{"id":335,"date":"2017-05-11T09:12:51","date_gmt":"2017-05-11T13:12:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pawsitivestepsrehab.com\/blog\/?p=335"},"modified":"2017-05-11T09:12:51","modified_gmt":"2017-05-11T13:12:51","slug":"common-canine-congenital-orthopedic-conditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pawsitivestepsrehab.com\/blog\/common-canine-congenital-orthopedic-conditions\/","title":{"rendered":"Common Canine Congenital Orthopedic Conditions"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Janelle Allen, LVT and Angelia Oliverei, LVT\"\"<\/h4>\n

Unfortunately canine congenital orthopedic conditions are common in the rehabilitation field. \u00a0A diagnosis of hip dysplasia in a young dog, or puppy can make you feel over whelmed, and helpless. \u00a0Often thoughts turn to only being able to manage the disease with pain killers or surgery. \u00a0However, rehabilitation professionals have a lot to offer these young patients, especially when we meet them early in life! \u00a0Surgery may be avoided and we may even be able to ween them off of pain medications. \u00a0First, let\u2019s take a look at a few common canine congenital orthopedic conditions that we see. \u00a0This is a short introduction, as each of these disease processes can take up an entire blog themselves. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Hip Dysplasia<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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In the x-ray above, the hip joint on the right demonstrates the ball off the femur not seated properly in the socket.<\/p><\/div>\n

Hip dysplasia is arguably the most common congenital condition seen in rehabilitation. \u00a0In the simplest terms, hip dysplasia occurs when the ball and socket joint of the hip(s) are not tightly seated together. \u00a0This condition is often associated with larger breed dogs (i.e.: German Shepherd Dogs, Mastiffs, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers), but can also occur in small breed dogs and even cats. \u00a0Diagnosis of hip dysplasia is made based on symptoms (difficulty rising, pain in the hind limbs, abnormal gait) followed by x-rays of the hips and pelvis.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Medial Patellar Luxation (MPL)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Patellar luxation occurs when the kneecap (patella) slides out of its groove in the bottom of the femur. \u00a0While the patella can luxate in either direction, medial (towards the middle of the body) is significantly more common. \u00a0This condition is often found in small breed dogs. \u00a0Luxating patellas are graded by severity, and rehabilitation may actually lower the frequency of luxation in milder cases.<\/p>\n

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This x-ray demonstrates elbow dysplasia. Joint edges are very rough.<\/p><\/div>\n

Elbow Dysplasia<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Elbow dysplasia is a blanket term for several conditions involving the elbow joint, including ununited anconeal process (UAP), medial coronoid disease (MCD), and\/or osteochondrosis dissicans (OCD). \u00a0Symptoms include lameness involving one or both front limbs, stiffness, swelling, pain, and decreased range of motion. \u00a0Many of the symptoms can wax and wane, making diagnosis difficult. \u00a0Front limb\u00a0lameness\u00a0is often more debilitating than lameness in the hind limbs, as dogs carry more weight on their fore limbs. \u00a0The first step in diagnosing the problem usually includes radiographs. \u00a0However, advanced diagnostics may be needed.<\/p>\n

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Congenital Limb Deformity<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Congenital deformities are unique to the individual patient. \u00a0The limb(s) can have one or multiple underdeveloped bones, changes in angles of the bone, or absence of an entire limb. The missing or shortened limbs can cause abnormal gaits and place stress on the spine and other “normal” limbs. \u00a0While some conditions will require surgery, other\u00a0patients may benefit from a orthotic, prosthetic, or even a wheelchair to reduce the lifelong stress placed on their bodies.<\/p>\n

Rehabilitation Options<\/h3>\n

Arthritis<\/a> is an inevitable outcome of any abnormal changes to a joint. \u00a0However, rehabilitation \u00a0can slow progression of arthritis in these young pets\u00a0and provide very good mobility for years. \u00a0A few options for patients include:<\/p>\n