Understanding Elbow Dysplasia


  Elbow dysplasia is an inherited disease which primarily affects intermediate and large breed dogs. A high incidence of occurrence has be noted in Bernese Mountain Dog, German Shepherd, Rottweilers, Golden Retriever, and Labrador Retrievers. Other breeds affected are Newfoundland, Saint Bernard's, Mastiff, Springer Spaniel, Australian Shepherd, Chow Chow, Shar-Pei, Shetland Sheepdog, and some Terrier breeds. Typically, both elbows are affected. However, unilateral elbow dysplasia is also recognized.
  Elbow dysplasia is characterized by varying degrees of elbow incongruity, bony fragments(bone chips), and ultimately, severe arthritic change. The term was introduced to describe generalized osteoarthritis (arthritis) of the elbow joint in which the anconeal process may be ununited, medial coronoid of the ulna may be fragmented, and osteochondrosis of the humeral condyle my be present. Clinically, the symptoms range from an intermittent lameness in some affected dogs to severe, crippling disease in others.
   Like hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia (ED) is a developmental disease of young dogs, although symptoms can appear at any age. While not as common as hip dysplasia, ED is estimated to affect approximately 1 in 10 Goldens. Also like hip dysplasia, many affected dogs have no symptoms at all, yet can pass more serious disease on to their offspring. For other affected dogs, symptoms range from mild stiffness and discomfort, to crippling disease.
    Elbow dysplasia is an inherited disease believed to have a polygenic (multiple genes) mode of inheritance that may be modified by the environment. The most studied detrimental environmental influence is rapid growth during early puppy hood, usually a result of over-nutrition and over-feeding.
    Elbow dysplasia can be difficult to diagnose in the early stages, or in very mildy affected dogs. Most general practitioner veterinarians can take the necessary X-ray, but few have the equipment or expertise to evaluate the films. Prior to breeding, adult Goldens should have elbow X-rays submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for diagnostic evaluation, and only dogs certified clear of elbow dysplasia should be bred. For more information and data on prevalence of elbow dysplasia in Golden Retrievers, go to

http://www/ofa.org.
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