Dog Health – When Arthritis and Hip Dysplasia Threaten

Hip dysplasia is a common condition with dogs – particularly the medium to large breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, Great Danes, German Shepherds, etc. The condition is by no means restricted to the larger breeds only. It usually manifests as the dog ages.

Hip dysplasia affects the hip joint which is a ball and socket type of joint and it attaches the hind leg to the body. In this condition, the joint structure is not normal because of weak surrounding muscles and connective tissue. The bone surfaces that touch each other, are under normal circumstances, well lubricated and very smooth. However, when separation of the articular bones (bones in contact) or subluxation occurs we consider the case to be one of hip dysplasia.

Hip dysplasia is a hereditary condition with many dog breeds; so much that many pet insurance companies may refuse coverage for this condition. A dog may have hip dysplasia in one or both hips.

As mentioned above, the condition is not always manifest only in older dogs. Even young puppies can show the pain and accompanying limp and discomfort that comes with hip dysplasia. Osteoarthritis is a fallout of this condition. The main symptom of hip dysplasia is that movement becomes very painful for the dog. The animal may be forced to alter its gait and be unwilling to carry out movements where the hind legs have to be stretched fully. As the condition deteriorates, the animal needs medical help without which it may even find it difficult to stand up on its own as it begins to lose muscle tone.

It is worth noting that hip dysplasia is primarily considered to be a disease of purebreds with very low incidence in mixed breeds. It is also quite rare with the smaller breeds. According to vets, genetic predisposition to the disease is the single biggest indicator whether a dog is at risk from hip dysplasia. Therefore, it is important that pet owners first confirm with the breeders whether they practice strict selective breeding to minimize the risk of a pup getting hip dysplasia due to faulty genes. However; removing the disease from any given breeding line is very difficult because even if a dog does not exhibit the condition, it continues to be a carrier and the condition can show up in later generations.

Research shows that dogs that are overweight and those genetically inclined to obesity are candidates for hip dysplasia sooner or later and it eventually leads to osteoarthritis. Pet parents that indulge their puppies and get them all roly-poly particularly in the first ten months are pushing them to hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis. The best diet for dogs is one that offers a balance of calcium, fats, and all other nutrients so that bone growth is not compromised.