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Dogs bear 60% of their body weight in their front limbs, thus elbow health is essential. For normal elbow function, all of the bones (humerus, radius, and ulna) of the joint must align. Abnormal elbow joint development, termed dysplasia, is a common cause of lameness in young, large breed dogs. The incongruent joint disrupts the normal gliding that occurs with joint movement. Over time, this disruption causes arthritis to settle in to the joint. Dogs with elbow pain may exhibit signs as subtle as hesitation to use stairs or they may have more obvious signs such as not bearing weight on the limb. A healthy body weight is the best insurance to minimize joint inflammation in your pet’s later years. Anti-inflammatory medications, nutritional supplements, physical therapy, and/or surgery may be recommended by your veterinarian to keep your dog’s elbow joints strong and mobile.
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