Hip Arthritis in Dogs

Function

• Hip arthritis in dogs is a potentially crippling condition that occurs more often in large breed dogs but can occur in all dog breeds. The main clinical manifestation of this disorder is a gradual wearing away of the hip joint cartilage, which is a smooth, fibrous tissue covering the ends of the hip bones that allows smooth hip function. As this cartilage layer erodes, hip pain and stiffness typically arise. In later stages, as hip arthritis progresses, complete loss of hip joint cartilage can occur, which severely restricts hip joint movement and increases pain levels.

Significance

• The pain and stiffness associated with canine hip arthritis can seriously limit a dog's physical abilities. As arthritis progresses, basic movements, such as rising from a prone position, walking and sitting can become difficult and, in some cases, impossible. A once active dog sidelined by the pain and stiffness of hip arthritis can become overweight, which can exacerbate arthritis symptoms and speed progression of the condition. Severe hip arthritis can also interfere with a dog's ability to urinate and defecate normally.

Types

• The two main types of arthritis that affect the canine hip joint are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, with osteoarthritis being the most common type. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder whereby a dog's own immune system attacks a particular joint. This type of arthritis can be especially crippling in the hip joint and can often affect numerous joints at once. Osteoarthritis, aka degenerative joint disease, is characterized by wear and tear on the hip joint cartilage and, in later stages, degenerative changes to the hip bone. This type of arthritis typically arises as a normal part of aging but can also occur following hip injury.

Prevention/Solution

• Hip arthritis in the canine cannot be prevented, but the risk factors for the condition can be lessened. Typically, this includes: preventing obesity, which places excess stress on the hip joints; ensuring adequate exercise, which helps keep the hips and surrounding muscles strong; and feeding a proper, balanced diet, which ensures optimal intake of essential vitamins and minerals to help keep muscles, bones and joints strong. In the case of established canine hip arthritis, the management of these same risk factors can help reduce the symptoms of the condition as well as arrest its progression.

Treatment

• The treatments for managing canine hip arthritis range from the conservative--including activity modification, weight control and pain management--to the invasive, including total hip joint replacement surgery. Typically, mild to moderate forms of canine hip arthritis can be effectively treated and managed using conservative methods of treatment. In more advanced stages of canine hip arthritis, total hip replacement surgery can be performed to rebuild the hip joint with prosthetic parts, an operation that is very effective at reducing pain and restoring mobility.