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Addisons Disease
Allergies Anesthesia Cancer Digestive
Disorders Elbow
Dysplasia Eye
Problems Heart
Disease Hernia Hip
Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Kidney/Liver Laryngeal
Paralysis Missing
Teeth Osteochondrosis
Dissecans (OCD) Panosteitis Perianal
Fistulas Polyneuropathy Reproduction Temperament
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Elbow Dysplasia
| What
is it? | Elbow
dysplasia is not a single disorder, but a complex of several growth abnormalities
affecting the elbow joint, and should rightly be called Elbow Disease. It includes
OCD (Osteochondrosis Dissecans) of the elbow joint, ununited anconeal process,
and fractured coronoid process. These abnormalities have many separate genetic
causes and overlapping environmental (nutritional) influences. |
| Symptoms: | The
clinical signs involve lameness, which may remain subtle for long periods of time.
No one can predict at what age lameness will occur, due to a large number of genetic
and environmental factors, such as the degree of severity of the changes, the
rate of weight gain, the degree of exercise, and so on. Affected dogs may not
show obvious lameness and may only have an abnormal gait. Range of motion in the
elbow is also usually decreased. Frequently, there is bilateral disease, but unilateral
elbow dysplasia is not uncommon. | | Diagnosis: | X-rays
will reveal the problem. Breeding dogs are required to be free of this disease.
| | Treatment: |
Once it is diagnosed, conservative
therapy can be an option for dogs affected by intermittent and/or mild degrees
of lameness. The use of pain relievers/anti-inflammatory agents can be used during
bouts of lameness, especially an hour or so before known periods of exercise.
If the dog is showing a continuous and severe pattern of lameness, arthroscopic
or surgical exploration of the joint is recommended, because usually in these
cases, significant pathology is more likely to be found, and there is a greater
possibility for post-operative improvement. The
HREC would like to suggest that all Leonberger owners have their dogs x-rayed
for elbow dysplasia. Even though the incidence of these diseases is relatively
low in the Leo, continued monitoring provides important information for your breeder,
and allows us to detect changes in trends early on and act accordingly. In particular,
those dogs that participate in working events will benefit from early detection,
assuring they are functionally sound for the job. | |
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