HIP DYSPLASIA IN DOGS

Hip dysplasia in dogs is a developmental problems that occur when the canine hip joint doesn’t form correctly. Typically, the femoral head fits into the hip socket smoothly and stably. But instead, in dogs with hip dysplasia, the femoral head and acetabulum do not fit together properly, resulting in joint laxity and abnormal movement within the hip joint. This slippage creates excessive wear and tear on the joint, which results in inflammation and permanent damage to the joint.

Developmentally, it’s a very common orthopedic problem; however, larger and giant breed dogs are most likely to experience hip dysplasia. Genetics does play a significant role in whether your dog develops this condition, but other factors, such as diet, rapid growth rates, and high amounts of exercise, can affect how bad the condition is at its worst point. At times, hip dysplasia will progress into arthritis, resulting in a lifelong source of chronic pain and decreased mobility.

Causes

The primary cause of hip dysplasia is hereditary. It means that if either of your parents has hip dysplasia, then you have a higher chance of developing it as well. However, it isn’t the result of just one gene, but multiple genes working together. Other environmental influences may make the condition worse or faster,

including:

• Fast growth rates in puppies
• Eating too many calories and gaining weight quickly
• Improper nutrition during growth
• Certain types of exercise that involve jumping or landing hard on the joints
• Obesity, because it puts increased pressure on the joints

Symptoms

Sometimes the symptoms of hip dysplasia are apparent while your dog is still young. And sometimes it won’t show up until your dog gets older. There are some cases in which the signs don’t even become apparent until the arthritis has developed.

The typical symptoms of hip dysplasia include:

• Trouble getting up from being seated or lying down
• Won’t run, jump, or climb stairs
• Bunny hopping gait when running
• Painful stiffness, usually occurring after rest or physical activity
• A decrease in activity level
• Hind limb lameness
• Muscle loss in the hind limbs

Depending on how far along the disease process is in your dog, he/she may exhibit mild discomfort when first starting to show symptoms. Over time, the dog’s discomfort will increase as more damage is done to his/her joint.

Risks

As previously stated, hip dysplasia is a progressive condition. If untreated/unmanaged, hip dysplasia will generally continue to deteriorate over time. The primary risk associated with hip dysplasia is the potential development of osteoarthritis, which produces chronic pain and diminished mobility. Other risks

include:

• Damage to the joint from continued instability
• Muscle wastage due to lack of activity
• Weight gain due to reduced activity levels
• Long-term pain from the degenerative changes in the joint
• Additional injuries caused by unusual gait patterns.

Diagnosis

A veterinarian identifies hip dysplasia by conducting an evaluation consisting of both physical examination and diagnostic imaging.

The veterinarian performs a physical examination to look at signs of pain, loss of range of motion, and joint laxity in the hips and evaluates the gait of the dog to see if there has been any abnormality in how the dog moves.

X-rays are the best diagnostic tool. X-rays allow the veterinarian to confirm that the joints have become loose, provide information on the structure of the bones, and can identify arthritic changes within the joints.

For certain types of diagnostic imaging exams, sedation will be used so the veterinarian can take X-ray images when the dog’s body parts are in the correct position.

Treatment

Treatment will depend upon the degree of illness and the overall health of the dog. Most importantly, treatment can help relieve pain, increase movement, and possibly slow down the development of the disease.

Medical Management

Treatment for mild to moderate conditions generally includes non surgical methods such as:

• Pain relief and anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Various forms of joint supplements (glucosamine, chondroitin, omega-3 fatty acids)
• Weight loss in overweight dogs to reduce stress on the joints
• Exercise that is controlled and has minimal impact (walking or swimming).

Physical Therapy

A rehabilitation program to strengthen muscles and restore a greater level of joint function is also beneficial. Various treatments may be utilized in this area, including hydrotherapy and stretching programs, along with physiotherapist supervised programs.

Surgical Options

Severe conditions are sometimes treated by surgically reconstructing the joint. In some cases, a total hip replacement is needed based on the age and condition of the dog.
Surgical options may include procedures such as total hip replacement or femoral head ostectomy (FHO) depending on the dogs age, size, severity of disease, and overall health.

Prevention

Although hip dysplasia is largely influenced by genetics, the level of severity may be able to be diminished through proper management as a puppy grows.

Preventive measures include;

• Puppies should eat an appropriate large breed puppy food
• The puppy should be fed so that he/she does not grow too fast or become overweight
• Rapidly growing puppies should limit their high-impact activities (i.e., jumping, running)
• The adult dog should maintain a healthy weight throughout his/her life
• Responsible breeding practices where parents have been tested for hip dysplasia are essential

The manner in which a puppy is managed early in its development will greatly influence the extent of potential long term joint issues.