Hip dysplasia is a degenerative joint disease in dogs. It is a sadly common disease; you probably have known a dog who suffered from hip dysplasia.
The disease is mostly seen in large breed dogs, but can also be found in small dogs, cats, and even humans. German Shepherds, Labs, Rotties, Golden Retrievers, and other large dogs seem to have a higher incidence of hip dysplasia than other breeds, and purebreds seem to be more likely to develop the disease than mixed breeds.
What is hip dysplasia?
A normal hip joint is a ball (at the head of the femur or thigh bone) and socket (in the pelvis). The ball rotates freely within the socket, held in place by ligament and operated by muscles.
A dog with hip dysplasia has an abnormality in the hip joint. The connecting tissue and ligaments may not hold things in place as they should. As the dog grows, the ball and socket may not fit together as they should, causing the dog to experience discomfort.
What are the symptoms of hip dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia and arthritis have similar symptoms. You may see that your dog’s walk has changed — he may avoid movements that will fully extend the affected leg, or he may start to limp. You may notice that he runs or climbs stairs with a bunny hop instead of moving each back leg individually. He may experience pain or stiffness first thing in the morning, but that may fade after he warms up and starts moving around.
Most dogs with hip dysplasia will decrease their activity level.
As the disease progresses, they will start to lose muscle tone and eventually need help getting up. When my mother’s dog, Shashi, was suffering from hip dysplasia, she had to be carried in and out of the house to go to the bathroom. Her quality of life was so poor that the family eventually decided it was time to have her put to sleep.
Diagnosing hip dysplasia.
A physical examination and x-rays can help your vet determine whether your dog’s discomfort is caused by arthritis or hip dysplasia.