Hip Dysplasia & Cortizone in Dogs

Hip dysplasia is a common problem affecting the canine hip joint. This often debilitating condition, which results in a misshapen hip joint, occurs mainly in large breed dogs, although it can occur in any breed. Several treatment options exist for treating canine hip dysplasia, including the use of cortisone injected directly into the affected hip to reduce pain and swelling.

History

Canine hip dysplasia is a developmental condition affecting how the bones of the hip joint fit together. This condition leads to abnormal hip joint biomechanics and stress loading within the hip, which generally causes pain, limitations in movement, and, in later stages, degenerative joint disease. Cortisone, which is a potent anti-inflammatory agent, can treat the pain and irritation of hip dysplasia. Cortisone can be administered orally or by way of injection.

Function

In cases of severe hip dysplasia, hip pain and stiffness are common. Typically, degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis, is a late side effect of the dysplastic condition that results in joint wear and increased pain and stiffness. In these cases, injecting the affected hip with cortisone can offer significant pain relief. This involves numbing the area at the injection site and injecting the cortisone directly into the joint space, where it circulates within the joint and reduces inflammation.

Effects

A vet can give repeat injections as symptoms warrant and generally gives them several weeks, and sometimes several months, apart. Prolonged use of hip injection therapy can, in some cases, speed up wear and degeneration within the canine joint. Therefore, ongoing cortisone injection therapy requires careful planning and execution along with monitoring the progression of joint pathology. However, dogs generally tolerate occasional cortisone hip injections well.

Benefits

The main benefit of cortisone treatment in canine hip dysplasia is pain relief. A painful, dysplastic hip joint can seriously limit a dog's physical capabilities and make ordinary activities, such as rising, squatting and walking, difficult. A cortisone injection into the hip joint can drastically reduces pain and inflammation in the joint, which can enable a dog to resume a more active, pain-free lifestyle, at least temporarily.

Total Hip Replacement

Cortisone injection therapy will gradually lose effectiveness as hip disease progresses. In severe cases of hip dysplasia, the canine hip joint is likely to degrade to the point where surgical intervention becomes necessary. For end-stage hip disease, total hip replacement surgery, which involves replacing a diseased hip joint with artificial prosthetic parts, is routine and is the preferred course of treatment. Total hip replacement surgery is very effective at eliminating pain and restoring mobility.

References

• Recovery SA: Symptoms and Treatment of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs