Canine hip dysplasia is a commonly diagnosed disease most commonly found in large breed dogs. It is an inherited disease which is present at birth, but often symptoms of hip dysplasia do not become evident in affected dogs until later in life.
What is Canine Hip Dysplasia?
Canine hip dysplasia is a deformity within the hips of an affected dog. Hip dysplasia results in a laxity of the hip joint of the dog. The hip joint is a ball-and-socket type of joint, meaning the the hip joint consists of a ball (the head of the femur) which fits inside of a socket (the acetabulum). The x-ray pictured below will help demonstrate this. Normally, this ball and socket fit together very smoothly, with very little laxity between the ball and the socket. The joint moves smoothly and without pain.
In dogs affected with canine hip dysplasia, the ball and socket do not fit together smoothly. In canine hip dysplasia, there a laxity between the ball and socket, which does not allow for smooth movement of the joint. The ball is not held firmly in place because the socket is not formed correctly. This laxity causes the joint to slip when the leg is moved. As the slipping of the joint recurs repeatedly over time, the joint reacts to try to stabilize itself, resulting in degenerative changes within the hip joint which are known as arthritis.
What are the Symptoms of Canine Hip Dysplasia?
Symptoms of canine hip dysplasia are most commonly seen in two different age groups:
- young dogs, usually aged between 6-18 months of age
- older dogs
In young dogs, the deformity and laxity within the hip joint cause discomfort, which may result in lameness or difficulty rising. A swaying hip movement may also be noticed in a dog with canine hip dysplasia.
Often, as the dog matures and grows, the body starts to compensate for the abnormalities within the dysplastic hip joints and the symptoms of hip dysplasia may regress, sometimes for several years. However, the hip dysplasia has not gone away. Because the deformity is still present in the hip joints, degenerative changes begin to occur within the joint. These changes eventually cause the development of symptoms consistent with canine arthritis.
Dogs suffering from arthritis as a result of canine hip dysplasia are usually middle-aged to older dogs. These dogs may show reduced activity levels, be reluctant to rise or lie down, and may have difficulty going up and down stairs. The dog may or may not show overt signs of lameness or limping on the hind legs. However, the hip joints are painful and the dog is uncomfortable.
Canine hip dysplasia must be diagnosed with radiographs of the affected joints. Having the mother and father of a dog certified free of hip dysplasia lessens the chances that a dog will develop hip dysplasia, but does not entirely rule out the development of hip dysplasia either.
Various methods of treatment for canine hip dysplasia exist and include both surgical and medical means of pain control.
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