Hip Dysplasia In Dogs

Hip dysplasia is a genetic abnormal formation of the hip joint. Hip dysplasia occurs in mostly the larger breeds of dogs such as German Shepherds, Mastiffs, Golden Retrievers, and Rottweilers. Hip dysplasia has been seen in over 82 different breeds including the smaller ones such as Cocker Spaniels. Hip dysplasia is when the femur head does not fit properly in the concave socket located in the pelvis. The femur head and socket are covered in cartilage to ensure a proper fit and provide smooth movements. When a dog has hip dysplasia, since the femur is not fitting properly in the socket, the cartilage is being scraped off by abnormal wear and tear causing inflammation that can lead to arthritis and even cripple a dog.

Many times hip dysplasia is easy to diagnose in dogs because of their symptoms. They refuse to go upstairs, they limp, they don’t want to exercise, and they look like they are stiff and in pain when they get up from resting. Some dogs have hip dysplasia and don’t show any of these symptoms. The only way to diagnose hip dysplasia properly is for you to take your dog to the veterinarian and get X-rays done. They will put the dog under anesthesia before getting the X-ray done because the dog needs to lie in somewhat of an awkward position, on its back with its legs relaxed and it won’t be relaxed if it is not under anesthesia. Also while the dog is under anesthesia the veterinarian can do a thorough exam of the hips and listen to any grinding of calcium deposits in the hip joint. The veterinarian can see how smooth and easy it is for the dog’s range of motion, but if your dog does have poor hips, this evaluation could be painful if the dog isn’t under anesthesia. Sometimes a dog only gets hip dysplasia in one hip and it is important to have the dog in the proper position for the X-ray because if the dog is leaning more to one side, it could make this hip look normal when it isn’t or it could look dysplastic when it isn’t. X-rays can look normal when done on a puppy, so it is usually recommended to get X-rays done when the dog is fully grown, around the age of 2 years to make sure the hips are clear.

If you suspect your dog may have hip dysplasia even if it is a puppy, see your veterinarian, especially if you have one of the breeds at higher risk of suffering from hip dysplasia. X-rays are the best way to diagnose hip dysplasia, but it is more important for an owner to catch visible signs of pain.