Canine Hip Dysplasia Symptoms

Hip dysplaysia in dogs is a condition that causes painful swelling and loss of muscle function in the hip joints. The disease is most commonly found in purebred larger dog breeds, though it can affect any dog of any size. Hip dysplasia is often treated using a combination of medication, surgery, exercise and weight management. The disease is best diagnosed by a veterinarian.

  1. Change of Gait

    • Your dog's gait is the way he walks and moves. If your dog's gait becomes slower or if he seems to "bunny hop" (moving both rear legs at the same time), this could be a sign of hip dysplasia.

    Stiffness

    • Your dog may feel stiff after waking up in the morning, or after napping or lying down. Joint stiffness is recognizable when you dog's back legs seem "locked up," if the dog uses mostly the front legs to rise, or has trouble moving easily after rising. The stiffness may seem to subside as the dog moves around more and "warms up." This joint and muscle stiffness may be a sign of other conditions such as arthritis, but when combined with one or more of the symptoms it could be a sign of hip dysplasia.

    Avoidance of Physcial Activity

    • A dog with hip dysplasia may avoid physical activity, such as running, playing or climbing stairs. The dog may sleep more than he used to and spend more time lying down.

    Assistance Needed

    • Your dog may increasingly need more assistance standing up and lying down. He may also have trouble climbing onto furniture, staircases or into cars.

    Vocalization

    • If your dog is in pain from hip dysplasia, he may grumble, growl, whine or yelp when he walks, stands, sits and so forth. Excessive vocalization when moving is a sign of many conditions for your dog, however, in combination with one or more symptoms it may be a sign of hip dysplasia.

    Noticeable Hip Problems

    • Popping sounds coming from the hip or increased sensitivity to touch in the hip area are symptoms of hip dysplasia. Your dog may also react violently when he extends his rear legs. In severe cases, you can see a noticeable loss of muscle tone in the hips and hip area. Poor muscle tone makes the leg or hindquarters look smaller or less defined than they were previously. Muscles may also shake or tremble as a result of weakness.