Home

>

Dog

>

Health & Wellbeing

>

Causes, Symptoms and Prevention of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Causes, Symptoms and Prevention of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

What causes hip dysplasia | Hip dysplasia prevention for dogs | How do I know if my dog has hip dysplasia? | What does hip dysplasia treatment look like? | Conclusions

dog at the vet

Canine hip dysplasia is a diagnosis that can make any dog parent's heart sink. It’s all too common, especially in large breed dogs, and has the potential to reduce your pet’s quality of life.  

What is hip dysplasia? Is there anything that can be done about it? 

Understanding the causes and symptoms of hip dysplasia can be helpful to you as a pet parent because you’ll be able to take important preventive measures early in your dog's life and be prepared to manage it if it does emerge. 

This article will explore the various types and causes of canine hip dysplasia, its symptoms, and what can be done to help treat and prevent it. Knowledge can go a long way toward managing or even preventing hip dysplasia from becoming a problem for your pet. 

What causes hip dysplasia 

A common skeletal condition, canine hip dysplasia—sometimes shortened to CHD—affects dogs of all sizes, but it can be especially prevalent in large and giant breed dogs. While it’s a genetically predisposed condition, hip dysplasia in dogs is also affected by environmental and nutritional factors. If left untreated, it can cause pain and mobility difficulties and greatly reduce your pup’s quality of life. 

Hip dysplasia affects the ball and socket joints that allow your dog’s hind legs to swivel and move in different directions. The ball is the head at the end of the femur, or thighbone. The socket, or acetabulum, is the space within the pelvis that the ball fits into. In normal development, both components grow at equal rates. For puppies with hip dysplasia, however, this equal growth does not occur and the result is a loosely fitting joint.  

The joint can also mature and grow at a different rate than the muscle that surrounds it, which can also affect normal joint development. 

When the ball does not fit properly into the socket of the pelvic bone, they may rub and grind against each other as the body tries to compensate. And when that happens, your puppy may experience a buildup or breakdown of joint cartilage. If left untreated, your pet can develop osteoarthritis (OA) or degenerative joint disease (DJD).  

Factors that can play a role in your dog developing hip dysplasia include:

  • Obesity and overfeeding
  • Early spaying or neutering
  • Injury at a young age, including ligament tears, overextension and broken bones
  • Too much heavy, repetitive motion at a young age (from activities such as jogging with their pet parents)

It's important to remember that hip dysplasia develops from a variety of contributing factors, not one single cause.

If your dog gains too much weight or puts it on too rapidly before their muscles and skeletal system can support it, joints can develop unevenly or muscle can develop in the wrong places. 

Hip dysplasia in puppies most commonly occurs when they are overweight. For large breed puppies, uneven growth commonly starts when they’re overfed. Insufficient exercise and an unbalanced diet can also be contributing factors. This is a big reason why managing your puppy’s diet is so important. Staying lean through the growth stages is important for your puppy’s overall bone and muscle health.  

Hip dysplasia can also be hereditary and occurs most commonly in German Shepherds, Great Danes, Golden Retrievers, Newfoundlands, Rottweilers, Mastiffs, Saint Bernards and Old English Sheepdogs. 

The degree to which hip dysplasia affects health and movement varies from dog to dog. Some show minimal X-ray damage but may experience a more extreme lack of movement and dog hip pain. Other dogs may show significant osteoarthritis in X-rays but not seem limited in their movement or like they’re experiencing pain. 

Listen closely to the advice of your veterinarian and schedule regular appointments for your puppy. Mistakes made in the body’s developmental stage can have major implications later in your dog's life. 

When its hereditary, hip dysplasia can emerge despite preventive intervention, but you can take measures to lessen the likelihood and severity of hip dysplasia affecting your pet. 

Hip dysplasia prevention for dogs 

Preventing hip dysplasia starts when your dog is young. The first step is educating yourself, especially if you have a large or at-risk breed. You should feed your puppy an appropriate diet so their joints, muscles, skeletal system and overall body weight can progress at the same rate. Overfeeding your dog can create too much strain in their growing body. Underfeeding them or not feeding them a balanced diet can deprive them of the nutrients they need to grow strong. 

The best method of prevention is finding the right veterinarian-recommended food for your pet. Work with your vet to choose a large breed puppy food that is specifically formulated to give your dog the right balance of nutrients and calories. It’s also important to avoid feeding your puppy human food, including table scraps. These can all lead to obesity and other health issues for your pet. 

Depending on your dog’s breed and health status, your veterinarian may recommend joint supplements.  If your pup is at risk or shows evidence of hip dysplasia upon veterinary exam, talk to your veterinarian about starting supplements. Supplements work best for prevention, so starting young can pay off in the long run.

Be sure to have a conversation with your veterinarian about hip dysplasia and what you can do to help prevent it. Your vet may recommend X-rays to look for signs that it’s already developing. They can also make recommendations regarding the amount and type of exercise that is best for your pet to help keep them lean and healthy without overworking their joints. 

How do I know if my dog has hip dysplasia? 

One amazing aspect of some dogs is their seeming ability to persevere with simple resolve through any adversity. But this can make it hard to diagnose hip dysplasia when it’s occurring but your dog doesn’t seem to be in pain.  

Signs of hip dysplasia in dogs can begin to appear as early as 4 months of age. Catching it early can help you take measures to mitigate the full effects and talk to your veterinarian about treatment options. 

The most common symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs are weakness or pain in their hind legs. It tends to be most noticeable when they get up. They may be a bit wobbly or struggle to transition from lying down to sitting upright. Your pet may even exhibit a distinctive dog hip dysplasia stance. Another warning sign may be a reluctance to climb stairs or jump into the car. 

Oftentimes these symptoms don’t emerge until later in life, yet the hip dysplasia has set in much earlier. Get regular hip dysplasia checkups or ask your vet to perform routine X-rays if your puppy is a genetically predisposed breed.  

Other symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs can include: 

  • Decreased activity 
  • Decreased range of motion 
  • Difficulty standing up 
  • Hind legs that occasionally drag 
  • Having trouble climbing on and off furniture, going upstairs or getting into cars
  • A “bunny-hopping” gait 
  • Loss of muscle mass in the back end (or enlargement of muscle mass in the shoulder to compensate) 
  • Grating, cracking or popping in the joints during movement 
  • Stiffness or limping 
  • Signs of pain with movement  

Symptoms will vary depending on how advanced the dysplasia is. Report any potential warning signs or concerns to your vet. 

What does hip dysplasia treatment look like? 

Treatment for hip dysplasia in dogs can vary greatly depending on the severity of the condition, level of pain, age and breed of your pet. Early diagnosis extends the treatment options and provides your dog with the best chance of a full and active life. 

A great treatment option is physical therapy. A healthy exercise regimen can decrease weight, thereby taking the strain off your pup’s bones, muscles and joints. It can also help to “train” the muscles and joints toward a more fluid set of movements. Talk to your veterinarian about professional physical therapy options and at-home exercises you can do with your pet.

Additional hip dysplasia dog treatment options include specialty diets, prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and veterinary-approved joint supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin. 

Prescription Dog Food

Prescription Pain Relief for Dogs

Joint Supplements for Dogs

Some pet parents have also reported success with acupuncture, cold laser therapy and traditional herbal remedies. Talk to your veterinarian about what’s best for your specific pup and ask if they have other recommendations not mentioned here. 

There are also many surgical options, especially for young dogs with a full life ahead of them. If your dog is diagnosed as a puppy, your vet may recommend a Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis (JPS), Femoral Head Osteotomy (FHO), or Double or Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (DPO/TPO). The most common and effective surgical option later in life, which is sometimes recommended for younger dogs as well, is a total hip replacement. This removes the entire ball and socket joint and replaces it with metal and plastic implants. A successful hip replacement surgery can return your dog to a full and painless range of motion. Unfortunately, not all dogs are a good candidate for this, especially if they have already experienced significant muscle loss or have other underlying diseases.  

Conclusions

Hip dysplasia is something that every large breed pet parent should be conscious of from the moment they begin looking for their new family member. By taking the proper measures to provide your puppy with a healthy diet and adequate exercise, you can help minimize the potential risks of hip dysplasia and provide your pup with the best opportunity for a full, healthy and active life. 

image

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Filed Under

Sponsored