Elbow dysplasia is a complex of heritable joint diseases affecting large and giant breed dogs, causing painful osteoarthritis that develops early in life and requires surgical or medical management.
Elbow dysplasia causes pain that begins in the first year of life and progresses throughout the dog's lifespan. Affected dogs develop lameness during the most active period of their lives - puppyhood and adolescence - limiting play, social interaction, and exercise that are fundamental to young dogs' wellbeing. The progressive arthritis that develops regardless of treatment means that these dogs live with increasing chronic pain through middle and old age. The hereditary nature of elbow dysplasia means that every affected dog represents a failure of the breeding program's health screening. Mandatory elbow scoring in predisposed breeds - established in countries like Sweden and UK - demonstrably reduces prevalence when breeders comply, protecting future generations from preventable suffering.