The 411 on Canine Hip Dysplasia

Ensuring your dog is not only happy, but also healthy can be challenging, especially since they are not able to vocalize how they feel physically or emotionally. You should learn to understand the signs that your dog is in distress to help with early diagnosis and efficient treatment.

Hip dysplasia is one of the most common skeletal disorder in dogs, but you may not realize your dog is suffering from this painful, immobilizing condition unless you know the signs. With this guide and your veterin arian's assistance , you can better understand your dog's hip dysplasia.

To understand hip dysplasia and how it occurs, you need to understand your dog's hip joint. This joint includes two main components: the ball and the socket. If the joint does not form properly, the ball and socket will not fit together, reducing the hip joint's ability to function in an easy, pain-free manner.

Hip dysplasia is the malformation of the hip joint. This malformation may be present at birth or it may occur over time if your dog has osteoarthritis.

Certain breeds have a higher risk of developing hip dysplasia. For example, larger breeds, such as German Shepherds, are known to develop the disorder. Also, if your dog is overweight, they have a higher risk of developing arthritis, which can lead to hip dysplasia in the future.

Each dog is different, so your dog may show different signs than another dog with the same disorder. However, most dogs with hip dysplasia will experience issues with mobility.

Your dog may want to rest more and play less, so they will be less likely to run and jump. You may notice your dog is struggling to walk up and down the stairs or jump on furniture that they normally enjoyed jumping on.

Another common sign of hip dysplasia is a difficulty to rise. Your dog may struggle to stand up from a position where they were lying down. This difficulty occurs because their hip (and other joints) are stiff after sleeping/resting.

When your dog does move, a bunny hopping motion could indicate they have hip dysplasia. This hopping motion is your dog's attempt at dividing the stress and pain from both hip joints, helping them move with a little less pain and difficulty.

Finally, dogs with hip dysplasia may experience lameness in the back/hind legs. Lameness is most common in more severe cases of hip dysplasia where the ball/socket of the hip joint have worn down to the point where motion is too difficult.

If your dog is showing signs of hip dysplasia, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. A simple x-ray can determine if your dog's discomfort and immobility stems from the hip joint and what treatment would be best.

It is important to note that there is no cure for hip dysplasia, but you can ease your dog's discomfort and help them move easier with different management techniques. Surgery may be an option if your dog's hip dysplasia pain is severe. Replacing the worn hip joint with artificial components may be an invasive procedure, but it can be effective for restoring your dog's mobility.

Physical therapy involving low-impact exercises is also helpful for your dog's hip dysplasia. The exercises can increase blood circulation through the joints and strengthen the muscles and ligaments to help your dog move without stiffness and pain.

Your dog's veterinarian may also prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which ease inflammation, stiffness, and pain, helping your dog move without difficulty and discomfort.

If you believe your dog is suffering from hip dysplasia, help is available. Contact Pet Medical Center of Vero Beach for assistance today.