Hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip joint. It occurs in many mammals, although it is very common in dogs. According to the Baker Institute of Animal Health, hip dysplasia occurs in more than 50 percent of larger breed dogs. The deformation cannot be detected at birth, but can usually be recognized in the first year through X-rays.
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Symptoms
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Symptoms of hip dysplasia can be seen as early as four months of age. The dog might appear unsteady on its feet, place a greater proportion of weight on its front legs, or move its hind legs together when he runs in a hopping motion. As the condition worsens, the dog will have increased pain and stiffness in his hip joints, as hip dysplasia causes arthritic inflammation in the hip joints. It is important to note that dysplasia is an irreversible condition, but the discomfort can be managed. According to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, up to 76 percent of dogs with severe hip dysplasia are able to live a quality, functioning life with management.
Lifestyle Treatments
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The goal of lifestyle treatments is to change everyday activities in order to prevent inflammation and irritation of the hip joints. Keeping the dog̵7;s weight down is key. If the dog is overweight, more stress will be applied to the joints during normal activities. Another important lifestyle change is exercise. All activities should be performed in a controlled method so as to allow the dog the maximum amount of desired activity while preventing agitation of the joint. The dog should also be kept in a warm environment whenever possible. During bouts of pain, your dog can benefit from the added warmth of a heating pad.
Medication Treatments
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There are two main drug treatments for hip dysplasia. The first option is to give the dog a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain reliever. These work by lessening the inflammatory response and are typically administered an hour before exercise, or in response to existing discomfort. The second option is to administer disease-modifying osteoarthritis agents. These can be injected directly into the joint, vein or muscle, or they can be given orally. When given orally, these medications take up to one month to reach therapeutic levels. Direct injections, however, are faster-acting.
Surgical Treatments
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If hip dysplasia is discovered early, in dogs less than 10 months and before arthritis develops, a surgical procedure known as a triple pelvic osteotomy can be performed. This surgery has a good success rate and recovery time is generally six weeks.
In dogs older than 10 months or that already have significant arthritic symptoms, a total hip replacement is the preferred surgery. Recovery time is typically four to six weeks and the surgery has a very high success rate, but is costly. A more cost-effective surgical treatment option for dogs older than 10 months is femoral head and neck excision. This procedure removes the femoral head and neck and replaces it with a false joint. This false joint is less stable and has a decreased range of motion.
History
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Hip dysplasia in dogs was first discovered in 1937. It was first believed to be a rare disease, but is now documented as the most common orthopedic condition in dogs.
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