Getting your bitch pregnant is not as simple as you may first think. You should choose a good stud dog, check out its pedigree. cycles also vary from breed to breed and individual to individual to timing of mating is also crucial to ensure pregnancy and in some cases may have to be repeated if mated to early or too late in your bitches cycle. Some people assume that dogs don't have problems during pregnancy or whelping, in case of purebred dogs that have been unnaturally selected, this is not case and some breeds may be prone to complications. It is common during whelping to lose some puppies and therefore it is essential that you work along with your veterinarian to laern how to identify and handle any problems that may arise. Breeding is not a light undertaking, it's not just a hobby and does not always make you money like a business should. You should therefore take your time, you should have some money to invest along with plenty of energy.

Owners may notice their dogs become lame in forelimb. Generally one leg can appear worse than other. In most cases both front legs are affected. There can often be swelling of joint and dogs usually exhibit pain on range of motion.

The most common treatment available is Arthroscopic surgery. Dogs owners who elect to have surgery generally have a better overall prognosis which an excellent chance of returning to normal function. Prognosis for each dog will vary depending upon severity of disease. Post operative care is also an important factor in success of surgery. After surgery cage rest is highly recommended for around 4 to 6 weeks, this means dog must spend most of its time in cage and only be allowed out for short walks and always on a lead. The dog must not be allowed to play, it must have complete rest and stay off his elbow to aid recovery.

Dogs who have suffered with elbow dysplasia may later in their life develop some degree of degenerative joint disease, which is simply a form of arthritis.