Hip dysplasia or coxofemoral dysplasia is a disease that affects the pelvic joint and the femur. This hereditary disease is degenerative and does not become visible until the puppy is half a year old.
Hip dysplasia is very typical in giant and large breeds, although it can also be seen in dogs of other sizes. Detecting this disease in time is vital to help the dog to live with it in the best possible way and relieve the pain it causes to the point of incapacitating them. If you are thinking of welcoming a dog into your family, it is good that you know certain problems that some breeds can suffer from. If you want to know the 10 dog breeds prone to hip dysplasia, keep reading this article on our site and find out.
1. German shepherd
The German Shepherd is one of the breeds most prone to hip dysplasia. Today's German Shepherds have a sloping back end. The genes that transmit hip dysplasia along with this lower back sloping, cause this disease to manifest often in this breed. Because it is a dog that needs a lot of exercise, it is not a breed that usually suffers from obesity, but if its activity level drops and its diet does not adapt, it ends up suffering from excess weight, a fact that also causes and aggravates dysplasia. Also, if the exercises a German Shepherd does are not right for him, this will make the joint condition worse. In fact, hip dysplasia is one of the most common diseases of the German Shepherd.
two. Belgian shepherd malinois
The case of the Belgian Shepherd Malinois is very similar to that of the German Shepherd, this dog needs a considerable amount of exercise and work activities therefore, in addition to the genetic factor that is the main cause of hip dysplasia, we find joint wear due to constant exercise and in In case of stopping the sport and if we do not adjust its diet, we will find ourselves with an overweight or even obese Belgian Shepherd. This weight problem has many consequences, it can cause or worsen cases of coxofemoral dysplasia, because the pelvic joint must support more weight than it really can.
3. Saint Bernard
St. Bernards are a breed known for being large, usually white with brown spots, and for being rescue dogs. The dogs of this breed, in addition to the genetic cause, have two main reasons why they are one of the breeds of dogs prone to hip dysplasia. They are dogs that grow very fast since they are large or giant dogs, but when there is excessively rapid growth it can happen that the hip bone does not has formed completely correctly and has not finished taking the concave shape that it should have to house the femur and thus hip dysplasia develops. In addition, these adult dogs can weigh up to 100 kg, therefore all their joints must support a considerable weight and make significant efforts that can lead to coxofemoral dysplasia.
4. Great Dane or German Bulldog
The German Bulldog or Great Dane is another of the best-known giants, since it is a breed that attracts a lot of attention not only because of his friendly and affectionate character, but because of his great stature and size. His weight and large size along with his accelerated growth can lead him to suffer from coxofemoral dysplasia. This breed can weigh from 45 kg to 100 kg, so its bones and joints must constantly support a lot of weight. For this same reason, although it is necessary for large dogs to do a lot of exercise, it is important that they do not do activities that can lead to small blows to the joints such as very high jumps, since they will help to wear out the joint.
5. Pyrenean Mastiff
The Pyrenean Mastiff is considered one of the dog breeds prone to hip dysplasia also due to its large size and weight. Of course, we must bear in mind the genetic factor in all these breeds, but the fact that the dog can weigh so much means that its joints, in principle, will wear out more easily. Although, it is true that they must support more weight, these joints are also larger and denser bones than those of other smaller dogs. Even so we should not overdo his diet to avoid being overweight or obese, nor should we force him to do more exercise than necessary.
6. Neapolitan mastiff
The Neapolitan Mastiff is another dog of considerable size since it can also reach 100 kg in weight. Neapolitan mastiffs, and giant breeds in general, are dogs that are easy to see walking with a slight sway that facilitates the wear of the affected joint in this disease. Breeds that, in addition to having a genetic propensity for hip dysplasia, are of considerable size and weight, which is why they are also often fast-growing, have two very important aspects to take care of in their day-to-day life. First, we must adapt their diet to each stage of their life and according to the amount of activity they do and, second, we must ensure that they do not exercise too much.
7. French Bulldog
The French bulldog is a dog that presents several he alth problems due to its physical characteristics. If we look at their gait, we realize that their hind legs are usually bowed, a fact that makes them move by swinging the body from side to side and even sometimes with slight jumps. This way of walking, if combined with the predisposition of this breed to be overweight or obese, ends up triggering problems such as hip dysplasia.
8. English bulldog
The English bulldog has a morphology very similar to that of the French bulldog, in fact, we can also seebowed hind legs and their ability to gain weight. Again, if we put these factors together with genetics, we find ourselves before one of the breeds of dogs prone to hip dysplasia. It is important to take care of the diet of these dogs, both in quantity and quality, since the consequences of obesity in dogs are many, and adjust the type of exercise to their physical characteristics so as not to force these joints too much.
9. Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a breed that can weigh from 45 kg to 100 kg as adults, so, again,, we find the genetic factor, rapid growth and high weight. These factors are what make it a breed prone to coxofemoral dysplasia, so it is important that you be aware of the symptoms and detect them early to help you lead a comfortable life as soon as possible.
10. Rottweiler
Finally, the rottweiler is one of the 10 dog breeds prone to hip dysplasia, since he is also large, with powerful muscles and a genetic factor that leads him to suffer from dysplasia. If you opt for any of these breeds, it is good that you inform yourself in advance about the he alth of the parents of the litter or, from very early on, begin to take into account the possible symptoms and treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs, to that the veterinarian guides you properly from the beginning so that you can offer the best quality of life to your companion.
