Gundog Training Forum

...and cockers.

For anyone interested in finding out more about this condition, or if you have an affected dog and would like to help Cambridge Vet School look for a way to screen for it please look at the following links:

http://www.englishspringer.org/page35.php
http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/news-and-events/iohc/
http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/news-and-events/iohcc.pdf
http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/news-and-events/iohcq.pdf
http://www.scvetspecialists.co.uk/pdfs/iohcleaflet.pdf
http://www.andersonmoores.com/services/ ... _research/

Vicky,
How common is this issue i have 3 spaniels and neither have ever become lame.

The truth is we don't really know but I am hearing about more and more cases. The Anderson Moores study found elbow problems in 18% of dogs which were at the time sound. Elbows with IOHC which don't actually fracture often get arthritis reducing working lifespan. Worryingly if this is hereditary (and studies of cocker pedigrees suggest it is in that breed) I have recently heard of it in pups sired by well known, well used sires.
Like HD the parents can be sound but affected (but you only see on xray/ct scan) os unaffected but carriers of the problem. Dogs can be perfectly sound until their elbow shatters at maybe 5 or 6 years old, by which time they may have been well used at srtud or whelped a couple of litters. Other dogs are lame from a young age, or as I say have a working life shortened by arthritis.

Worrying then!!!
what about sumpliments obviously whis seems to be a degenerative condition could it be controled with calcium tablets and or joint supliments?

The initial problem, the failure of the growth plate to fuse, won't be improved with supplements. In a dog which has the problem (either fixed or not) joint supplements may slow down the progression of the secondary arthritis. Calcium supplementation is tricky and can cause as many problems as it solves; ensuring good dietary calcium is useually best/safest.

Have a lab that has/had this. Elbow screw inserted age 15 weeks has had maybe one episode of lameness since following a busy day picking up. Is now 4 and the fastest dog I know, jumps as high as you ask him to. All around brill dog!