Signs and Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Hip dysplasia occurs in young dogs when the animal's hip joint becomes disconnected from the top of its femur---the large bone of the upper leg. As the dog grows, the joint pocket changes and the ligament attaching the femur to the pelvis stretches, causing early signs of the disease. Both parts of the joint typically begin showing small fractures that eventually lead to the formation of osteoarthritis as the animal ages, reports the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Because the causes of dysplasia can be both hereditary and environmental---rapid weight gain during puppyhood is considered a factor---learning what symptoms to watch for in your dog can lead to early veterinary diagnosis and treatment.

  1. Pain and Stiffness

    • Young dogs and puppies with dysplasia can show signs of the disease as young as five months of age, say the veterinarians at PetEducation.com. Typically, they become stiff and experience pain during and after exercise and resist running and jumping. As the disease worsens, middle-aged and older dogs struggle to both lie down and get back up and, in some cases, may need human intervention to stand. These dogs have difficulty climbing steps and may become unwilling to move about normally. During a veterinary examination, they exhibit pain upon palpation and veterinary rotation of the hips.

    Waddling Gait and Muscle Atrophy

    • Dogs with hip dysplasia sometimes present with an abnormal, waddling gait and lameness in the hind legs, reports Dr. Nicholas Trout of PetPlace.com. The hips may seem to slide up and down and your dog may sway or stagger when standing. The dog appears reluctant to walk and often "bunny-hops" with the rear legs to avoid moving them. Older dogs with chronic cases of dysplasia suffer muscle atrophy in the hindquarters due to reluctance to use their legs.

    Treatment

    • Veterinarians typically treat dogs with mild to moderate dysplasia---those showing minimal pain and symptoms---with medications including anti-inflammatory medicines and steroids, writes Dr. Alleice Summers in "Common Diseases of Companion Animals." Your vet may suggest allowing your dog moderate exercise and urge you to monitor your pet's weight to control the stiffness and pain of encroaching osteoarthritis.

      More severe cases may require surgical intervention including a total hip replacement or a procedure called a femoral head ostectomy. This procedure involves surgically removing the round head of your dog's femur (upper leg bone) that is rubbing against the hipbone and causing the pain. Removal of the head causes the soft surrounding tissue to form a "false joint" and the animal is able to move pain-free after a year-long period of rehabilitation. With the total hip replacement, dogs achieve near-normal hind end movement in 95 percent of cases, states Dr. Summers.