Dysplasia is a hip disease that dogs sometimes are born with. Dogs with hip dysplasia have abnormal hip joints that cause problems for the dog. According to the Baker Institute for Animal Health at Cornell University, large dogs are far more likely to have hip dysplasia than small dogs, although all sizes of dogs can get the disease.
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Gait
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Hip dysplasia often affects the way dogs walk, according to Cornell University. A dog may look wobbly when walking, weave around or seem unsteady in some way. Problems with walking are often worst in the morning.
Weight Bearing
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According to Kansas State University, dysplasia may be severe enough that a dog cannot bear weight on his hind legs.
Running
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Young dogs with dysplasia often have a "bunny hop" look to their style of running, according to Cornell University and Kansas State University. They tend to move their hind legs together while running rather than moving each leg individually.
Exercise
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Dogs with dysplasia often get very sore after exercise. They may be more wobbly and have more extreme symptoms after an active day, according to Kansas State University. A dog with dysplasia symptoms will often avoid strenuous exercise to avoid becoming extremely sore afterward.
Position
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Dogs with dysplasia often lay down on their stomachs and stretch their legs out behind them, according to Kansas State University.
Sound
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Another dysplasia symptom in dogs is a clicking sound in the hip joints when the dog walks or runs, according to Cornell University (See Reference 1).
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