To know what causes hip dysplasia first you need to know what it is. Hip dysplasia is a genetic abnormal formation of the hip socket. The femur head (top of thigh bone) is round and fits into a concave socket it in the pelvis. The surface of the femur head and socket are covered in cartilage to provide a smooth fit and wide range of motion. For a dog that has hip dysplasia, the femur head does not fit into the socket properly, either loose or just a partial fit, causing inflammation and pain. This can lead to arthritis and can cripple a dog.

The main cause of hip dysplasia is a dog’s genes. Most of the time the puppy will be born with normal hips, but later in life, usually by 18 months, you can see signs of the disease. Hip dysplasia has been seen in over 82 different breeds. It is more common for large breeds. A dog can be born to two parents with normal hips and still end up getting hip dysplasia. Unfortunately there is no real way to tell if the breeding pair will have offspring with hip dysplasia, X-rays would only tell that the parents are clear, but who knows about the genes.

There are a couple other causes of hip dysplasia. A puppy that is fed dog food that is over-supplemented with extra proteins can grow very rapidly and increase chances of getting hip dysplasia or arthritis. An injury to the hip can also cause hip dysplasia, if the femur head just doesn’t fit the right way in the socket anymore. Just like for humans, or any other animal, obesity can lead to many problems, and for dogs this would include hip dysplasia. The German Shepherd is one of the most common breeds to suffer from hip dysplasia, but it has been found that if a dog has a good amount of muscle mass in their hind legs, the lower the incidence of dysplasia occurring. Well balanced muscular support is necessary for proper joint alignment.

To sum it up, there’s nothing you can do about the genes which is the main cause for hip dysplasia. You will never know if the parents of your puppy carry the gene or not. Make sure your dog never becomes overweight, regular exercise is good to keep off weight and build muscle, just make sure not to over-do it if you have concerns about your dog having hip dysplasia. Make sure to see your vet before limiting your dog’s exercise, it isn’t a for sure thing, but X-rays can help ease your mind. Also ask your veterinarian which dog food they would suggest for your puppy.