Elbow dysplasia is a leading cause of chronic forelimb pain in large breed dogs, with early surgical intervention and long-term management providing the best welfare outcomes for affected individuals.
Dogs with elbow dysplasia experience chronic forelimb pain that worsens progressively as secondary arthritis develops. The early stages may be subtle - owners noticing reduced exercise tolerance or intermittent lameness - before frank pain is apparent. Early surgical intervention, when indicated, preserves more joint cartilage and delays arthritis progression. Long-term welfare management balances pain medication, weight management, and activity modification to maintain mobility and comfort throughout the dog's life. Breed health programs that require elbow evaluation before breeding reduce the number of dogs born with this painful heritable condition.