Hip Dysplasia
Most of us have heard of Hip Dysplasia, but do you know what it is and if your dog is at risk?
To understand hip dysplasia, we need to know what the hip joint looks likes. The hip is a “ball and socket joint” where the top of the femur (thigh bone) has what is called the femoral head which is shaped like a ball – the “ball” part of the ball and socket joint.
In healthy hips the femoral head sits nice and snug in the hip socket with healthy cartilage and synovial fluid providing cushioning and helping the femoral head glide in movement.
Hip dysplasia is the abnormal development or growth of the hip joint. It is caused by looseness of the surrounding tissues, instability, malformation of the ball and socket joint and osteoarthritis. This abnormal development causes the ball and socket not to fit together properly and they rub and grind instead of gliding smoothly. This rubbing and grinding causes deterioration over time and eventually a loss of function of the joint itself.
Hip dysplasia is most common in large breeds such as:
Great Dane
Saint Bernard
German Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Alaskan Malamute
However, it can occur in any size dog.
Some smaller breeds are also quite susceptible:
Pug
French bulldogs
Basset Hounds
Several factors lead to the development of hip dysplasia in dogs, such as:
Excessive growth rate.
Some types of exercise.
Too much or even too little exercise.
Improper weight and nutrition, especially as a puppy.
Obesity later in life.
Being overweight or obese puts a lot of stress on your dog’s joints and can exacerbate pre-existing conditions such as hip dysplasia and in some cases may even cause hip dysplasia.
There is usually no way to prevent hip dysplasia but one of the best thing you can do (if you are buying from a breeder) is take time and research the breed you're interested in and then do even more research into the breeder you're looking at getting your puppy from and know what the hip scores of the parents and grandparents are;
Every case of hip dysplasia must be assessed and treated individually, and options of invasive or conservative treatments discussed.
Conservative treatments may include:
Dieting if the dog is overweight.
Avoiding strenuous exercise.
Hydrotherapy.
Pain relief medications.
Bowen therapy, or other body work therapy.
Red light therapy.
Joint supplements such as glucosamine.
A combination of these and working with your vet and pet health professionals have all shown to be helpful in managing hip dysplasia.
Advanced hip dysplasia, especially in a young dog, may require more invasive treatments such as surgery to correct the way the bones of the hip sit with each other.
The symptoms of hip dysplasia are similar to arthritis, and it is important to get a diagnosis as soon as possible for the best possible outcome.
Common symptoms to watch out for are:
Decrease in their activity.
Decrease in their range of motion in their hind leg or legs.
Difficulty or reluctance to run, jump, climb stairs, or get up from a lying position.
Lameness or weakness in their hind end
Shrinking (atrophy) of the hind leg muscles.
Swaying or “bunny hopping” gait.
Pain when touched in the hip or pelvis area.
Stiffness
Noticeable enlargement of the shoulder muscles from shifting their weight forward to compensate for the pain in their hind quarters.
Behavioural changes, they may sleep more or become aggressive if they think you are going to touch them in a painful spot.
A grating or clicking sound in the joint during movement.