What Are The Most Common Orthopedic Issues in Dogs?

#1 Elbow Dysplasia: Is an abnormal condition of the elbow.  There are several orthopedic conditions that result in elbow dysplasia.  Puppies or dogs that have elbow dysplasia have lameness, hold the leg up or out and have some level of discomfort or pain associated.  Arthritis is also a result of this condition.

#2 Hip Dysplasia:  Hip dysplasia is an inherited condition resulting from an improperly formed hip joint. Because the joint is loose, the dog's leg bone moves around too much, causing painful wear and tear. This can lead to pain, lameness and formation of early arthritis.  Dogs can have difficulty walking, getting up, or doing stairs.

#3 IVDD (intervertebral disc disease): Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a condition where the cushioning discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column either bulge or burst (herniate) into the spinal cord space. These discs then press on the nerves running through the spinal cord causing pain, nerve damage, and even paralysis.

#4 Patellar Luxation:  The patella, or “knee cap”, is normally buried in tendons and muscles and is placed in a groove above the femur.  It should not move around in a normally structured pet.  In patella luxation the femoral groove into which the knee cap normally rides is commonly shallow or absent in dogs with non–traumatic patellar luxation.  Dogs will hold the affected limb up from time to time or do a skipping motion when running.  This will also lead to arthritis in your dog.

#5 Cranial Cruciate Ligament Ruptures or Tears: This ligament is the same as an ACL in a human, it just has a different name in dogs and cats.  This ligament helps stabilize your pets knee.  Rupture of the CrCL is one of the most common reasons for hind limb lameness, pain, and subsequent knee arthritis.

All these conditions can be diagnosed via an x-ray.  Luckily there is a wide variety of therapy options that can be discussed with your veterinarian.  There is medical management with NSAIDs and pain medications, therapeutic laser therapy, acupuncture, physical therapy and depending on the condition surgery may be an option.  If you have any questions, please call the office or make an appointment 716-646-4023!