What Is Hip Dysplasia In Canines?
Have you noticed your pup not being able to easily get up from lying down? Do they seem stiff in the hips or appear to be losing muscle mass? Or maybe they don’t want to participate in activities they once enjoyed doing with you? Canine hip dysplasia may be to blame. But don’t worry, this doesn’t mean your dog has to have a hard time getting around! At Alpha Animal Rehab & Fitness in West Caldwell, we help dogs manage hip dysplasia every day.
Canine hip dysplasia, or CHD, is defined by the lack of coverage of the femoral head (upper thigh bone) into the socket (part of the pelvis). This lack of coverage often results in abnormal changes to the soft tissues and musculature of the back legs as they struggle to stabilize the joint without the proper support from the bony structures mentioned above. Over time, abnormal hip joint movement causes arthritis to develop, leading to further issues.
What Breeds Get Hip Dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is an inherited condition and remains at a very high prevalence in certain dog breeds, especially large breeds, although small dogs are certainly not exempt. Newfoundlands, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Bulldogs, Saint Bernards, Neapolitan Mastiffs, Pugs, and Retrievers are known for a high incidence of hip dysplasia, despite concerted efforts to eliminate this orthopedic condition through selective breeding.
Genetics is not the only factor, however. Reproductive status, age, weight, conformation, and diet all play a potential role in a dog’s development of hip dysplasia. Research has shown that dogs who are spayed or neutered too early in life are more likely to be affected as well. Age and weight are also associated with the development and diagnosis of hip dysplasia and arthritis.
Signs and Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia
CHD may start with mild symptoms at a young age that aren’t noticeable until middle age or later. You may notice a few of the following symptoms develop later in life due to hip dysplasia, which can lead to osteoarthritis in the hip joint. Signs of canine hip dysplasia include:
- Change in activity tolerance
- Reluctance to jump up or down
- Avoiding stairs
- Exhibiting a bunny-hopping gait
- Underdeveloped back-leg musculature
- Pain and stiffness in the hip
- Avoiding extension in the hip during walking or running
- Avoiding stretching of the back legs
Diagnosing Hip Dysplasia
The decision to treat surgically or conservatively depends on the individual dog’s severity of hip dysplasia and age. But in almost every case, a Canine Rehabilitation Therapist can significantly improve that dog’s quality of life. In some cases, surgery may be required to ensure the best outcome for your dog. Two of the more common procedures are the Total Hip Replacement (THR) and the Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO). Before choosing the surgical route, it is essential to know what other options are available to you and your dog that may help you manage their condition in a less invasive manner.
How Alpha Animal Rehab & Fitness Can Help
At Alpha Animal Rehabilitation and Fitness, a Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner will look at your dog’s strength, flexibility, and how the joints are moving. They’ll also assess gait and posture and observe how they perform their everyday functional tasks around the home. After evaluating your pup, they use canine massage therapy, manual therapy techniques, and a tailored plan of care to address all of your dog’s issues. This care will help to provide much-needed stability to the hip joint and make moving around easier and less painful.
Making sure your dog maintains a healthy weight through an appropriate diet and joint supplements is imperative, whether or not you choose surgery. Daily exercise, pain medication when necessary, and dog rehabilitation can make all the difference with this common orthopedic condition.
As Canine Rehab Practitioners, we can provide you with a multitude of ways to improve your dog’s quality of life through education, massage therapy, manual therapy, home modifications, and exercises specific to your dog and where they are today.
For more information or to schedule an appointment at our West Caldwell location, please contact Alpha Animal Rehab & Fitness at (908) 454-2273.