08/18/2026
CASE OF THE MONTH: MEET TOBI!
Tobi first came to us as a puppy with forelimb lameness. Initially, his discomfort resolved with rest and pain medication, but when the lameness returned, we knew it was time to investigate further.
Radiographs revealed short ulna syndrome, a limb deformity commonly seen in Basset Hounds. In Tobi’s case, the growth plates in both distal ulnas had closed prematurely. This caused the ulnas to stop growing while the radiuses continued to grow, preventing the forelimbs from developing normally. It had also resulted in significant elbow dysplasia in both legs.
The solution was a bilateral ulnar ostectomy. During this procedure, a section of each ulna was removed. Releasing the ulna allows the triceps muscles to pull it back toward its proper position in the elbow joint while also giving the radius room to continue growing and straighten as Tobi develops.
After surgery came the important part: three months of recovery and healing!
And Tobi did exactly what we hoped—he healed beautifully. He is now fully recovered, comfortable, and ready for a happy, active, and very cute life!
