LEARNING THE HARD WAY ★
Discovering her puppy was suffering from a life-changing condition made dog-lover Annie Wilson all the more determined to highlight and raise awareness of canine health issues. Julie Hill reports.
How one dog lover is determined to raise awareness of canine health issues, including elbow dysplasia.
Welcoming a new puppy into your family should be an incredibly exciting experience — but for Annie Wilson, from Brixham, Devon, happiness turned to dismay when her seven-month-old Bernese Mountain Dog, Button, was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia (ED).
“During the first year, when she was going through operations and procedures, the stress level was massive,” Annie recalled. “It affected the whole family — and friends — because we didn’t have anybody round to our house for 12 months. It affects you financially too — it costs a lot of money! We’re insured, but even so we’re paying £100 a month for supplements for Button.”
WHAT IS ELBOW DYSPLASIA?
Daniella Dos Santos, senior vice president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), explained: “Elbow dysplasia is not one specific abnormality; it’s a collection of different ones. Essentially, it affects the growth of the cartilage, which forms the surface of the joint, and the structures around it. The elbow is so complicated in structure that even a very small change in one part of it can have pretty significant consequences for the dog’s health, behaviour, and welfare.”
Matthew Pead, an orthopaedic surgeon from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) added: “With elbow dysplasia, because there’s a problem with the joint when the dog is young, you get wear and tear when the dog is young, and you may get secondary osteoarthritis as a result. Most dogs with elbow dysplasia can be managed, but there are some who will need some sort of surgery.”
It’s crucial to keep affected dogs at a healthy weight as part of a management plan, which can also include light exercise and pain management. Although there is currently no cure for ED, there are ways to prevent or at least drastically decrease the chances of being affected by it. Button’s prognosis led Annie to research this polygenetic (influenced by more than one gene) hereditary disease, and to fight, on behalf of Button and all dogs, for more breeders to health test their dogs. Currently, many breeders do health test, but buyers need to exercise due diligence.
Bill Lambert, senior health and welfare manager at the
Kennel Club, highlighted the fact that things were slowly improving. “A 2020 study, which analysed data from the BVA/ KC Hip and Elbow Dysplasia Scheme, found that not only has the proportion of dogs screened for the condition increased over time, but that the grades and scores of dogs used for breeding have also been improving, with a notable decline in severe hip scores, and a more modest, but still notable, decline in severe elbow scores across all reviewed breeds.
“Puppy buyers can use our ‘health test results finder’ to look at, and understand, a dog’s results from the elbow screening scheme, and from other health screening schemes and DNA tests that we record. These will help them find out more about the health history of the puppy’s parents.”
Matthew Pead recommends puppy buyers discuss test results with their vets, as this is a complex issue. “Low scores in parents and grandparents — preferably zero scores — increase your chances of having a dog who is elbow dysplasia-free. The more of the breeding stock that are screened, and the more people are careful about breeding from the least affected dogs, the more you will reduce the problem over time,” he explained.
The Dog Breeding Reform Group (DBRG) prioritises inherited and breed-related diseases in dogs, and advises puppy buyers on how to find puppies bred to good health and welfare standards.
Carol Fowler, who founded the group, said: “The impact some genetic diseases and poor conformation — extreme or unnatural body shapes — can have on a dog’s health and quality of life can amount to prolonged suffering and/or early death. The impact the health issues can have on an owner can be devastating. If the problems are treatable, veterinary costs can be huge and a further ordeal for dogs and their owners.
“In the early days of breeding dogs to a specific shape and size within a closed gene pool, breeders were unaware of the harm this could cause. But science has caught up and we now know about the harmful effects of these practices. We know how much dogs enhance the lives of humans and we owe it to them to treat them with care and respect and try to put right the harm that has been done.”
With ED such a complex condition, it will require collaboration within the dog world to end the suffering of dogs and the heartbreak of owners. If more breeders embrace the testing scheme, and buyers ask to see the results, fewer dogs will suffer.
Annie is hopeful, but knows there is work to be done. “There are an awful lot of dogs being bred from who are passing it down, unbeknown even to the breeders. It’s bred into the puppies, and then people like me are buying them and ending up with poorly puppies. It’s not fair.”
Case study Button’s story
Bernese Mountain Dog Button was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia at seven months old, which led to surgery on both elbows.
Owner Annie takes up the story: “They had to cut the bones in her forelegs to prevent them causing her great discomfort. She had to have this massive operation and she was bandaged up for weeks.
“Basically, she couldn’t play or go for walks or anything. For about a year, she was on really reduced exercise. She missed out on all of her puppyhood, together with being in quite a lot pain, which was sad.
“She’s still on painkillers and anti-inflammatories and she will be for the rest of her life. Sadly, because of her elbows being poorly, it’s put extra strain on her hips and she’s got hip dysplasia. She’s in quite a lot of discomfort but
we’re giving her the best life we can.
“I set up ‘Paws Against ED’ on
Facebook to help people understand the severity of elbow dysplasia, and why it’s important to have dogs tested. Looking into ED led me to look into hip dysplasia as well; there are so many hereditary disorders that could be reduced as long as health testing is done.
“Now, with another campaign group ‘What’s In My Genes?’, we’re trying to build awareness of hereditary diseases in dogs in general, to encourage the public to ask about health testing. More health testing will reduce the incidences of hereditary diseases in litters.”
Case study Whatever it takes...
Basset Hound Buddy was a fluffy puppy when Lee-Anne Newman fell in love with him, but she soon noticed that he was less agile and active than his sister.
“Grace was running around, and Buddy had a bit of bunny hop when he ran, and never had the pace she had. He just didn’t look comfortable,” recalled Lee-Anne from Worthing, West Sussex
After being referred to a veterinary specialist, Buddy had surgery on both elbows to remove a chunk of bone, and was diagnosed with minimal arthritis. Lee-Anne was advised to manage his condition.
“It was 12 weeks of recuperative care — four to six weeks of basically crate rest, which was incredibly difficult. Then it was a case of building him up again, with short on-lead walks. He’s had 15 months of hydrotherapy; some was paid for by insurance, the rest I pay for myself because it’s non-weight-bearing and keeps him nimble,” explained Lee-Anne. “Whatever it takes to keep him comfortable, happy, and healthy, if it’s within my power to do it, that’s what he gets. He has hydrotherapy and supplements; I’ve carpeted the ground floor of my house because it’s softer for him and less of a jar on his joints; I’ve got a ramp for him to get on my sofa, and the garden steps are shallow and wide.
“I know Buddy’s life will quite possibly be cut short by his elbow issues and arthritis. I’m gutted for him. I guess, to a certain degree, I didn’t do enough research — I’ve learned the hard way.”