Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
Hip dysplasia refers to the malformation of the hip joint: instead of a round femoral head fitting smoothly into a deep acetabulum, the joint contains a shallow socket or an irregularly shaped ball. These malformations cause uneven contact between the joint surfaces compromising the joint stability and eventually deforming the bone and causing pain. This laxity in the joint also erodes the joint and causes inflammation. This is the most common single cause of arthritis of the hips or degenerative joint disease. HD can be unilateral or bilateral.
It is common in many dog breeds, particularly the larger breeds,
Signs / Symptoms
Symptoms depend on the degree of HD and to the extent of joint laxity, inflammation or arthritic changes within the joint. Early disease signs are usually related to joint laxity, whilst later disease signs are usually related to joint degeneration and osteoarthritis. Common signs of hip dysplasia include:
- Difficulty rising from lying or sitting positions
- Sitting in “frog” position (one hip splays out)
- Reluctance to run, jump, climb stairs
- Pain when touched or trying to nibble or lick your fingers when you touch around the hips
- Exercise intolerance
- Bunny hopping (especially up stairs)
- Swaying gait (rear end moves back and forth in pronounced fashion)
- Stiffness
- Hind-limb lameness, often worse after exercise
- Back legs more close together than front legs (e.g. narrow stance)
- Intermittent or persistent hind-limb lameness, often worse after exercise
- Pain in hip joints
- Joint laxity – characteristic of early disease
- Grating detected with joint movement (crepitus)
- Decreased range of motion in the hip joints
- Enlargement of shoulder muscles due to more weight being exerted on front legs as the dog tries to avoid weight bearing on its hind legs
As hip dysplasia progresses the following symptoms may appear:
- Muscle waste in the hind quarters
- Very reluctant to be touched
- Unexplained aggressive behaviour
- Exercise. Regular, low-impact activity such as swimming or leash-walking will help reduce some of the pain in your dog’s joints. It will also lead to increased tendon and muscle strength. TIP: When walking, try to keep your pup away from hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt. It’s hard on the joints and might do more harm than good.
- Physical therapy can really help reduce your dog’s pain and increase his mobility. From massages to hydrotherapy – the use of underwater treadmills – physical therapy can be a great option when done right. Before starting, be sure to talk with your veterinarian who knows your dog’s limitations.
- Joint prescription diets or formulas, recommended by your veterinarian, can help decrease inflammation and promote cartilage healing.
- Give your pooch pain medications, like NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), to reduce pain, but only as directed by your veterinarian.
- Create a dog-friendly environment using ramps or easy steps to help your dog into a car, bed, or around the house. Limit your dog’s movement up and down steps. Soft mattresses work well too, and a heated dog bed in cold weather can be great. TIP: Be careful with regular heating pads, as they can get very, very hot and burn your pooch.
- Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis. It’s a mouthful, but it describes a short, simple surgical procedure for very young puppies in breeds with a high likelihood of developing hip dysplasia. It is a preventive procedure, often combined with a neuter or spay.
- Total hip replacement. This is an option in dogs with especially severe hip dysplasia and can really increase quality of life if successful.
Secondary sources of pain such as myofascial trigger points, sacro-iliac and/or low back pain, pinched nerves are factors that can dramatically limit the dog’s quality of life. Treating these secondary sources of pain is as important as treating the hip joint itself.