Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Hip dysplasia is a fairly common disease in certain breeds, affecting the hindquarters. It's caused by an improper fit between the femur and where it meets the hip socket (acetabulum), causing limping and other related problems.

Although it's a congenital condition, several factors can influence how it develops and how severe it becomes. A veterinary orthopedic specialist can help us choose the best medical or surgical treatment.

What is hip dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia is a congenital, hereditary orthopedic disease. Normally, both femurs fit into the hip joint in bony sockets called acetabula, where the head of these bones fits and moves.

What happens with dysplasia is that there's instability in this joint, which worsens with growth and development, in which the femur fits into the acetabulum less than 50%, along with other changes. This leaves the femoral head loosely seated in the acetabulum to varying degrees, when it should normally fit snugly, leading to degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis, limping, and pain with movement.

Which breeds does hip dysplasia affect?

Although this condition can occur in any dog, it's more common in large breeds, such as:

• Saint Bernard
• Newfoundland
• Labrador
• Rottweiler
• Golden Retriever
• German Shepherd

Other affected breeds can include: Cocker Spaniel, Shar Pei, Brittany, Bulldog.

Can dysplasia be prevented?

Since it's a genetic disorder, no preventive measure can be put in place beyond avoiding breeding dogs with this condition. Hip dysplasia as such appears before one year of age. If detected after a year of age, what we're seeing is the degenerative osteoarthritis resulting from that dysplasia.

We can take care to give our puppy quality food. A diet with excess carbohydrates, or a mistakenly increased amount for a growing dog, can make the problem worse. This can lead to being overweight and the resulting overload on the joints, including the hip. Predisposed puppies should therefore follow a controlled diet.

Chondroprotectants can be given preventively while our dog is a puppy. Inappropriate exercise in young dogs, during their rapid bone growth phase, can trigger symptoms. They should get moderate exercise, since both extremes (too intense or not enough) can worsen the condition.

We should avoid jumping from high places or standing up on their hind legs. None of these tips prevent the disease from developing, but they can delay its onset or make its course milder.

How is hip dysplasia diagnosed?

Diagnosis is made through history, clinical signs, a general physical exam, and X-rays, the latter being an essential, decisive test. To get a good diagnostic image, the animal needs to be sedated. Depending on how severe the dysplasia is, different grades are distinguished: mild, moderate, or severe.

Besides the greater or lesser degree of mismatch between the femurs and the acetabula, we'll find other changes in the area, such as joint degeneration or osteoarthritis (increased radiographic density), bone spurs, or the Morgan line. All secondary to the condition.

Based on the X-rays taken, the vet can measure the Norberg angle, which precisely tells us how separated the femoral head is from the acetabulum. At 105 degrees or more, dogs are considered free of dysplasia. Below this angle, dysplasia is considered present, and severity increases as the number decreases.

Symptoms of hip dysplasia

There are several symptoms that can point to hip dysplasia, and they don't all need to occur at once. The signs these animals may show are the following:

1. Pain when abducting the hip.
2. Hind leg limping and/or a swaying gait.
3. Difficulty getting up.
4. Running with a "bunny hop" gait.
5. Difficulty standing on the hind legs or extending them.

Treatment for hip dysplasia

Treatment for dysplasia can be either medical or surgical. For the former, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as meloxicam can be prescribed (especially for acute cases), along with chondroprotectants based on hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine, vitamins, and zinc.

A high-fiber kibble, ideally with joint-protecting ingredients (such as j/d), is recommended for weight control, along with physical therapy (ideally in a pool). Stem cell treatment also appears to show improvements.

As for surgery, it's recommended for dogs where prescribed medical treatment hasn't relieved pain or limping. There are different surgical techniques available. At this point, it's essential to put ourselves in the hands of a vet specializing in orthopedics.

Surgery for hip dysplasia

Procedures performed include triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO), femoral head and neck excision, hip replacement, or pubic symphysiodesis. TPO, or triple pelvic osteotomy, is considered an early surgical treatment to prevent osteoarthritis from developing. It's a highly difficult surgery. Complications can range from mild to severe.

Femoral head and neck excision, meanwhile, involves removing the head of the femur, and is recommended for smaller breeds more than other surgical methods. Lastly, total hip replacement involves removing this joint and replacing it with an artificial one. This surgery is less accessible.

The prosthesis involves placing steel or titanium material after cutting the femoral head, so it takes over the head's function. In Spain, this isn't routinely done due to its high cost. It's more established in other countries.

Care for a dog with hip dysplasia

Dogs with dysplasia should get moderate exercise, very carefully controlled. This means always walking them on a leash and not letting them run, jump, or play roughly, or go up or down stairs — basically, anything that counts as intense exercise. Lack of exercise can also worsen the condition.

If possible, physical therapy is highly recommended, especially in a pool, since it builds muscle mass and improves the joints without straining the hip. Diet should also be managed with quality products in the right amounts for normal, non-accelerated growth. Excess weight should be addressed, always under veterinary supervision.

As mentioned earlier, it's a good idea to give kibble with ingredients that improve and maintain joint health. As for supplements, we should check with the vet, since they'll be the one to prescribe the most suitable ones.