Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a major problem in the large breeds of dogs.

In dysplastic dogs, the “ball and socket” of the hip joint fit poorly together, causing abnormal movement of the involved legs resulting in pain.

It is the result of birth defects and growing deformities of the pelvis and hip joints.

It is an inherited disorder, although nutritional factors may play a role in the development of hip dysplasia in your dog as well.

Symptoms Of Hip Dysplasia:

Early signs of hip dysplasia include:

• lameness in one or both of the rear legs,
• reluctance or difficulty in getting up after lying down,
• reluctance to run and/or jump,
• and sometimes a swaying appearance to the rear legs when viewed from behind.

Signs vary considerably.

Your dog may show no signs, even though severe hip lesions are present, or may be totally crippled and disabled by the condition.

Signs usually are not detected in the newborn puppy, but often appear during the period of rapid growth between 6 months and 18 months of age.

Signs may also be present in more elderly dogs, as degenerative changes in the joint start to cause pain.

Diagnosis Of Hip Dysplasia:

This is done by thorough physical examination of your dog, focusing on the hip joints and hind legs, and radiographic (x-ray) examination.

Sedation is frequently necessary to restrain your dog for proper radiographic film exposure.

A dog cannot be confirmed “free” of dysplasia until two years of age, due to the changes that may occur in the pelvis during any stage of the growth process.

Unfortunately, there is no way to predict how hip dysplasia will develop in each individual or how severe the signs will be.

Since the disease is hereditary, affected dogs should not be used for breeding.

We recommend radiographs (x-rays) of both male and female dogs used for breeding within the breeds predisposed to this condition (i.e. large breed dogs such as German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, etc).

A certification program is available through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). Dogs must be at least 2 years of age for radiographs (x-rays) to be considered for evaluation by the OFA.

The PennHip technique is another method which can be used to evaluate the laxity in your dog's hip joints and thereby predict the possibility of hip dysplasia. Puppies as young as 16 weeks can be evaluated with this method.

Your veterinarian will be able to advise you on which testing method is most accurate and practical for your situation.

Treatment of Hip Dysplasia:

Treatment may be medical or surgical.

• Medical approaches to treatment generally involve relieving pain and improving joint health. Your dog's veterinarian will advise you which medications are most appropriate to relieve the discomfort your dog is feeling.
  • Commonly used medications include the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as Rimadyl, Etogesic, Deramaxx, and others.
  • Another commonly recommended medication to ease the pain of hip dysplasia are the nutriceutical medications containing glucosamine and/or chondroitin.  These medications act to improve joint health by stimulating lubrication within the joint.
• Maintenance of the proper weight is important in managing hip dysplasia as well. Overweight dogs tend to be more painful than those maintained at an ideal body weight.
• Proper diets are necessary to ensure adequate bone development for puppies.
• Adequate exercise can also help combat the appearance of hip dysplasia in growing puppies. In mature dogs, moderate exercise can help defer symptoms of hip dysplasia and help maintain the proper weight.
• Surgical procedures available vary depending on the situation.
  • Surgical options range from:
    • total hip replacements, in which an artificial hip is transplanted into your dog's hip joint, to
    • surgical removal of the "ball" part of the "ball and socket" hip joint (femoral head and neck ostectomy), allowing a "false" joint to form.
  • Another surgery offered for hip dysplasia is the DARthoplasty, in which the hip joint is actually rebuilt using bone grafts to make the joint socket deeper.
  • Other surgical procedures include:
    • the triple pelvic osteotomy, which is generally reserved for young dogs with evidence of dysplasia but no degenerative changes and
    • the juvenile pubic symphysiodesis, which is done as a preventive measure on puppies even before hip dysplasia can be accurately diagnosed.
  • Your dog's veterinarian will advise which surgery, if any, is indicated for your dog, based on your dog's symptoms, severity, age, and physical condition.

At the present time, there is no known cure for hip dysplasia!