What is hip dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is a genetic disease predominantly seen in large mixed-breed and purebred dogs such as German Shepherds Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and Bulldogs.
The hip joint is made of a ball and socket. As puppies grow, both parts of the hip joint should grow at equal rates, so that the ball always fits snuggly and securely in the socket. With hip dysplasia, uniform growth doesn't occur, and the hip joint becomes abnormally shaped. In dogs with hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis develops at a young age causing pain and mobility issues.
Signs of hip dysplasia
While puppies as young as three months old can exhibit signs, these may not be obvious until later in life. It can take years for joint degeneration and osteoarthritis to develop. Common symptoms include:
Your veterinarian will confirm a diagnosis of hip dysplasia through a combination of x-rays, clinical signs (above) and joint instability tests. These same diagnostics can be used to screen breeding dogs to make sure they don’t pass hip dysplasia to their puppies.
Treatment
Treatment options depend on the amount of discomfort your pet is experiencing and the severity of the condition. Physical therapy, supplements, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, exercise restriction or surgery (e.g., total hip replacement and femoral head ostectomy) are possible treatment options. Your veterinarian will make recommendations based on your pet’s age, condition and lifestyle.
Feeding tips for young pets
Hip dysplasia is also affected by diet, environment, exercise, growth rate, hormones and muscle mass. Large breed puppies should be kept at a lean weight during their growth. Avoid overfeeding or encouraging them to grow quickly. Evidence has shown that large breed puppies who are fed freely develop hip dysplasia at twice the rate of large breed puppies who are fed measured meals.
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