My dog has detached shoulder cartilage, no limp. Is surgery needed?

Question

OCD I have an 18 mth Golden Retriever. At 6 mths she had a limp in the Right Shoulder after a collision with a larger dog. An x ray showed a small flap that the vet suggested would need an operation, if after weeks of rest and a change in diet the limp didn't disappear. The limp went away. We now xrayed her Hips & Elbows for breeding purposes, he checked the shoulder and can see a piece of cartilage detached from the joint. Should we operate even though there is no lameness or symptoms? Pet's info: Dog | Golden Retriever | Female | unspayed | 66 lbs

Cara, DVM, cVMA · Accepted Answer

It may be a good idea to remove the chip, or at least go in arthroscopically (with a tiny camera) to see what the joint looks like and clean it up if necessary. My guess is there was significant trauma if it was enough to dislodge a chip there so it may predispose her to arthritis as she gets older, so going in while she's young and not having any signs could be beneficial. I would see if your veterinarian can recommend a boarded surgeon that performs arthroscopy to take a look at her and her x-rays and see what they think.

My dog has detached shoulder cartilage, no limp. Is surgery needed?

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