Hip Dysplasia and Puppies
Hip dysplasia in puppies is an abnormal development of the hips. It usually is found in large breed puppies from 6 to 18 months of age. There are treatments that can reverse the abnormal hip growth in puppies and improve their quality of life.
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Description
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A normal hip joint allows the femur to fit snugly into the pelvic socket, which helps to reduce stress and weight on the hip. Hip dysplasia causes the femur to slip out of place and connect loosely to the pelvic socket. When the connection of bones inside the hip are abnormal, regular activities, such as walking, cause the hip bones to wear or tear.
Causes
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Genetics are the primary cause of hip dysplasia. If a parent dog has hip dysplasia, its offspring are more likely to develop it. Feeding larger breed puppies extra food may cause rapid bone and muscle growth, and this can lead to the abnormal development of hip bones. Also, overweight puppies are at more risk of developing hip dysplasia.
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Symptoms
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A dog with hip dysplasia may limp or walk slowly. It may experience difficulty lying down, standing up or climbing stairs. There may be stiffness and pain in the rear legs after it walks or runs. Also, its hip may produce a clicking sound when the dog moves it in certain ways.
Diagnosis
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Physical exams and X-rays are used to diagnose hip dysplasia in puppies. A veterinarian will physically examine a dog's hip area and manipulate its legs to find any abnormal movements. He will use X-rays to show images of the hip bones and any abnormal positioning.
Treatment
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There are several surgical procedures used to correct hip dysplasia in puppies. The procedure used will depend on the dog's age and size, and the severity of the condition. Triple pelvic osteotomy is a common surgery that involves breaking the pelvic bones and realigning the femur for a firmer fit into the pelvic socket. It is usually performed on dogs that are younger than 10 months old. Non-surgical treatments include physical therapy, massage, nutritional supplements, anti-inflammatory medication and pain medication. These treatments may decrease the progression of the disease, but they will not change the abnormal positioning of bones inside the hip.
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References
- Photo Credit puppy image by sonya etchison from Fotolia.com
