Hip Pain in Dogs

Types

• Hip pain originates from the muscle, connective ligaments or bones. It's common in older dogs who have mild hip dysplasia or arthritis (the two often occur together.) Stiffness or limping on getting up after a nap or after exercise are classic symptoms. The dog may also "bunny hop" with a hopping instead of striding gait.

  Hip pain in younger dogs can be panosteitis--essentially growing pain when fast growth causes joint inflammation, early signs of hip dysplasia or a simple muscle pull. In (thankfully) less common cases, hip pain can signal bone cancer.

Diagnosis

• Since dogs can't tell us exactly where it hurts, the location of the pain may be difficult to determine. Pain originating in the hock (ankle), stifle (knee), foot or even the lower back can be mistaken for hip pain. Any limp that persists for two or more days should be seen by a veterinarian. She will manipulate the joint, feeling for laxity and impeded movement. She may watch the dog walking, sitting down and trotting, and unless the cause is obvious, she will take x-rays. She may refer the dog to an orthopedic specialist for a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan.

Considerations

• In the case of panosteitis, or a pulled muscle or strain, the treatment will probably be as simple as restricted exercise and perhaps an anti-inflammatory medication for one or two weeks. Treatment of lower spine problems or cancer are complex and depend on several factors, including the owner's financial situation (both can be very expensive to treat) and the specific diagnosis.

  Hip dysplasia is graded by the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) on a scale from mild to severe. A dysplastic dog's hip ball joint does not fit perfectly in the hip socket and this can be very painful. Mild hip dysplasia can usually be managed with diet, weight control and proper exercise. Severe hip dysplasia usually requires hip replacement surgery to alleviate pain.

  Arthritis is best controlled with a multi-pronged approach, using NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like Rimadyl or Deramaxx, weight management and complementary therapies.

Complementary Therapies

• Complementary therapies for pain control can be used in conjunction with, or instead of, allopathic veterinary treatment. These can include non-invasive procedures like acupuncture, massage and chiropractic adjustments.

  Physical therapy is available for dogs, including hydrotherapy and water exercises. Many orthopedic veterinarians have a canine physical therapist on staff.

  Adequan is an injectable glucosamine and offered by many veterinarians for joint lubrication and reducing inflammation. Typically two to four injections are given several days apart as a "loading dose." If the dog responds well, a maintenance schedule of injections is given at four to six week intervals.

Home Care

• There are many things you can do for a dog with hip pain. The most important is to make sure your dog is lean. Overweight dogs suffer from many more health problems than thin dogs, and excess weight can both cause and exacerbate joint pain.

  Exercise your dog as tolerated. Strong muscles can go a long way to compensate for weak joints. Dogs will mild hip dysplasia and arthritis can live full, active lives and even compete in dog sports like agility, field trials and Schutzhund if they are kept in lean, toned condition.

  Add nutraceutical supplements like glucosamine, chrondroitin and fish oil to your dog's diet. Consider feeding a raw or home-cooked diet, or one of the grain-free kibbles. A diet high in quality protein and low in grain and carbohydrates has helped many dogs with arthritis, mild dysplasia or other forms of joint pain.