Canine hip dysplasia is a debilitating disease that can affect all dogs. However, it is most common in larger breeds of dogs because of the fact that they weigh more than smaller breeds.
Hip dysplasia is an inherited disease that is the result of an abnormal looseness between the ball, which is also known as the femoral head, and the socket of the pelvis, which is also known as the acetabulum. The looseness allows the two body components to rattle around, eventually leading to a deforming of the bone.
Think of your dog’s hip joint as being similar to a ball joint in an automobile. The bone of thigh has a ball that fits into the socket formed by the pelvis. When normal, this allows for a big range of motion. When abnormal, the ball is not held firmly within the socket because the strong ligaments and layers of cartilage are not able to do their job. A dog whose femoral head does not fit tightly within the hip socket is known as dysplastic.
When the ligaments and cartilage fail to do the job, the dog’s ball and socket become irritated due to the grinding of the two when the dog walks. As a result, the bone dissolves and recedes causing arthritis to form in the hips.
Hip dysplasia usually occurs in the offspring when one or both parents have the disease. Hip dysplasia can skip generations, making it harder to diagnose the problem at a young age. The disease can affect littermates in different ways.
Hip dysplasia can show up in puppies as young as five months old. However, symptoms generally appear in the middle or later years of a dog’s life. The unfortunate part of hip dysplasia is that it may be almost impossible to successfully treat the disease when it becomes apparent in the later years of a dog’s life.
Puppies can be checked for signs of hip dysplasia. Veterinarians can x-ray them to check for dysplastic tendencies. A reputable and responsible breeder always has the mother and stud’s hips x-rayed prior to breeding.
Hip dysplasia symptoms are very similar to those of arthritis in the hip. A dog’s walk can be affected. Dogs may resist fully extending their rear legs if they are suffering from hip dysplasia. They may walk in a manner that seems stiff and have trouble climbing steps. This is especially apparent after exercise or first thing in the morning.
Symptoms can become so bad that the dog will be unwilling to play or exercise. You may have to help them get up off of the floor. Unfortunately, many dogs have to be euthanized because of the pain caused by the arthritis that forms as a result of hip dysplasia.
Experts are still researching hip dysplasia, but it is believed that nutrition has a lot to do with dogs showing symptoms of the disease. Obesity can increase the severity of the disease and the resulting osteoarthritis.
It is also thought that rapid growth in puppies between the ages of three and ten months is an attributing factor.
Depending on the severity of the disease and the age of the dog, there are several costly surgical procedures that can be done. Some inexpensive solutions include proper diet and exercise. Make sure the dog has a warm, comfortable place to sleep.
Canines that are suffering from the resulting osteoarthritis can benefit from taking oral doses of glucosamine and chondroitin, both of which are available in health food and drug stores. You should consult your dog’s veterinarian for the appropriate dosage.
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