All About Hip Dysplasia.

What is it?

Dysplasia literally means abnormal, so hip dysplasia translates as abnormal formation of the hip socket. The hip is a ball and socket joint, in a normal hip the ball fits snugly into the socket, forming a pivot point. Dogs which go on to develop hip dysplasia are generally born with normal hips. However, as the dog grows, the structure of the hip joint changes and becomes badly formed, and the ball no longer fits snugly into the socket and therefore does not rotate smoothly. Although this problem is more common in larger breeds, smaller breed dogs and mongrels are not immune from it. Ultimately, the end result arthritis in the hip joints. However, there are several treatment options available.

What are the Symptoms?

The severity of the symptoms obviously depends upon the degree of the dysplasia. More often than not the dog becomes lame and may be unwilling to run and play as much as he used to. They can start to have trouble getting up or climbing stairs. They may perform a "bunny hop" when running, which is where both back legs move together rather than separately or walk with a "waddle", a swaying hindlimb gait.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of hip dysplasia is made by a detailed clinical examination of the dog by a vet, and radiographs (x-rays) of the hips.

What causes it?

The cause of hip dysplasia is not fully understood, although there is a genetic inheritance in some breeds of dog. The disease is ´multi-factorial´ which means that a number of different factors can contribute to it.

a) Genetics – these play a big role as to whether a dog will develop hip dysplasia or not. This is why the kennel club has several ´hip scoring´ schemes for different breeds to ensure those with bad hips are not bred from. However, it is impossible to totally breed out the problem.
b) Diet – It is important a pup gets a good level of nutrition to enable their bones and joints to grow and develop correctly. There are now several ´large breed puppy´ diets on the market which are designed specifically for these breeds need and may help reduce the incidence of developmental problems. However, by far the most important factor with respect to diet is to ensure the dog isn´t over-weight. Fatter dogs have a higher risk of developing hip dysplasia.
c) Exercise – Excessive exercise in young dogs who are at risk from hip dysplasia is thought by some to contribute to the disease. However, ´excessive´ is probably several miles of running on a hard surface, or hours of running and jumping in one go. It is important to be sensible when exercising young dogs, but their activity should never be restricted significantly. If a dog is going to develop hip dysplasia one of the most important things they can have is a strong muscle support for the weakened joints, and these come from regular exercise. Swimming is an excellent form of exercise which builds up the muscles without putting stress on the joints.

How is it treated?

The treatment depends a lot upon the severity of the hip dysplasia and the age of the dog concerned, and veterinary treatment must be sought.

Any dog with hip dysplasia should be kept fit and trim as any excess weight will obviously aggravate the condition, but good muscle tone will help to support the dog´s weight. Little and often is the key, a dog with bad hips will benefit greatly from several short walks a day rather than one long one. Also, swimming or hydrotherapy is excellent.

Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, which are available from your vet are often used to help manage pain. Research has shown that Glucosamine and Chondroitin, both of which are supplements can also help. These, again, are available in specific canine formulations from your vet. Cod liver oil is also a very good supplement, one teaspoon or one capsule daily on the food.


However, in some dogs the arthritis in the joint can become so painful that if cannot be controlled medically. When the pain becomes this bad, there are various surgical procedures which can be done to relieve the pain. The most commonly performed is a ´Total Hip Replacement´, where both the ball and socket of the joint are removed and replaced with artificial ones.

Can it be Prevented?

Hip dysplasia is an inherited disease with a polygenic (influenced by more than one gene) mode of inheritance. Total elimination of Canine Hip Dysplasia is an unrealistic goal, but by selectively breeding dogs with good hips, breeders can reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia. In this respect,
the British Veterinary Association, along with The Kennel Club, run a scheme to test for hip dysplasia, which should aid the breeder when choosing breeding stock.

Nutrition and exercise factors have been discussed above, and we know that with the correct diet and exercise it is less likely possible hip dysplasia will occur.