This topic could probably be posted under maladies & diseases but it also fits under breeding and genetics. This post will probably be long. (I may divide it between a couple of posts)
As many know from other posts, the Newf. Club of New England hosted an Educational Forum this past Saturday. One of the speakers was a Dr. Robert McCarthy, who is a professor and orthopedic specialist at Tuft's Univ. College of Veterinary Medicine- a teaching Vet school. His talk was fantastic and a real eye opener. He had proven scientific research to back up what he said on the topic of Canine Elbow Dysplasia.
He started by saying Elbow dysplasia is going to become a lot more common in the Newf breed before it gets any better. This is just the beginning. (Many joked that if Dr. McCarthy had spoken before the reproduction vet, it would have saved the repro vet the trouble- we're all getting out of Newfs after hearing what Dr. McCarthy had to say)
There are 3 types of elbow dysplasia (I'm gonna abbreviate and just say CED instead of Canine Elbow Dysplasia- less typing )
1. OCD (Osteochondritis dessecans (spelling?)
2. UAP (ununited anconeal process)
3. FCP (fractured coronoid process)
FCP is the most common form of CED in Newfs.
The end of the humerus is a perfect circle (ball) and that ball sits in the coronoid process (socket) formed by the radius and ulna. There are 3 bones associated with the elbow- the Humerus (upper or fore arm), the radius, and the ulna. UAP is the result of uneven growth between the bones (radius and ulna). What happens is the radius grows faster than the ulna and in doing so, puts pressure on the anconeal process breaking it off so there is a triangle shaped chip floating around the elbow. Because they know what happens and why, they can do surgery to correct the problem and not just remove the bone chip. They actually cut the ulna and put a rod between the 2 cut pieces. This takes the pressure off the elbow joint and the 2 pieces of the ulna actually separate allowing additional bone to grow between the 2 pieces of ulna- lengthening the ulna so the pressure is taken off the elbow joint and the bones (radius & ulna) grow evenly. Nice & neat and simple (and expensive- about $1500).
I'll continue in another post.
As many know from other posts, the Newf. Club of New England hosted an Educational Forum this past Saturday. One of the speakers was a Dr. Robert McCarthy, who is a professor and orthopedic specialist at Tuft's Univ. College of Veterinary Medicine- a teaching Vet school. His talk was fantastic and a real eye opener. He had proven scientific research to back up what he said on the topic of Canine Elbow Dysplasia.
He started by saying Elbow dysplasia is going to become a lot more common in the Newf breed before it gets any better. This is just the beginning. (Many joked that if Dr. McCarthy had spoken before the reproduction vet, it would have saved the repro vet the trouble- we're all getting out of Newfs after hearing what Dr. McCarthy had to say)
There are 3 types of elbow dysplasia (I'm gonna abbreviate and just say CED instead of Canine Elbow Dysplasia- less typing )
1. OCD (Osteochondritis dessecans (spelling?)
2. UAP (ununited anconeal process)
3. FCP (fractured coronoid process)
FCP is the most common form of CED in Newfs.
The end of the humerus is a perfect circle (ball) and that ball sits in the coronoid process (socket) formed by the radius and ulna. There are 3 bones associated with the elbow- the Humerus (upper or fore arm), the radius, and the ulna. UAP is the result of uneven growth between the bones (radius and ulna). What happens is the radius grows faster than the ulna and in doing so, puts pressure on the anconeal process breaking it off so there is a triangle shaped chip floating around the elbow. Because they know what happens and why, they can do surgery to correct the problem and not just remove the bone chip. They actually cut the ulna and put a rod between the 2 cut pieces. This takes the pressure off the elbow joint and the 2 pieces of the ulna actually separate allowing additional bone to grow between the 2 pieces of ulna- lengthening the ulna so the pressure is taken off the elbow joint and the bones (radius & ulna) grow evenly. Nice & neat and simple (and expensive- about $1500).
I'll continue in another post.