Good morning...tomorrow I am taking my almost 7 month old pup Maddie in for a CT scan
of her elbow. After off and on lameness for almost 3 months, we saw an ortho. surgeon
last weekend. Although earlier x-rays had vaguely indicated possible shoulder OCD
(while elbows on x-rays looked clear), this vet on physical examination (manipulation)
felt sure that the problem was in her elbow...that's where she feels pain. If the
elbow scan is positive for FCP, he wants to do surgery. It's been explained to me that
surgery, while relieving the immediate cause of pain/lameness, still leaves the dog
with dysplasia and arthritic changes are inevitable.
I've seen articles that indicate that arthroscopic surgery may have the best results
(OFA wrote on this)in elbow cases. That doesn't seem to be available in NJ, but is in
NYC, so if the CT scan is positive I may look into that possibility.
I would be grateful to hear from others who have dealt with elbow trouble, whether you
opted for surgery, how the recuperation was, and how successful the outcome. I hate to
think of this 6 month old baby in pain, and I want to do whatever I can to improve her
future.
Thanks for the input!
Anne Henoch
Cranford, NJ
P.S. And apparently this means that even when elbow x-rays appear "crystal clear,"
there can still be dysplasia present???
