hip dysplasia, also called coxofemoral dysplasia, is a osteoarticular diseasethat affects many dogs around the world. It is hereditary and does not develop until 5-6 months of age, although symptoms are most commonly noticed during adulthood. It is a degenerative disease that can be so painful for the dog that in an advanced stage it even disables its hind limbs.
Affects large or giant canine breeds, especially if they have not received the adequate doses of calcium and minerals they require for rapid increase. Poor nutrition, extreme physical exercise, being overweight and hormonal alterations can favor the development of this disease. However, it can also occur due to genetic and random causes. If you suspect that your pet may be suffering from this disease, keep reading this article on our site about hip dysplasia in dogs to discover the symptoms and the indicated treatment.
What is hip dysplasia in dogs?
The word "dysplasia" has Greek origin and its meaning is "difficulty in forming", it is for this reason that hip dysplasia in dogs consists of a malformation of the hip joint. The hip or coxofemoral joint is the joint that joins the femur (thigh bone) with the pelvic bone. The head of the femur is shaped like a ball and moves inside a concave cavity in the pelvic bone, called the acetabulum.
During the growth of the dog, the hip does not adopt a harmonious and adequate shape, on the contrary, it moves slightly or excessively to the sides, producing a dislocation and preventing a correct movement that is aggravated with the weather. As a result of this malformation, both the joint and the periarticular tissues become inflamed and weakened due to friction and, therefore, the dog suffers pain and even lameness causing difficulty to carry out your routine activities, such as sitting or climbing stairs. As a consequence, it is common for secondary problems such as osteoarthritis to develop.
Although there are many dogs that can carry this disease in their genes, in many cases it does not develop.
Grades of hip dysplasia in dogs
Currently, there are five degrees of hip dysplasia in dogs, which classify the disease according to its severity, observable through of an x-ray:
- Grade A: The dog has a normal hip and therefore no signs of dysplasia.
- Grade B: There is a slight suspicion that the dog may have dysplasia.
- Grade C: X-ray shows mild signs of dysplasia.
- Grade D: moderate hip dysplasia is present.
- Grade E: The dog has severe hip dysplasia.
If hip dysplasia is not in its early stages, it is common for it to get worse and go from one grade to another in a short time. For this reason, it is necessary to apply the appropriate care for dogs with hip dysplasia in each case, always in the hands of a specialist.
Dog breeds predisposed to hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia can affect all types of dogs, although it is more common in large or giant breeds. We must try to prevent it by informing ourselves well of the needs of our pet at each stage of its life.
Although it is common to observe hip dysplasia in German shepherds, the truth is that this is not the only breed with a tendency to suffer from it. In this way, the dog breeds prone to hip dysplasia are:
- German shepherd
- Belgian shepherd malinois
- Belgian Sheepdog of Tervueren
- Pyrenean Mastiff
- Spanish Mastiff
- Neapolitan mastiff
- Saint Bernard
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Italian Greyhound
- Whippet
- Golden retriever
- Rottweiler
- Siberian Husky
- Border tierrier
- English bulldog
- French Bulldog
- American Bulldog
Causes and risk factors of hip dysplasia
Coxofemoral dysplasia is a complex disease, as it is caused by multiple factors, both genetic and environmental. Although it is hereditary, it is not congenital, since it is not present from birth, but rather the dog develops it as it grows.
The factors that influence the appearance of hip dysplasia in dogs are:
- Genetic predisposition: Although the genes involved in dysplasia have not yet been identified, there is strong evidence that it is a disease polygenic, that is, caused by two or more different genes.
- Rapid growth and/or obesity: an inadequate diet can favor the development of the disease. Feeding your pup a lot of high-calorie food can lead to rapid growth that predisposes him to hip dysplasia. Obesity in dogs can also favor the development of the disease, both in adult dogs and in puppies.
- Inappropriate Exercises: Growing dogs need to play and exercise to release their energies, develop their coordination and socialize. However, exercises that impact the joints can cause damage, especially in the growth stage. For this reason, jumps are inadvisable in dogs that have not yet completed their development. The same thing also happens in elderly dogs that need to exercise without suffering from their bones. An excess of activity can lead to the appearance of this disease.
Although rapid growth, obesity and inappropriate exercise can favor the development of the disease, the critical factor is genetic Due to this, the disease is more common in some breeds of dogs, among which large and giant breeds are usually found, such as the Saint Bernard, Neapolitan Mastiff, German Shepherd, Labrador, Golden Retriever and Rottweiler, mentioned in the previous section. However, some medium and small breeds are also very prone to this disease. These breeds include the English bulldog (one of the breeds most likely to develop hip dysplasia), pugs, and spaniels. In contrast, in greyhounds the disease is almost non-existent.
In any case, it must be borne in mind that as it is a hereditary disease but influenced by the environment, its incidence can vary greatly. Of course, hip dysplasia also occurs in mongrel dogs.
Symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs
The symptoms of hip dysplasia are usually less noticeable when the disease begins to develop and become more severe as the dog ages and his hips deteriorate. The symptoms are:
- Inactivity
- Refusal to play
- Refusal to climb stairs
- Refusal to run and jump
- Limp
- Difficulty moving hind legs
- "Rabbit Hop" Moves
- Swings
- Hip Stiffness
- Stiff hind legs
- Hip pain
- Pelvis pain
- Muscular atrophy
- Audible Clicks
- Difficulty getting up
- Increased shoulder muscles
- Back curve
These symptoms can be constant or intermittent In addition, they are often worse after the dog plays or exercises. If you detect any of these symptoms, we recommend go to the vet so that they can carry out the pertinent tests and certify if the dog really has this disease.
Hip dysplasia doesn't mean the end of your dog's daily routines. It is true that you must follow some guidelines and advice that can change his life, but with your help your dog can improve his quality of life and continue to enjoy a lot of time with you.
Diagnosis of hip dysplasia in dogs
If your dog shows any of the symptoms described above, he could have hip dysplasia and you should take him to the vet for a diagnosis. During diagnosis, the veterinarian will palpate and manipulate the hips and pelvis and request an X-ray of that area To perform the X-ray, the dog may need to be anesthetized, since it must be done with the animal lying on its back. In addition, you can order blood and urine tests. The result of that diagnosis will indicate whether the condition is hip dysplasia or another disease.
Keep in mind that pain and difficulty moving depend more on inflammation, working temperature and damage to the joint than on the degree of dysplasia itself. For this reason, some dogs that show mild dysplasias on radiographic analysis may be in a lot of pain, while others that show severe dysplasias may be less sore.
How to cure hip dysplasia in dogs: treatment
Although there is no cure for hip dysplasia , there are treatments that relieve pain and improve the quality of life of the sick dog. These treatments can be medical (non-surgical) or surgical. In deciding which treatment to follow, you have to consider the dog's age, size, general he alth, and degree of damage to the hip. Of course, the preference of the veterinarian and the cost of the treatments also come into play when making the decision.
Drugs for hip dysplasia in dogs
Medical treatment is generally recommended for dogs with mild dysplasias and for those that cannot be operated on for various reasons. It usually requires the administration of anti-inflammatory, analgesic and chondroprotective (drugs that protect cartilage). Likewise, it is advisable to restrict certain exercises, control weight and follow a strict diet. It is important to note that anti-inflammatories for hip dysplasia in dogs, as well as other medications, can only be prescribed by a specialist and usually have side effects on the digestive and kidney systems.
The treatment can also be complemented with orthopedic aids, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and massages to relieve pain in the joint and strengthen the muscles. All these exercises for dogs with hip dysplasia improve the animal's quality of life.
Operation for hip dysplasia in dogs
Medical treatment has the disadvantage that it must be followed throughout the life of the dog and that it does not eliminate the dysplasia, but simply delays or stops its development. However, in many cases this is not very complicated and is enough for the dog to enjoy a good quality of life.
Surgery for hip dysplasia in dogs is recommended when medical treatment does not work or when the damage to the joint is very severe. One of the advantages of surgical treatment is that, once postoperative care is over, it is not necessary to maintain strict treatment for the rest of the dog's life. However, it must also be taken into account that surgery has its own risks and that some dogs may show pain after surgery.
The curative treatment par excellence is triple pelvic osteotomy, which consists of the surgical remodeling of the bones, thus providing an artificial union through a plate that correctly maintains the bones in place and without allowing the femur to move. There are other cases in which this type of work cannot be carried out, we are talking about incurable cases. For them, we have palliative treatments such as femoral head exemption arthroplasty, which consists of removing the head of the femur, thus allowing the artificial formation of a new joint. It prevents pain but reduces the range of motion and can cause abnormalities when walking, although it gives the dog a decent quality of life. In addition, there is also the option of replacing the hip joint with an artificial prosthesis.
Supports and harnesses to treat hip dysplasia in dogs
In cases where surgery is not possible, in addition to being able to administer medications to relieve symptoms, it is convenient to use supports and/or harnesses specifically designed to treat hip dysplasia in dogs. The supports allow the animal's hip to be stabilized by exerting physical support on the joint and increasing the working temperature, which reduces inflammation and, therefore, pain, stimulating the activity of the muscle group and thus avoiding atrophy and acceleration of the degenerative process. The hip support is suitable for dogs of all ages.
On the other hand, the support harness for dogs is recommended for dogs that require help to support their hips. With it, we can help the dog to walk in a safer and more stable way. In the event that this help is needed more constantly, we can help ourselves with the self-adjusting wheelchairs So, if you are wondering how to help a dog with hip dysplasia, without a doubt, these products will make your life much easier.
In OrtoCanis you will find different supports, wheelchairs and harnesses for dogs with hip dysplasia, made with high quality materials and designed by experts in order to improve the quality of life of dogs with reduced mobility.
How long does a dog with hip dysplasia live?
If hip dysplasia is not treated, the dog can suffer pain and disability For dogs that reach very advanced degrees of hip dysplasia, life without aid becomes an agony. However, the medical prognosis for dogs that receive early treatment is usually very good. These dogs can live very happy and he althy lives, albeit with some dietary and exercise restrictions.
That being said, a dog with hip dysplasia doesn't have to live any shorter if he receives proper care
Hip dysplasia prevention
Since hip dysplasia is a disease caused by the interaction of genes and the environment, the only real way to prevent and eradicate it is to prevent dogs with hip dysplasia recurThis is the reason that the pedigrees of dogs of certain breeds indicate whether the dog is free of the disease or the degree of dysplasia it has.
For example, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) uses the following letter-based classification, A through E, which matches the classification of hip dysplasia grades in dogs:
- A (Normal): free of hip dysplasia.
- B (Transition): There are small clues on the radiograph, but they are not enough to confirm dysplasia.
- C (Mild): mild hip dysplasia.
- D (Medium): Radiograph shows median hip dysplasia.
- E (Serious): the dog has severe dysplasia.
Dogs that have dysplasia grades C, D and E should not be used in breeding centers, as they are very likely to transmit the genes that carry the disease.
On the other hand, we must always be caution withphysical exercise and obesity of our pet. These two factors are clearly influential in the appearance of hip dysplasia.
Care for a dog with hip dysplasia
Even if your dog suffers from hip dysplasia you can improve his quality of lifeconsiderably if you take care of him as he deserves. In this way, and following some guidelines, your dog will be able to continue carrying out his routine activities, albeit more calmly than before.
- One of the proposals that works best is swimming, both on the beach and in the pool. In this way, the dog develops the muscles that surround the joints without wearing them out. A couple of times a week will be enough.
- Don't stop taking your dog for a walkbecause he has dysplasia. Reduce the time you walk but increase the number of times you take him out. It is very important that all the walks together add up to at least 60 minutes of exercise.
- If your dog is obese, it is essential that you solve it as soon as possible. Remember that the dog supports the weight on the hip and this problem could aggravate the dysplasia. Look for light feed on the market or establish a suitable homemade diet and avoid snacks rich in fat. Discover on our site how to make your dog lose weight.
- Take him to the vetfor regular check-ups to check that his he alth is not worsening. Follow the advice given by the specialist.
- If you feel a lot of pain you can try to relieve the symptoms with massages, thermal coats or hot water bottles in winter.
- As we have seen in previous sections, there are self-adjusting wheelchairs for dogs suffering from dysplasia, hip supports and support harnesses. If yours is following conservative treatment, he could benefit from these orthopedic aids.
