| Medical Information for Pet Owners |
As a service to our clients and visitors to our site, every few weeks we will post medical information that we feel would be useful and interesting to pet owners. Over a period of time you will be able to search our archives for pertinent medical information. However, we must state that we assume no liability for information obtained from this section as there is no substitute for having your pet examined by a veterinarian. For additional medical information on-line, you may want to visit the Pet Health links listed in the Internet Resources section of our site.
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| To view previous medical topics, select an item in our list and click "View":
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| Canine Hip Dysplasia Hip dysplasia is the most common cause of rear-end lameness in the dog and occurs most commonly in the larger breeds of dogs. |
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| What is hip dysplasia? |
Hip dysplasia occurs when the head of the thigh bone (femur) does not fit tightly in the cup shaped part (acetabulum) of the hip bone. This causes the joint to grind and wobble, which can lead to arthritis in that joint. |
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| What are the symptoms of hip dysplasia? |
Rear end lameness is the most common sign of hip dysplasia. The first signs of hip dysplasia often occur during the four to nine month old period of the larger breeds. This is when the most growth occurs and the puppy may show pain, limp or have gait abnormalities, or experience problems getting up. Another symptom may be a "popping sound" that can be heard as the dog moves. This is due to the head of the femur moving in and out of the socket as the dog walks.
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| What breeds are most prone to hip dysplasia? |
Hip dysplasia occurs mainly in the larger breeds of dogs, such as Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Great Danes.
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| What causes hip dysplasia? |
Hip dysplasia has a genetic basis, although environmental factors can also play a part. In a dog with hip dysplasia, the ball or head of the femur doesn't fit solidly in the cup or socket of the hip due to a shallow acetabulum (hip socket), loose ligaments, and/or low muscle tone or mass around the socket. Larger dogs with a genetic predisposition that are overweight, have little of no muscle mass, loose ligaments around the joint, and poor nutrition and rearing as a puppy may develop the disease.
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| Can anything be done to prevent hip dysplasia? |
Hip dysplasia has a genetic basis, but environment can also play a role. If you are buying a dog from a breeder, make sure that the parents and grandparents of the dog did not have hip dysplasia. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (http://www.offa.org/) certifies purebred dogs as far as the conformation of their hips (OFA certified). However, this is not an absolute guarantee since even dogs with normal hips can have puppies with hip dysplasia. On the environmental side, it is helpful to insure that a puppy's nutrition and rearing are conducive to the development of normal, healthy hips. This involves proper nutrition, proper weight for the puppy's size, and well-developed muscles, ligaments, and tendons around the hips. In fact, some dog food manufacturers have created a large breed puppy food that slows down the puppy's growth and allows joints and muscles to grow and develop enough to adequately accomodate the large skeletal size.
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| How is hip dysplasia treated? |
Treatment for hip dysplasia depends on the severity of the symptoms and treatment may progess from one to the other or be a combination of the various treatments. Ask your veterinarian which treatment is right for you:
- Very occasional or no symptoms
- Treatment for a dog that rarely ever experiences discomfort from hip dysplasia may be just to insure that the dog receives proper nutrition, maintains a good weight, and remains active and exercises in order to encourage the building of the muscles which support the hips. It is also a good idea to not overstress the joint, which is why being overweight is a real problem. Excessive exercise which strains the joint, such as running long distances on hard surfaces or jumping, may not be beneficial either. The best exercise for a dog with hip dysplasia that enjoys the water is swimming (Note: Never leave your dog unsupervised in the pool). Swimming allows the development of the muscles, ligaments, and tendons without putting any stress on the joints. Since many Retrievers love swimming, it is often the perfect exercise for them. Neutraceuticals such as Glucosamine, Ligaplex, and Chondroitin are now being produced for dogs and may have a beneficial effect.
- Mild to Moderate Symptoms
- Treatment for a dog that experiences mild to moderate symptoms usually involves relieving the pain with a buffered or coated aspirin product for dogs (not Ibuprofen). It is also important to maintain a proper weight and have moderate exercise as described above. Neutraceuticals may also be indicated.
- Severe or Incapacitating Symptoms
- Hip dysplasia that has resulted in severe lameness or pain may be treated by surgery. Three of the surgical procedures which may be used to treat hip dysplasia are:
- Pelvic Osteotomy: This is where a new hip socket (acetabulum) is created which more solidly holds the ball of the femur.
- Femoral Head Ostectomy: This is where the entire head of the femur is removed, creating a new false hip joint.
- Total Hip Replacement: This surgery involves replacing the ball and socket of the affected hip(s) with a steel ball and socket. This is very effective and has been used in humans for years.
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