Hip dysplasia in dogs: possible causes and treatment
Hip dysplasia is a joint disease common in dogs. The chronic disease is associated with progressive restriction of mobility and is very painful for affected animals.
Certain breeds of dog are particularly affected by hip dysplasia due to their genetic predisposition. In the following, we will explain which these are and how hip dysplasia (HD) affects your dog. You will also find out how hip joint dysplasia is treated and what you can do to support your dog's joint health.
What is canine hip dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is a chronic joint disease that can occur in all dogs. However, medium-sized and large breeds are affected much more frequently. If a dog suffers from HD, the wear and tear on its hip joints exceeds the normal level of wear and tear that occurs with age.
This is caused by malformations of the joint head and socket. The articular head is the end of the femur that sits in the acetabulum of the pelvic bone. In a healthy hip joint, the acetabulum and the head of the joint fit together perfectly, ensuring both sufficient stability and adequate mobility.
However, this is not the case in a dog with hip dysplasia, so the joint does not function normally. The disease is classified into different degrees of severity from A to E, depending on its severity. A means that there is no malformation and the joints are healthy, while E means that the affected dog has severe hip dysplasia.
What causes hip dysplasia in dogs?
Hip dysplasia in dogs is considered a highly genetic problem. Accordingly, animals whose parents are already affected by HD are particularly susceptible.
However, dietary errors, poor housing conditions and frequent overloading of the musculoskeletal system also play a major role in the severity and course of hip dysplasia in dogs.
Which dogs are particularly often affected by hip dysplasia?
Although in principle every dog can suffer from HD, there are sometimes very big differences depending on the breed. While hip dysplasia in some breeds of dog can occur in more than half of all animals, others are hardly affected by the joint disease at all.
The German Shepherd Dog is one of those in which a particularly high risk of HD is known. This is mainly because it was the first breed to be diagnosed with hip dysplasia. This is because other dogs of medium to large size are often also predisposed to hip dysplasia.
In addition to the German Shepherd, the following dogs, among others, are considered to be susceptible to hip dysplasia:
- Rottweiler
- Golden Retriever
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Labrador
- Saint Bernard
- German boxer
How to recognise hip dysplasia in dogs?
The symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs vary depending on the severity and progress of the disease. Initially, you may only notice signs of joint pain in your dog after long walks or a strenuous training session.
However, if the wear and tear on the hip joints continues, it is only a matter of time before your dog's symptoms become more frequent and his quality of life increasingly impaired.
Possible symptoms that may indicate hip dysplasia in dogs include
- A swaying or stiff gait
- A wobbly backside when walking
- Difficulty getting up and lying down
- Tightening the hind legs
- Occasional lameness
- Increasing unwillingness to move
- Occasional sounds of pain when romping around
How is hip dysplasia diagnosed in dogs?
If you notice possible symptoms of hip dysplasia in your dog, we recommend that you make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. The sooner the joint problems are treated, the greater the chance that their progression will be slowed and the quality of life of your HD dog will be largely maintained.
The veterinarian will take x-rays of the hip joints for his diagnosis. The x-rays will allow the vet to check the condition of the joints to determine if your dog does have hip dysplasia and the severity of the condition.
How is hip dysplasia in dogs treated?
There are various options available for treating the dog's hip dysplasia. A basic distinction is made between conservative and surgical treatment measures.
Which method is the right one depends, among other things, on the severity of the hip dysplasia and the age of the dog. The exact procedure for treatment is therefore determined in each individual case.
Conservative treatment of HD in dogs
The main aim of conservative therapy is to relieve the dog's damaged joints and slow down the progression of hip dysplasia. In this context, one of the aims is to reduce excessive physical strain. If your dog is overweight, a diet is also advisable.
If necessary, the vet will also prescribe your dog pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory medication to counteract the symptoms of hip dysplasia.
Apart from this, regular physiotherapy for dogs with HD can help maintain joint mobility and strengthen the muscles around the hips.
Surgical treatment of HD in dogs
In the case of severe hip dysplasia, in many cases, only surgical intervention can help. There are various methods available for this, from which the veterinarian can choose in every individual case.
One of these is, for example, pelvic osteotomy, in which the pelvic bone is cut through and the position of the acetabulum is changed so that the head of the femur fits in better.
Alternatively, an artificial hip joint can be implanted in the dog. In this procedure, both the acetabulum and the head of the joint are replaced with matching prostheses.
Is hip dysplasia in dogs curable?
Although hip dysplasia is very common in dogs, it is not yet possible to cure the joint disease. Therapeutic measures, therefore, focus primarily on alleviating the complaints of affected quadrupeds and preventing further wear and tear of the joints, or slowing it down as much as possible.
How can hip dysplasia in dogs be prevented?
As HD is primarily a genetic problem, the options available to you for prevention are limited. However, there are a number of things you can do to delay the onset of the disease and reduce the later incidence of HD in your dog.
Important factors in this context include feeding your dog a high-quality dog food that meets his needs and avoiding obesity. If your dog is too fat, a diet is advisable not only concerning hip dysplasia. With a reduced amount of food and our diet powder Shiimun Slim, the weight of your quadruped can be reliably controlled. You should also take care not to overburden your dog.
Particularly in puppies whose joints are not yet properly developed, unsuitable physical activity often results in severe and permanent damage to the musculoskeletal system.
Food supplements for your dog's joints
In addition to medication and regular physiotherapy, some dog owners also use special dietary supplements for dogs. These contain various substances, such as hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and collagen, which are naturally present in the synovial fluid and joint cartilage.
It goes without saying that such preparations cannot replace treatment by a veterinarian. However, their use may be useful to support the treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs.
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