I have a puppy buyer whose 2 y/o she got from me as a pup has elbow dysplasia and arthritis. She is taking him for surgery as recommended by her vet. She was wondering if I had any information on outcomes after the surgey. I have no experience with this. Has anyone been through this?

If her vet isn't doing a scope surgery I would recommend she go to a University or find a specialist who does scoping. It's much less invasive and the recovery time is faster. The surgeon will let her know post op care but my experience was crate rest for about a week, going out to potty on a leash only, start taking short/slow walks after about 7-10 days. I would also put the dog on supplements; Vitamin C, Glyco-Flex, Cosequin, fish oil.

My dog has arthritis now and some days he's sore. Depends on how much activity he has had. You do want to exercise them after they recover but not to overdo it. Swimming would be great.

I second what Been There wrote; that's been exactly my expxerience in the one time that I had to go through this. Just know that there is a pretty fair chance that he will never return to full range of motion, but at least he'll be pain free if things go normally.

If the ED is amenable to surgery via the scope it's definitely the way to go. Small incisions, quick recovery. You will still have some limits to activity during recover/rehab, but this holds true for any surgery.

If it is severe enough to require an open procedure and 'restructuring' of the elbow, it can still be quite successful, and dogs can return to a good level of activity and excellent quality of life. Occasionally they may be a bit 'sore' after exercise or in cold weather but nothing worse than what some of US go through...{wink} and most dogs do well without needing pain meds other than glucosamine, msm, fishoil and 'costco' carries them ...

Definitely consult with a canine orthopedist...

Best of luck !

gcb, md

Although I have not had a lab go down w/ injury and subsequent surgery, I have had a high energy corgi who had a extensive surgical repair of 2 discs. Based on this experience, I can not stress enough the value of tapping into a good rehab program during the post op process.

Once the dog is fully recovered from the surgery mild to moderate regular exercise will be beneficial to her arthritis.

I also give natural products for arthritic pain such as DLPA, hi doses of Vit. C (to bowel tolerance) makes the adrenal gland produce natural steroids to reduce inflamation - and G/C and fish oil as previously mentioned.

Quite a bit of info at www.dogaware.com under arthritis section.

Also, if she is quite a bit less active due to the arthritis be sure she is feeding a good quality food with protein at about 28% or higher to help the dog maintain muscle mass to support the joints and tendons/ligaments.

My Lab was diagnosed with Grade II ED, FCP, when he was about 7 months old. He had bilateral orthroscopic surgery to remove fragments shortly thereafter. The recovery time is amazing. I had to pick him up the same day and the day after the surgery, he was able to go out to potty on his own. He was on restricted movement for some time with lots and lots of rehab (he still goes for his underwater treadmill once a month).

He's slightly over 2 years old now and 1.5 years post-surgery. He made an amazing recovery. We actively train and compete in obedience (he has his CD and we're entered in Open obedience this weekend), tracking, and do retriever training which is demanding as well. He is as sound as it's possible in his condition. He's on G/C, monthly Adequan and occasional Rymadil after demanding exercise. I know that without his surgery, he would not be able to do any of this.

But it's important to go with a good ortho surgeon and do orthroscopy if possible.

We have been through this with two puppies that we purchased. Really isn't a big deal to go through the surgery and recovery if its done orthoscopically. We have a 7 year old that the ortho. specialist wasn't sure that she would be good candindate for the surgery but we pressed to have it done as the alternative was to put her down. This girl is going strong and has a great quality of life. She self excersises and goes on hikes with us. Yes we keep her on Glyco flex as our specialist said it had the best results when they did in clinic studies at WSU. The other girl also had the surgery and we were not successful with the first surgery but we returned a month later and they removed a piece of bone she was then good as new! Its not the end of the world but it can be a bit pricey. If they can't afford the whole cost of the surgery maybe you could offer to help out with that end of it. Nothing will change the fact that their dog has ED but it could sure help to ease the financial burden.

Diane

i have had a dog with ED, and we did the bilateral arthroscopic surgery, they took a chunk out of the right elbow and inspected the left elbow.

the healing time was minimal, leash walks no jumping for 4 weeks, then a progressive pattern of exercise, leash walking 100 yards further each day

the lab in question, bounces, pounces, hasn't had a lame day since, surgical post care was removing 4 tiny stitches.

we had it done by the vet who wrote the textbook on arthroscopy in small animals, and he was great, can't say enough about how well this worked out

Just curious how much these kinds of surgeries usually cost?

This was a few years ago but it was around $1400 at a University vet hospital.

Remember that surgeons only see dogs that have gone through surgery. They also make their living performing surgeries so they are quick to recommend a procedure. I'm not saying that surgery isn't necessary in some cases but more often than not a joint surgery might not change the long term prognsis.

I know of three dogs with ED who did NOT have surgery and are all leading very normal functional lives. Dogs with OCD in the elbows (and hocks) and are lame as puppies often go on to be relatively sound by 12 - 14 months of age without surgery and since a procedure is typically performed between 8 - 10 months of age it's impossible to say whether or not those dogs that underwent surgery would not have been more sound by 12 months of age without it. During the rapid growth phase lameness is most pronounced however the loose fragments of cartilage will be resorbed and the the flaps are broken off as the dog matures and thus the pain and inflammation associated dissapates.

The dogs I know are 11 years old, 7 years, and 3 years. The 11 year old has a few obedience and field titles as well as a championship and still moves fairly well in his senior years. The 7 year old was a moderate case with Grade II elbows at 18 months of age and is still leading a very active and normal life. The 3 year old was intermittently lame as a puppy but hit a year or so and has been normal.

I always suggest reading and researching and talking to people before electing surgery. A good source is the orthodogs list on yahoo.

You can count my ten year old dog with a CDX in there too. Bilateral FCP, no surgery and doing just fine and dandy with her daily hour long walks and minimal joint supplements

I was quoted $2500-$3000 for FCP surgery.