What Is Canine Hip Dysplasia?<\/strong><\/p>\n Canine hip dysplasia is a painful disease that affects millions of dogs each year. It is an inherited developmental disorder of the hip joint and can lead to debilitating arthritis. Its progression can be influenced by environmental factors, such as weight gain, nutrition, and exercise. Certain breeds, especially larger ones, are particularly prone to hip dysplasia, but the disease can affect dogs of any size, breed or\u00a0age.<\/p>\n Just as in humans, the hip joint in dogs is a \u201cball and socket\u201d joint. In healthy dogs, the ball and socket fit together tightly. With\u00a0dogs suffering from hip dysplasia, the joint is \u201cloose,\u201d and the ball part of the joint may even rotate partially out of its socket. In time, this looseness causes wear and tear on the joint cartilage, leading to osteoarthritis.<\/p>\n Canine hip dysplasia is an inherited problem, meaning that certain breeds or families of dogs may be prone to it. For this reason, when purchasing or adopting a puppy, especially if it is a breed that is known to be predisposed to hip dysplasia, make sure the parents (if known) do not have hip problems and that the puppy has been screened by a veterinarian for any early signs of the disease.<\/p>\n What Are the Signs?<\/strong><\/p>\n The disease is painful and progressive and can affect one or both hips. It can affect very young dogs (many are less than 1 year old), but dogs of any age can be affected.<\/p>\n Breeds that are most commonly affected include:<\/strong><\/p>\n Diagnosis<\/strong><\/p>\n A diagnosis of hip dysplasia is made based on clinical signs, physical examination, and radiographs (x-rays). Two systems have also been developed for screening and\/or diagnosing dogs with hip dysplasia. Responsible breeders use at least one of these systems before including a dog in their breeding program:<\/p>\n Treatment<\/strong><\/p>\n Canine hip dysplasia is a serious, progressive disease, and better outcomes are typically achieved when it is diagnosed as early as possible and management and treatment measures are initiated promptly. Risk factors for the development of hip dysplasia in dogs that are genetically prone to the disease include obesity and overfeeding large-breed puppies during growth phases.<\/p>\n A proper diet that helps maintain an ideal weight, combined with a regular exercise plan, can help slow the progression of hip dysplasia for some dogs. In less severe cases, medical management can also include providing pain medications as needed under veterinary supervision as well as administering oral or injectable joint supplements or medications. \u201cComfort care,\u201d such as keeping dogs out of cold weather and performing massage, therapeutic laser or physical therapy, can also help keep affected dogs comfortable and slow progression of the disease for as long as possible.<\/p>\n In severe cases, surgery may be indicated. Surgical options include total hip replacement surgery, reconstructing the hip joint, or removing the abnormal part of the joint and allowing the surrounding structures to form a \u201cfalse joint\u201d over time.<\/p>\n NOTE:\u00a0Canine hip dysplasia can be an expensive disease to manage and\/or treat. Before purchasing or adopting a puppy, be sure to find out the hip \u201cstatus\u201d of the parents. If that is not possible, be sure to have your puppy\u2019s hips evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dr. Robert Brady What Is Canine Hip Dysplasia? Canine hip dysplasia is a painful disease that affects millions of dogs each year. It is an inherited developmental disorder of the hip joint and can lead to debilitating arthritis. Its progression can be influenced by environmental factors, such as weight gain, nutrition, and exercise. Certain breeds, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[104,219,725],"class_list":["post-814","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pet-health-wellness","tag-canine-hip-dysplasia","tag-dog-health","tag-veterinary-medicine"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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