One thing that we want for our dogs is for them to live healthily. But, there are circumstances beyond our control and little do we know, they could be suffering from diseases such as hip dysplasia. 

What is Hip Dysplasia in Dogs?  

Simply put, it’s a hip problem among dogs. If you own a large breed of canine, they are more prone to getting this medical problem compared to small ones. Even mixed-breed dogs can suffer from this condition. 

Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) happens when the joint section in the hip area develops a malformation. If this happens, your dog will have difficulty moving around. Malformation happens either when the socket and the joint’s ball grow at an unequal phase. They don’t fit perfectly causing pain whenever the dog moves. This health problem could lead to other serious illnesses such as osteoarthritis. It is a degenerative disorder of the joint without a known cure as of the present time. This could also lead to arthritis and muscle atrophy. 

What Causes Hip Dysplasia in Dogs?

This health condition is hereditary which means that parents could pass these genes to their pups. Apart from it being inherited, several other factors could cause this hip dysplasia in your pet. 

• Nutritional Diet

Dietary deficiencies could result in your pet’s health issues. Make sure that your furry friend is given a balanced nutritional diet to keep it strong and healthy. Why is this important? As your pet grows each day, the nutrients from the food are important in sustaining its body. Ideally, the nutrients should keep your dog’s body strong. An overweight dog puts pressure on its lower body part thus weight management is crucial. 

• Lack of exercise or excessive exercise 

The lack of physical activity could affect your pet’s health and contribute to poor condition. Your pet must get regular physical activity to help prevent the early onset of the condition. 

Too much exercise could also put stress on your dog's hip joints. Make sure that they get a moderate amount of exercise, enough to keep them physically active. 

• Slippery floors and tiles

According to Dogs and Pups magazine, having smooth and polished floors can be dangerous to your pet. Dogs can injure themselves during playtime with these kinds of floors. This warning is echoed by most participants in the pet community, Pet Perfect. 

Pets with special needs and those suffering from CHD will find it hard to move around these kinds of floors. It is recommended to use tiles and floors with texture and scratch resistance. 

Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Look for these signs and symptoms to know if your dog is suffering from Hip Dysplasia. 

• Sitting in unusual or abnormal positions

• Lethargic 

• Unusual gait 

• Difficulty standing up after lying down 

• Chronic fatigue and hind-end lameness

• Reluctance to jump or take the stairs

• Clumsiness in movement and walking 

• Limping around without having an accident 

• Popping sounds from their joints

• Reduce is movement range

• Moderate or severe lameness after exercise 

These conditions could show up when your pup is already 5-8 months old. Not all the symptoms will be evident but your dog could already be in pain. 

Diagnosis for Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

There are several ways to diagnose if your pet is in pain and suffering from this disease. Make sure to get your pet to a certified veterinarian for consultation and physical examination. Your pet will need to get an X-ray to verify its condition. The ideal age for the dog to be examined is when it’s two years old but not older than three. 

If you want your pet to get tested, you can approach the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). This non-profit organization can do an X-ray of your pet to check if they have hip dysplasia. Since the disease is inherited, the record can be used by breeders to check if a certain dog is viable for breeding or not. It is important to note, however, that there is no 100% guarantee that the pup would end up free from this disease in the future. 

Apart from OFA, you can also get an X-ray from the University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Plan (PENN Hip) for a more detailed evaluation of your pet’s condition. 

Treatment for Hip Dysplasia

Depending on the severity of the case. There is a range of treatment plans to help your pet when in pain. This treatment is also helpful in preventing further aggravation of your pet’s condition. 

• Joint supplements that are prescribed and recommended by vets

• Heat therapy 

• Physical therapy 

• Massage

• Anti-inflammatory drug 

• Weight loss plan

• Joint fluid usage

In severe cases, your pet would need hip replacement surgery or other medical procedures which need an operation. 

Hip Dysplasia is a serious condition and needs to be attended to as it causes your pet moderate to excruciating pain. Now that you are more knowledgeable about this condition, you can watch out for signs and symptoms. Take your pet to the vet right away, if you think that it might be suffering from this disease.