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      Elbow and Hip disorders can negatively impact the way a dog is able to move and cause pain. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is the recognized certifying body that evaluates and determines whether your dog has any hip or elbow problems. 

Here’s a link to the OFA’s website.

Canine Hip Dysplasia & its Effect on Dogs

    Canine Hip Dysplasia is a condition characterized by an abnormally developed hip joint. It can also be caused by cartilage damage from a traumatic injury. Over time, this condition results in loss of thickness and elasticity of hip cartilage. Eventually, it leads to every joint movement being accompanied by pain.

     Hip Dysplasia is a hereditary condition and often affects large dogs, including AKC White Labrador, Great Dane, and German Shepherd. But it can occur in smaller breeds as well, such as White English Labrador puppies. In Labradors, for instance, Hip Dysplasia can also cause chronic arthritis.

Screening Procedure

     The screening procedure for the detection of Hip Dysplasia involves submitting a radiograph to the OFA. The radiograph should be per the American Veterinary Medical Association’s suggestions for the positioning of your dog. To obtain this scan, you must ensure that your dog is placed on its back with its rear limbs extended and in a parallel position. Also, its knees should be rotated internally, and the pelvis must remain symmetric.

Canine Elbow Dysplasia & its Impact on Dogs

     Another common orthopedic condition in dogs is Elbow Dysplasia. It occurs when the bones that form the elbow joint don’t fit together properly. The elbow is composed of the humerus that interacts at the joint with the ulna and radius. When these bones don’t fit together, it leads to wear and tear of the joint. This leads to physical pain during the movement of the forelimb.

    Dogs affected by Elbow Dysplasia exhibit symptoms from an early age, generally from five-month onwards. But some dogs may be diagnosed for the first time even after four to six years. Some of the most common signs of Elbow Dysplasia in dogs are the unwillingness to walk or exercise for long durations. Medium to large dogs such as AKC White Labrador, Golden Retriever, and German Shepherd are at a higher risk of developing Elbow Dysplasia.

Screening Procedure

     The diagnosis of Elbow Dysplasia is performed with a combination of x-rays and clinical examinations. If your pet is suffering from this condition, it will show discomfort extending or bending the elbow. The veterinarian may also watch your dog walk to detect any signs of lameness. The X-rays will show signs of arthritis or the presence of bone fragments in the joint.

In Conclusion

    In a nutshell, before choosing to adopt a dog for keeping as a pet or breeding, you should ensure it gets the OFA hip and elbow tests discussed above. At Rocky River Retrievers we test our dogs and provide a genetic health guarantee to eliminate genetic disorders. It is important to pay attention to these issues to create a happy life for your pup. 

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Here’s a video about this subject: