Elbow Dysplasia: Medical and Surgical Treatment

Most, if not all, dogs with elbow dysplasia would benefit from lifelong medical management of elbow osteoarthritis (OA). Because veterinary studies evaluating many of these treatments are limited, decisions regarding medical management of OA are often based on clinician preference. However, it is important to be aware of the quality of evidence that supports each of our recommendations and borrow from human literature when appropriate. We will discuss each element of medical management listed below in more detail, but the following serves as a checklist of the components of medical management to consider and discuss with owners of dogs with OA.