Elbow Dysplasia

[BaconAndAvocado]

My 1yo Lab boy has just had a visit from the vet and been referred for a CTscan.
the vet thinks it might be elbow dysplasia.
I’m shocked, upset .....she said it would affect his overall mobility and he wouldn’t be able to go for off lead walks......this is something he thrives on.
I’m praying it isn’t that.
Just need a hand hold.

Try and stay calm. Lots of dogs have various stages of hip/elbow dysplasia and still manage to live perfectly normal lives. Alternatively if your dog has it badly, there is always the option of surgery.

It's very unlikely that your dog will never be able to walk off-lead again, so please don't panic! The CT scan will allow them to grade the severity of the dysplasia and then you can look at your options - which may be as simple as joint supplements, or as "serious" as surgery.

coffeecupsandfairylights thanks for your message.
It’s helped me feel a bit better.
He is such a bouncy boy who adores rough and tumbling with other dogs......the thought of him not being able to play like that again is breaking my heart.

He’s been housebound for a week to rest his leg but the vet said today he can go for 2 short snuffle (where he can stop every few metres to have a good sniff!) walks a day.
I’m so pleased about this as we’ve both been climbing the walls.

My lab was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia at 9 months, and we paid a specialist orthopod vet to sort them out. It took a couple of months, and cost about £2,500 (no insurance) but she has been fine for 7 years. She is now eight and has a bit of arthritis in her elbow joints but it's managed with diet, supplements and metacam. Her quality of life was saved by early intervention, but the crucial thing is to keep him thin and fit once he's had the surgery. Hope this helps, and good luck.

I know a lab who had a degree of elbow dysplasia diagnosed around 2 which was managed non surgically for the next 10 years.

It did require some lifestyle management, i.e less walking than might be usual, especially not multiple days on the trot, hydrotherapy and arthritis drugs. Keeping weight down was also really important. But it wasn't the end of the world, my friend did lots of scentwork training with him so he was happy and fulfilled even if not able to race around day after day.

My previous Lab was diagnosed with this when he went suddenly lame. After a second opinion from a specialist orthopaedic vet it turned out he had partially sheared a coronoid process in his elbow (like a buttress root that supports the joint). He had surgery to remove the hinged piece and continued his career as a gundog. Sudden lameness (event-caused in the specialist's words) is unlikely to be ED.

Spanielsarepainless I’m praying that you’re right.