Hip Dysplasia in Dogs Signs &Treatment

Signs of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Hip dysplasia in dogs essentially is a deformity of the coxofemoral  joint. it can be lead to degeneration of the joint, inflammation arthritis, and pain.

The vast majority of dog acquire hip Dysplasia,likely as result of an inherited factor And that combined with factors such as body weight, the rate of growth. Possibilities of trauma during development and other factors such as environment play a role in this.

The Signs of hip dysplasia are very similar to that of osteoarthritis as 
lameness and hip pain and other signe.

Signs of Canine Hip Dysplasia include:

1-Reluctance for play and DecreasedActivit

Dogs suffering from this disease has more changesin his behavior, these changes can include that:

• Tend to sulk in one corner of the house or inside the kennel.
• Dog sleeping or resting more and less active.
• He refuses to interact with you like he has done before.

because it can’t withstand the pain of moving around. If your dog has any changs in his activity,You should know that your dog is suffering from a certain disease

2-Signs of pain (severe pain in their lower extremities)

• Pain and stiffness in the legs is a common thing to dogs with hip dysplasia. If you tend to take your dog out for its daily exercise in the morning, and it doesn’t want to go because of its condition,
• Younger dogs will experience severe pain in their lower extremities, more particularly on the hip part. This will usually show after intense running and climbing up and down a flight of stairs.
• Dogs that exhibit pain while walking, or even as they go through their normal activities should be taken to the veterinarian for proper diagnosis. While it is simpler to assume that the condition is dog arthritis, the treatment procedure for hip dysplasia is entirely different from that of any type of arthritis.

3-“bunny-hopping” to get up stairs

chang in the way the dog uses hind legs and Dogs will bunny-hop using both hind leg together to get around or especially goning up stairs

What’s really bad about this health concern is that it has it own development stage. Most pet owners don’t know that their dog is suffering from hip dysplasia until it’s too late.

If left ignored, it is very possible for your dog to be limping for the rest of its life. Worse, it may be unable to walk. 
Hip Dysplasia in Dogs may develop during the puppy’s forming ages and won’t show up as a health concern until the dog reaches its middle years.

If you try to raise the leg yourself, your pet will cry in pain and will refuse to be touched on that part again.

It is even possible for some dogs to hop instead of run, all because they are protecting that painful part of their legs. you are better off taking your dog to the vet . For some dogs, the stiffness and pain can be rubbed off by small, controlled movements and minor exercises. However, other dogs will continue to limp because the ache is getting worse.

Hip dysplasia may worsen over time, especially if it is not treated accordingly. 

One of the signs of worsening hip dysplasia is lost muscle tones. Eventually, your dog will also require assistance when getting up, walking down, or running up slopes. Some pet owners mistakenly associate this difficulty with old age. However, some dogs can still be treated for this disease despite the fact that it is already in its later stages.

Whenever any one of these symptoms shows, it is advised that you give your dog the necessary care and support it needs. The aids usually given to dogs with arthritis are applicable to pets with hip dysplasia. You might need to install ramps in the house to help your dog move around up until its disease is treated fully.

Treatment for Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

While hip dysplasia is a very complicated disease, it can easily be cured with today’s modern medicine. However, hip dysplasia can only be corrected through surgery. There are no external or oral medications that can cure the problem, nor there is expected to be one in the future.

It is quite comforting to know that there are several types of surgery to treat the problem. surgeons can choose suitablet procedures to help canine patientsaccording to the severity of the dog’s condition and its age. Certain procedures can only be sustained by older dogs, while some are most effective when done on the younger dogs.

Triple Pelvic Osteotomy, or TPO

Triple Pelvic Osteotomy is one procedure effective for younger canines.

If your pet is ten months old or less, this is the preferred surgery type. TPO is most effective for dogs that have severe laxity in the hips but have no observable damage in the joints. In the procedure, the pelvic bones are surgically broken down so that certain parts are realigned accordingly. While this type of surgery is very expensive, it is also one of the most successful procedures your dog can go through to correct the problem.

Total hip replacement

Hip Dysplasia in Dogs is a degenerative disease. This means that it can get worse over time. If your dog is diagnosed to suffer degenerative hip dysplasia, it may have to undergo total hip replacement. This type of procedure aims to eliminate the pain and the degeneration of the hips.

The hip joints of the dog will be removed and prosthetics will be put in its place. When done successfully, the pain associated with this disease will be gone and the functions of the joints will greatly improve. However, only dogs weighing 20 pounds or more can undergo this procedure. Smaller and lighter dogs will not be cleared for it.

Aside from totally removing the hip bones, it is possible only the femoral neck and head to be removed to solve the problem. This is yet another surgical choice for vets.

The procedure is usually done on pets that are not qualified for total hip replacement. While this procedure is mostly prescribed to lighter dogs, the larger breeds can also benefit from it.

The newest way of treating hip dysplasia is through Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis.

This is also a type of surgical procedure, although it isn’t as invasive. This surgery calls for the infusion of two hip bones. It is normally done to so that the problem joints will develop normally and correctly.

The procedure is also known to lessen your dog’s risks of developing arthritis due to hip dysplasia.

diagnosis of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Proper diagnosis is very important. By submitting your pet to regular check-ups, the vet will know the severity of the condition and devise the most effective way of correcting the problem. With all these surgical choices, the only way your pet can be treated accordingly is if you submit it to the necessary diagnostic exams.