Hip dysplasia is a common condition in dogs, particularly affecting medium to large breeds. It's a genetic condition that can lead to discomfort and mobility issues.

There are several stages of hip dysplasia, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. While there is no cure for hip dysplasia in dogs, early diagnosis and treatment options can help manage the symptoms.

If your dog is diagnosed with canine hip dysplasia, lifestyle changes, medications, and surgical interventions can significantly improve their quality of life, helping them to lead a happy and comfortable life despite the condition.

What is Hip Dysplasia in Dogs?

Dysplasia means the abnormal formation or development of a joint. In the case of hip dysplasia, this means that the hip joint hasn't formed correctly. The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint.

Hip dysplasia usually occurs when the acetabulum (the socket) is too shallow, allowing excessive movement of the femoral head (the ball) within the socket. This increased movement within the joint leads to inflammation within the joint and the smooth, protective layer of cartilage that lines the joint to be worn away, leading to bone grating on bone. This causes inflammation of the bone and pain. In later stages, new bone can form in response to this inflammation.

Signs of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

So, what does hip dysplasia in dogs look like? The early signs of hip dysplasia in dogs are often related to pain. Dogs affected by hip dysplasia may show some or all of the signs below:

• Lameness: Lameness can be seen in the back legs.
• Stiffness: Affected dogs may seem stiff, especially when getting up or after periods of rest.
• Altered gait: When walking, the back legs may sway, appear weak, or develop a bunny-hopping style.
• Exercise levels: Affected dogs may seem less enthusiastic about exercising or engaging in less activity during walks. They may not want to run or play with a ball.
• Limping: This condition can be observed in one leg or both legs.
• Loss of muscle mass: This can be seen on the back legs, affecting one or both legs.
• Changes in behaviour: They may appear subdued, quiet and unwilling to interact as much.

The symptoms of hip dysplasia are commonly seen in young, growing, medium to large breed dogs in the first year of life or in older, medium to large breed dogs.

What Causes Hip Dysplasia in Dogs?

A common question vets are asked is, "Is hip dysplasia genetic in dogs?" Hip dysplasia is indeed a genetic condition that's inherited from the parents.

However, dysplasia in dogs' hips is heavily influenced by other environmental factors such as weight, feeding, speed of growth, other abnormalities or disorders that may also be present, and, in some cases, trauma.

So, it's important to recognise these contributing factors to ensure your pet maintains a happy and healthy life.

How to Treat Hip Dysplasia in Dogs?

Treatment depends upon the stage of dysplasia of the affected dog's hips and the symptoms your pet is experiencing.

The first step is to have your dog screened for hip dysplasia by your vet, followed by X-rays of the hips to determine the best course of action.

It's worth noting that the changes visible on X-rays don't always reflect the discomfort levels of your dog. So, both an examination and X-rays are required. In some cases, lifestyle changes and medicine for hip dysplasia are all that are required.

Surgical Treatment Options

Some younger patients may require surgery to realign the ball and socket of the hip joint. A common procedure for this is a triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO).

Alternatively, some dogs may be candidates for the new, experimental treatment of juvenile pubic symphysiodesis (JPS), which aims to improve the coverage of the hip joint's ball by the socket.

In older dogs, extensive arthritic changes may be associated with the hip joint, and sometimes total hip replacements (THRs) are required to bring comfort and improve quality of life.

Treatment of End Stage Hip Dysplasia

In extreme cases of end stage hip dysplasia in dogs, a surgical procedure called femoral head excision is required to stop the pain. This involves removing the ball of the hip joint. This is classed as a 'salvage procedure', where other attempts to control the pain have failed.

All orthopaedic surgery is expensive, so it's important to discuss costs with your veterinary surgeon early on, so that they can advise you on all the options within your budget.

Natural Treatments for Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

In most cases, dogs can benefit from complementary forms of treatment in addition to medication and/or surgery.

Physical therapy and hydrotherapy can help maintain optimal muscle mass while utilising a form of exercise that aids weight loss and reduces pressure on the joints, thereby reducing pain. A strict exercise regime and managed diet will likely be needed.

Joint supplements have also been shown to be beneficial in managing hip dysplasia, and they can be used safely over the long term if recommended by your vet.

Can Hip Dysplasia in Dogs Be Prevented?

Because hip dysplasia is a congenital disease, several schemes are available to check the hips before breeding. When looking for a puppy, it's wise to use breeders who have had their dogs' hips scored and achieved a good score to reduce the risk of hip dysplasia in their offspring.

Recognising the impact of environmental factors on the progression of hip dysplasia in dogs is important in managing this condition. Giant, medium and large breed dogs should be monitored closely as they're more prone to developing hip dysplasia.

Can Dogs with Hip Dysplasia Still Go On Walks?

To ensure muscle mass development doesn't happen too rapidly. It's important that young, large breed dogs are not exercised excessively.

Exercise should be limited in duration and ideally on-lead until your dog reaches skeletal maturity (stops growing). This usually occurs within the first 24 months of life. However, there's significant variation between breeds, so it is best to discuss this with your vet.

Best Diet to Help or Avoid Canine Hip Dysplasia

Your vet can also advise you about the best diet to feed your dog. It's essential to ensure that age-appropriate food is fed to your dog to achieve the correct calcium-to-phosphorus balance and optimal protein levels. This ensures that weight gain and the development of muscle mass occur in an optimal way.

If weight gain and muscle mass are developed too quickly, it results in a mismatch of skeletal and soft tissue growth.

When caring for older dogs, you should have their weight closely monitored to prevent them from becoming overweight. Their exercise will also need to be adjusted to meet their specific requirements. Your vet will be able to advise further on this.

Keep an Eye On Your Pup to Spot the Signs of Canine Hip Dysplasia

There are many other causes of lameness, so it's essential that if your pet is showing any signs of pain, they undergo a thorough examination by your vet. Your vet is the best person to advise you as to measures you can take to reduce the likelihood of hip dysplasia problems in your dog.

Although hip dysplasia in dogs is an inherited condition, many measures can be put in place to reduce the severity of the disease and support your pet. Dogs with hip dysplasia should be identified early so that prompt medical or surgical management can be initiated as soon as possible, and lifestyle management changes can be implemented from an early age. With the correct management, support and early, appropriate intervention, dogs with hip dysplasia can often enjoy a long and comfortable life. 

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis – www.vetlexicon.com/canis

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