The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint. In a normally developed hip joint the ball on the top of the femur (thigh bone) fits very snuggly and smoothly in the socket of the hip bone. When a dog has hip dysplasia there are typically two different problems present. One, the ball does not sit deep and snug in the socket and two, the ball and/or the socket are not smooth and normally shaped. If you compare these two x-rays you will notice that both of these abnormal conditions are present.
Normal Hip Joint
So why does this lead to arthritis? Hip dysplasia brings on a vicious cycle. The abnormal shape causes wear and tear of the cartilage which causes inflammation. Inflammation further degrades the cartilage. Cartilage regrowth is a slow process, often times too slow to keep up with the loss of cartilage. The losses outweigh the gains. The more damaged the joint becomes the less able it is to protect itself so even more damage occurs.
How your dog developed hip dysplasia has two possibilities. It is a genetic condition, meaning a dog may be born with the problem. There is also evidence that environmental conditions can play a role. Injury or overexertion at a young age, while the joints are still developing. You would not want to make your six month old St Bernard puppy your jogging partner. That repetitive motion on a young, forming joint is detrimental.
Hip Dysplasia
The symptoms of hip dysplasia all point to the reluctance to use the hip joint properly. Your dog may stand up slowly or with difficulty, may be reluctant to jump up on things or go up stairs and may even bunnyhop with his back legs when running. Over time the muscles in the hip and thigh area may atrophy or shrink causing the bones to appear to be sticking out.
There is no cure for hip dysplasia. The condition is controlled with weight control, proper exercise and medication to alleviate the pain. Medication can come in the form of nutritional supplements and anti-inflammatory drugs. In severe cases hip replacement surgery may be considered.
If you suspect a problem talk with your veterinarian about the possibility of having x-rays done to diagnose the condition.
Our golden retriever suffers from hip dysplasia and for medical reasons can’t be operated on. We have found that by giving him glucosamine and MSM powder, fish oil and Rimadyl fpr pain relief, he leads an almost normal life. We ensure his weight is controlled, he is walked twicew a day and only the best quality food is given to him. Apart from a slight limp, you would hardly know he has a problem.
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I’ll have to think twice about taking my dogs on long jogs. One seems to limp a little after long jogs, hope it’s not a symptom of dysplacia!
Thanks,
Tony
You know…I have noticed that my dog is moving slower and standing up a lot slower than she used to. Maybe this is what she is suffering from. You have given me a lot to think about. Thanks!
This is how my dog responded to long walks and running. He was reluctant to do them. It was the main reason why I decided to take him to see the vet. I never truly understood why he was so reluctant to run. He had a happy life for many years, but it was not until he reached the age of 11 1/2 that he started to show signs of slowing down and then finally a year later, he passed away from a combination of complications.
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Dysplasia can be defined as failure of proper development of the hip joint.If you love your pet its better to give more attention to these things.I prefer going for hip replacement surgery rather than going for any other medicine.
Well thank you for the very informative blog.
Cheers
Hey, thanks for the info. I have been a dog owner for many years now and find that if I give my dog a fully medical check each 6 months – many common problems can be avoided…or preventative medication can be issued.
Its too bad there is no cure for hip dysplasia. I really feel pity for my dog, he’s been going through so much pain.
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Our dog is a bit overweight and showing some of the behaviors you point out. I’ll ask our vet about hip dysplasia. Thank you.
This article is very informative for pet owners like me. My dog is reluctant to climb the stairs and climbs very slowly. I’ll have to check out for ‘hip dysplasia’. Thanks for information.
Treatment for Hip Dysplasia varies depending on the severity. In mild cases it can be treated through weight loss, proper diet and exercise. An anti inflammatory medication can also be given for pain relief.You can also give your dog glucosamine and chondroitin, which is used in humans to relieve arthritis. Glucosamine helps in maintenance for the joint cartilage and chondroitin inhibits damaging enzymes in the joint.
Along with the excellent nutritional advice above, I would only add that by including Neem Oil and Zinc to your dog’s daily diet, you’ll help ward off any future infections that may occur with decreased mobility.
My old dog probably had this, he was overweight and began getting slower and slower. One though he had some sort of leg paralysis that disabled his hind legs, and it was sad to see, but he eventually did recover, I wonder if this would have been related to it.
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Here are a few ways to help your dysplastic dog be more comfortable:
- Work with your vet to monitor your puppy’s growth
- Keep your adult dog at a healthy weight
- Help your dog get a moderate amount of exercise, either from gentle walks or easy swimming sessions
- Dish out the pain relievers when you can see your dog is hurting
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Hip dysplasia is usually a weak formation of the hip joints, which is a common ailment with younger dogs of essentially every breed. With larger breeds, unsteady hip joints are frequent. Hip dysplasia might turn into a serious problem that will confine the physical activity of your dog for life. Although lots of dog owners don’t realize it, hip dysplasia can be something that dogs inherit and gets worse with age. If you have a large dog like a Golden Retriever watch carefully for the symptoms of the disease.
Robert@dog hip pain´s last blog ..Glucosamine In A Dog’s Diet?
It seems like I am seeing fewer dogs these days with hip dysplasia than I did 10 years ago. It can be such a nasty condition! Thanks for the informative article and pictures.
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Never give your dog human medication without checking first with your veterinarian. Certain medications can be toxic to dogs – particularly acetaminophen and ibuprofen – and a safe dose will differ between a greyhound and a dachshund.
Hip dysplasia is a joint disease that targets some dogs and makes walking and getting around difficult.