the sooner treatment begins, the greater the dog’s chances of full life. “Yes, he just twisted his paw/hit himself/slept uncomfortably, etc.” - don’t get your hopes up, even if you turn out to be right. If you notice at least one of the symptoms, you should immediately contact a veterinarian! Dysplasia discovered after reaching the age of one is extremely difficult to overcome, especially if the pathology is serious.

Weak spots

Elbow dysplasia– lameness on the front legs (or paw, but more often both joints are deformed), pain when bending the front legs in dogs, refusal to follow the “give me a paw” command, whining when trying to feel or examine the paws. Sometimes compactions and thickening are noticeable in the joint area. If the pain is severe, the puppy hesitates to go down the stairs or refuses to go down at all, since in this position the load on the elbow joints increases.

Part of the joint may be dissected, and an extra fragment may form on the joint. The bones may rub against each other as a result of joint flattening, or they may hang loose in the joint like a spoon in a mug. There are many variants of pathologies, and in each special case There are specific features of the anatomy of the joint.

Hip dysplasia for a long time in dogs may not cause any external signs diseases. IN severe cases puppies wag their hindquarters when walking, cannot or have difficulty climbing stairs (it hurts to push off with their hind legs when jerking forward and up), and walk with a lowered croup. Often, dogs try to lean on their front paws to relieve stress from the sore area.

With THA, the head of the femur does not fit correctly into the socket. If the discrepancy is minimal, signs of the disease may not appear until adulthood or may not appear at all. If the discrepancy is significant, the disease will manifest itself even if the puppy is raised correctly.

Dysplasia knee joint It is rare in dogs and is usually associated with trauma. As a result of injury or improper maintenance (slippery floors, excessive loads), the joint partially comes out of the joint capsule (subluxation). Because of incorrect position the joint beats and rubs against the edges of the cup - deformation, pain, lameness. Such a nuisance can happen to any joint, so it is better to raise a large breed puppy with the support of an experienced dog handler or breeder.