The gait is often characterized by excessive paddling or flipping of the front feet. The animal may either hold the elbows out or tucked in and often stands with the feet rotated outward. Many sit or lie down much of the time, or play for shorter periods of time than other dogs of comparable age. They are often described as quiet or even lazy. Frequently, they are stiff when rising and tire easily.
Exercise typically makes the lameness worse.
In dogs with bilateral elbow dysplasia, the lameness may seem intermittent or shift from one front leg to the other. When both front legs hurt, dogs do not limp constantly . Rather, they shift weight off their elbows by altering their gait and stance. On examination, manipulation of the elbow is often resisted. The swelling may be worse after exercise.