Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Hip dysplasia is a condition that occurs during the growth process. Although any breed and size dog can be affected, it is most commonly seen in the larger dog breeds.

Signs & Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia

Generally dogs with some degree of hip dysplasia will show the following symptoms:

Limping
Weakness in hind legs
Trouble getting up and down

It is important to note that dogs with severe to mild hip dysplasia may have the same degree of symptoms. Just because your dog is in pain, it does not mean he or she has severe dysplasia. Your veterinarian will be able to determine the degree once a radiograph has been taken.

Causes of Hip Dysplasia

The two leading causes of hip dysplasia are diet and genetics. Genetics means that there are some hereditary factors, although the exact genes have not been identified yet. Nutritional research has shown that there is a direct link between early age diet and the occurrence of hip dysplasia. It is recommended that large breed puppies are fed a specially formulated large breed diet.

During the growth process, the ball and joint of the hip has to grow in proportion to each other. That is, they need to grow at the same rate. When this growth rate is not the same, hip dysplasia occurs. When the ball of the hip and the head of the femur do not develop properly, they won’t fit into the socket correctly. This causes a laxity in the joint; they are not working as one, and this will cause degenerative joint disease and arthritis. The body begins to develop scar tissue around the area trying to “fill it up,” so the joint will swing. This causes lameness and pain.

Diagnosis of Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia affects the bones; therefore radiographs are the main diagnostic tool used for this disease. Your veterinarian may want to sedate your dog in order to take x-rays, because this will involve laying your dog on his/her back and pulling the hind legs down and rotating them inward. This procedure may be painful, therefore sedation is usually recommended.

Treatment for Hip Dysplasia

The treatment plan will depend on the severity of the diagnosis.

Mild Hip Dysplasia:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are generally prescribed for the pain and inflammation.
Glucosamine-chondroitin is given daily to help repair some joint damage and reduce pain with moving.
Regular follow-up radiographs will be taken to monitor severity of disease.

Medium-Severe Hip Dysplasia:

In addition to the above, surgery is often suggested for these cases. Your veterinarian will discuss with you which surgery will be most beneficial for your dog.

Total hip replacement
FHO (femoral head ostectomy)

Prevention of Hip Dysplasia

There is no prevention for hip dysplasia. If your dog has this disease, it is strongly recommended that you DO NOT breed them.
Large breed puppies should be fed a large breed diet for the first year of life
When getting a large breed puppy, it is recommended that you request to see the certified x-rays of the parent’s hips. Your veterinarian can review these and will be able to determine the risk your new puppy might have for developing hip dysplasia.