My dog's front leg looks bent. Is this a sign of elbow dysplasia?

I do see some abnormal opacity in the elbow joint where the arrow is, so I would have to agree with your vet here. It is not possible to zoom in on x-rays that are copied here however, so its best to get a copy of the x-rays on a CD and then having them reviewed by a 2nd opinion doctor that way. Or you can ask your vet to send these to a radiologist who is well trained on picking up on small details that the untrained eye can miss. Another option is to treat medically for a minimum of 2 weeks, and if there is no improvement, then you know that is not just a muscle sprain or mild injury, and that elbow dysplasia is more likely the underlying cause. Doing a process of elimination, while still treating the pets pain, is a common thing that owners do when they are looking for a more conservative approach. If this is indeed elbow dysplasia, then I would recommend a referral to an orthopedic specialist if you want to pursue treatment. Treatment for this condition is often surgery. Poor guy. I hope that you can get him some relief soon. Best wishes and take care!

Bruno's leg looks like it is in a normal position to me. Sometimes dogs that have knee pain will sure with their knees falling out to the side and slightly extended, but Bruno's leg does not appear to be in that position. Dogs with hip dysplasia can have an abnormal gait when walking or can hop with both legs together when running. If you're concerned that Bruno isn't walking normally you should have him examined by your vet.

If he is bobbing his head up and down while walking this is most likely a sign of pain in the neck or a front limb. Typically we say the head bob goes down on the good leg (down on sound) so if his head is up when he places his right front leg this could be the culprit. Pain could be coming from bone, joint, or the soft tissues. It is possible for elbow dysplasia to be present but there are also other conditions that can cause pain as well. Elbow dysplasia is typically a developmental problem such that most dogs are diagnosed very young. The best way to know for sure what is happening would be for your vet to do a thorough orthopedic and neurologic evaluation. Xrays can then be directed at the area of concern. In the meantime it might be best to rest Trick, although i am sure being a Border Collie he likely has a very important job. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Abnormal hips typically lead to an abnormal gait, so the early signs of hip dysplasia would be more related to his movement and not his stance; therefore, joining of the hind end ankles would not be a sign of it. You would see exercise interlace, bunny hopping (especially up stairs), joint looseness or laxity, difficulty rising, swaying gate, stiffness and pain, sitting in a frog position (one hip splays out), or reluctance to run and jump. Depending on how severe the hip dysplasia, it can shorter a dog's life. A very severe case will be quite painful to the dog and make it very hard for them to get around. In those cases, if surgery isn't an option, letting them go peacefully may be the kindest option. The only way to know for sure if Danny has hip dysplasia is to have x-rays done by a vet, and I recommend having that done.

Without seeing him myself my first thought is that he has carpus valgus which is a congenital abnormality that cannot be fixed. If you really want to know if there is anything you can do you would need to take him to an orthopedic specialist for a consultation. Bone deformities are not an unusual problem for this breed. It could be that he has elbow dysplasia and depending on the severity there may be a surgery that could help him. I strongly suggest you get him to a specialist for an exam and x-rays. They can give you the best information. Best wishes.

Elbow dysplasia is possible, as well as a muscle sprain or strain, small fracture, torn ligament, etc. The only way to know for sure would be to have Kronos examined by a vet and to have x-rays done of the leg.

It sounds like this problem is related to instability or damage to ligaments somewhere near the region that you localized pain. A fracture would cause them not to not use that leg completely, so I'm less suspicious of that. Elbow problems, such as elbow dysplasia, are sometimes seen in dogs; but it tends to affect larger breeds and younger dogs. With small breed dogs, we tend to see fractures and other complications lower down in the leg near the wrist area. The fact that he is older is concerning for complications associated with arthritis and other age-related problems. If Devon seems to otherwise be fine and is not heavily limping on the leg, then it would be OK to wait a few days to see if it resolves. During this time it's important to limit his activity and especially restrict jumping up and down off of things like the couch or stairs. However, it would never hurt to take him to the vet to get it assessed. They might see something that you would not have noticed. They can also take x-rays if there is anything of concern. I would definitely take Devon to the vet if you notice swelling of the leg, or if he starts to limp more. I hope that helps and Devon gets better soon.