Ellie: Hip and Elbow Dysplasia + OA
Note: Each story contains links to more information for those who want to dive deep.
Ellie’s Story- See her full story by video on my You Tube channel or read the highlights below.
Ellie is a 2 year-old Female Anatolian Shepard
She came to see me as a young pup and I have had the pleasure of guiding her care since then.
History - at 6 months old she was…
● Limping every day in the front legs
● Tired: she laid down to play with other dogs
● Painful: She was not able to go on walks
● Painful: it was hard for her to get up and down
● CBPI Pain severity score by owner: 5.75/10
● CBPI Pain interfering with mobility: 6/10 story online can make all the difference.
Exam
● Stiff in the elbows with ROM
● Atrophy of the shoulder muscles
● Funky posture: paw pillow or extended forelimbs when laying
Even as a young dog, she shifts her posture to get off her elbow.
See her using her paw for a “pillow.” This is common with discomfort in the front leg.
Diagnostics/Treatment
Elbow Radiographs
You can see the boney changes in her elbows.
● PennHip Radiographs
Penn hip Radiographs
You can see laxity in her hip joints.
● Arthroscopy to remove cartilage fragments
● Elbow Joint injections with SynamidTM
● Treatment for her sore hip muscles with shockwave and Anicell Stemcells + Rehab
Outcome and Timeline to Recovery
Ellie recovered well from her elbow surgery and easily after her shockwave and stem cell therapy.
She recovered to play with an energy level that is “through the roof” within 30 days and completed strength training over 90 days.
● CBPI Pain severity per owner: 1/10
● CBPI Interference score: 1/10
She is now 2 years old and still playing comfortably with no need for daily pain meds.
Maintenance Plan
Ellie will need ongoing care with shockwave and rehabilitation every 3-6 months + home exercise and joint injections every 1-2 years to control the arthritis that follows joint instability and chronic inflammation.
It is likely we will include other products like Spryng with OsteocushionTM as needed.
As she ages we will also discuss hip replacement surgery as a long-term solution for her hips.
She is maintained with important supplements to reduce inflammation and protect her cartilage and is maintained at her ideal fit weight!
Each patient is unique, please know that results vary based on so many factors for each dog and that this does not predict the success of any dog’s recovery - but it does give us an idea of what we might achieve.
