Dysplasia comes from the Greek words for abnormal and to form. There are many types of dysplasia including canine follicular dysplasia, retinal, tissue and uterine. The most common dysplasias in dogs are elbow and hip.
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Elbow
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Elbow dysplasia is an inherited disorder that causes abnormal elbows. Some breeds such as the chow chow have very high rates of elbow dysplasia.
Elbow Symptoms
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Depending on the severity, your dog may show lameness and gait problems. Extending and moving the elbow may also be painful.
Hip
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Pugs have the second highest rate of CHD. Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is inherited. The ball of the bone does not fit correctly into the hip socket. Although CHD is more common in large breed dogs, it can happen in small breeds.
Hip Symptoms
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Dogs with CHD may not show symptoms, but some may become lame. Your dog may walk with its weight on the front legs to relieve hip pain.
Testing
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Your vet can x-ray your dog's hips and elbows. The x-rays may need to be evaluated elsewhere. Two nonprofit organizations that can diagnose and grade CHD are the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and the University of Pennsylvania's PennHIP program.
Treatment
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Hip or elbow dysplasia cannot be prevented. Good nutrition, some supplements, proper exercise and keeping your dog's weight low may help inhibit symptoms. Surgery is the only option to fix the problem.
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