Canine Elbow Problems

• Dogs can experience health problems in their elbows that require surgery to treat. Osteoarthritis in a dog's elbow can cause pain and limit the joint's range of motion. Elbow dysplasia occurs when the bones that form a dog's elbow joint do not grow correctly. This causes the elbow joint to become malformed. This can lead to pain and, in severe cases, lameness in the effected limb, according to Kansas State University.
  
  

Elbow Surgery

• Before surgery, the dog will be given general anesthesia. A veterinary surgeon will make an incision at the dog's elbow and move aside the muscles in the area so she can view the dog's joint. While total elbow replacement is available, most canine elbow surgeries focus on removing damaged or excess cartilage and bone. The surgeon can also remove any bone fragments that are causing problems in the joint, according to "Textbook of Small Animal Surgery."
  
  

Risks

• As with any other form of surgery, there is a risk that a dog could experience an adverse reaction to the anesthesia. If this happens, its breathing rate could drop so low that it stops, which could result in death. There is also a risk that canine elbow surgery will not relieve a dog's pain and mobility issues, leaving the dog in the same state as before the surgery took place.
  
  

Aftercare

• After a dog undergoes elbow surgery, it will need to rest and heal. Its owner should keep it in a small area, restricting its movement so it cannot harm itself by running or by trying to jump up on top of furniture. A dog could require help getting up from a lying down position. A veterinarian can demonstrate the easiest ways to help a dog move around as it recovers, according to "The Complete Healthy Dog Handbook."
  
  

Considerations

• A dog that develops dysplasia in one elbow could also develop it in the other elbow, requiring a second surgery to relieve the pain in that limb. There is a hereditary component to elbow dysplasia, so if a dog has the condition badly enough to require surgery, it should not be bred in order to avoid the risk of puppies that will have the same condition.