If you’ve read through my dog breed information, you’ll notice that almost every breed of dog is vulnerable to the hereditary bone condition called hip dysplasia. In short, hip dysplasia means that a dog’s thigh bone (aka femur) doesn’t fit into the pelvis the way it should. The result is painful, because moving the affected leg can cause bone-on-bone contact. It can also lead to breaks and osteoarthritis.
In this article, I’m going to talk about the causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs.
What causes hip dysplasia in dogs?
The main cause is heredity and genetics – a parent dog with hip dysplasia is likely to pass it on. Certain breeds also have a much higher chance of being born with this hip deformity. Larger dog breeds such as German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers are much more prone than smaller dogs, and, because of their weight, a large dog with hip dysplasia will be much more bothered by it than a small dog with hip dysplasia.
However, genetics aren’t the only cause of hip dysplasia in dogs. Rapid weight gain, and obesity, also seem to put a dog at risk for developing deformed hip joints.
Lastly, young puppies, as we all know, are made of rubber. Ok, not really – but their bones are much more likely to be deformed at a young age, so high-impact exercise, agility training, and trauma presents a risk for developing bone deformations such as hip dysplasia.
What are the symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs?
The main sign of hip dysplasia in dogs is either a swaying walk, because the dog has learned a strange way to move his leg that doesn’t hurt; or “bunny hopping.” A dog with hip dysplasia will avoid pain, reluctant to climb stairs, jump, stand on his back legs (like begging for treats) or do much exercise.
You may start to see the symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs after only four months of age, but this isn’t always the case. Sometimes either the deformity, or the symptoms, won’t arise until adulthood or old age. This is because the dog may have learned how to avoid pain in the affected leg, but after time a secondary problem like osteoarthritis will strike, where there’s no way to avoid the pain.
If your veterinarian thinks your dog has dysplasia in the hip, she’ll observe the dog’s walk, feel the hip move through its range of motion. If there’s a concern after that, then she’ll order an x-ray to confirm dysplasia. An alternative to the x-ray is to listen for a “clunk” noise (called the Ortolani Sign) when the leg is moved, but x-rays are much more informative, because your vet can also use it to detect arthritis.
How do you treat hip dysplasia in dogs?
The treatment for hip dysplasia depends on many factors, such as the dog’s physical condition and how severe the pain is, whether the dog is also developing arthritis in that joint, and what you and your family can afford.
If hip dysplasia isn’t affecting your dog’s gait and isn’t causing much pain, and if the puppy isn’t very young, many families just wait, which is fine. Young puppies, even without painful symptoms, are good candidates for a surgery to alter the hip joint so that it grows more normally, preventing pain in the future and reducing the risk of arthritis.
Once your dog’s hip dysplasia starts causing painful symptoms, medication is usually the first step. Obesity will increase the pain, so bringing the weight down to a healthy level is very important. This means both choosing the right dog food, and avoiding over-feeding, especially since exercise will be limited by the pain. Swimming is one exercise that is recommended for hip dysplasia in dogs, because it’s zero-impact. Physical therapy may be recommended by your vet. Acupuncture is another common choice for low-cost pain relief.
If all the above fail to reduce your dog’s hip dysplasia pain, then surgery may be called-for. The surgery options range from disconnecting the nerve that sends pain signals to your dog’s brain, to replacing the dog’s hip altogether. Snipping the nerve is less expensive, but obviously won’t prevent complications later; hip reconstruction is very expensive, but it’s the only complete solution.
Another option is to remove the head of the femur, which is a better option for small dogs than large ones. Without the femoral head, many large dogs have a lot of trouble walking. However, in severe cases of hip dysplasia in dogs, an osteotomy leaves the dog more-able than he was before the surgery.
How can hip dysplasia be prevented in dogs?
The main answer to preventing hip dysplasia is to only breed dogs who not only have good hips themselves, but whose siblings are also free of the disease. Keep in mind that hip dysplasia is not passed-on with 100% regularity, so if the deformity exists anywhere in the family tree, then there’s a risk.
For you, the dog buyer, this means that the main way to prevent owning a dog with hip dysplasia is to choose a puppy from a breeder who can prove they’ve tracked the hip health of all their stock.
Beyond the question of breeding, you can prevent hip dysplasia in your dogs by avoiding or reversing obesity, and waiting until they’re several months old before getting them involved in rigorous exercise. Certain breeds of dogs can be given puppy food that is specifically formulated for that breed, giving the right balance of nutrients so that you can raise your puppy lean and never fear malnourishment.
Conclusions about Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
Once hip dysplasia takes hold of your dog, it’s important to reduce the pain as soon as possible. Left in pain, some dogs will learn to avoid any activity out of fear of pain. On the flip side, a good vet and a good owner can keep your dog free of the pain and long-term effects of hip dysplasia, using treatment and love.
Learn how to train dogs, or read about other dog healthcare issues.