Hello and welcome to Duke

Duke is so cute but also crazy excited! He is such a gorgeous labrador

His dad noticed a subtle lameness at 6 months old towards the end of the walks. He decided to see the met and was referred to the specialist.

He was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia. There are several varieties of this. Duke and MCP, medial coronoid process disease. This meant this tiny piece of bone had broken off and was now painful on occasion.

It’s described as being like a stone in your show. Painful at the moments when it’s moved, but also intermittent as at times it sits normally and not causing an issue. But when it is a problem it’s also causing destruction to the cartilage where it’s not sitting correctly. 

The treatment is arthroscopy. This is what he had. A camera is inserted so the surgeon can find the fragment and remove it. Any other damage to the joint surface is also addresses.

Duke took time to recover from this, and his muscle reduced in the affected limb.

He has now come for physio to manage the muscle, elbow discomfort, and future arthritis as this will be the next chapter in his journey.

I have sent him up with a gentle muscle building plan that will progress and a weight loss diet as this is essential.

Keep up the good work, dad, mum and Duke!