| Canine hip dysplasia is a genetic issue that starts to | | | | * difficulty in the back legs when getting up |
| appear from the ages of 4 to 12 months. Not all | | | | * pain in the hip |
| puppies in a litter will develop it, though if your dog | | | | * when the puppy is lying on its back, its back legs |
| has canine hip dysplasia, she should not be | | | | may not extend towards the front legs without |
| bred.Larger breed dogs have a higher risk of | | | | painThe only way to find out if your dog definitely |
| developing hip dysplasia, due to the greater weight | | | | has hip dysplasia is if he has an x-ray by a vet. This |
| these joints will have to bear. But it's important to | | | | normally means the dog will have to be heavily |
| realize that small dogs can be affected also. Large | | | | sedated, or go under anaesthetic.Tips To Prevent |
| breed dogs at risk include rottweilers, german | | | | Canine Hip Dysplasia* Don't feed a growing dog a |
| shephards, golden retrievers, dalmations, and blood | | | | diet too high in calories. It's important that the |
| hounds.Canine hip dysplasia affects the ball and | | | | growing dog's nutritional needs are met, but |
| socket joint of the hip. The head of the large bone in | | | | excessive weight, and rapid weight gain, create more |
| the dog's leg doesn't fit snugly into the hip socket. | | | | of a load for the joints to bear. If a dog is genetically |
| The problem is that the socket itself is not well | | | | predisposed to hip dysplasia, this can delay the |
| developed, and it creates a lot of stress on the joint. | | | | beginning of symptoms, or reduce the chance of it |
| The muscles don't develop as quickly as the bone | | | | developing into a more severe form.* Be careful |
| grows, and a situation is created where the weight | | | | about the type of exercise growing dogs get. |
| the joint has to bear is greater than the capacity of | | | | Jumping up and down from heights, and standing on |
| the ligaments, tendons, and muscles around the joint. | | | | their back legs, such as when they stand against a |
| Thus joint instability develops. This in turn leads to a | | | | fence or window to look over it, can aggravate the |
| greater wear and tear than the joint would normally | | | | joints whilst they are growing quickly.* Buy dogs |
| experience.Canine hip dysplasia ranges from mild to | | | | from a reputable breeder. If one parent dog has hip |
| moderate. In mild cases, the space between the | | | | dysplasia, the risk of it occurring in the litter is |
| joints is greater than normal and the ball at the top | | | | doubled. Good breeders take care to prevent this |
| of the hip bone is part way out of its socket. | | | | situation from occurring. The pedigrees of dogs can |
| Fortunately, in mild cases, there are no associated | | | | be checked to see whether they have been certified |
| arthritic changes in the joint.In moderate canine hip | | | | as normal by the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals |
| dysplasia, the top part of the normally rounded hip | | | | (OFA) in the US. Their website is organizations that |
| bone begins to flatten, and it sits only loosely in the | | | | check for markers of hip normalcy in dogs are |
| joint. Bone spurs begin to develop, and arthritic | | | | PennHip and the GDC (Genetic Disease Control in |
| changes start to happen.Unfortunately, in severe hip | | | | Animals). Large breed dogs have a greater chance of |
| dysplasia, there is definite arthritis present. And once | | | | developing hip dysplasia, and prospective owners |
| arthritis appears in the joint, the condition is | | | | would be wise to take this precaution.References: J |
| irreversible. In the severe cases such as this, the hip | | | | Griffin and L Carlson, Dog Owners Home Veterinary |
| bone is completely out of the joint. The silver lining is, | | | | HandbookWhilst large breed dogs are more |
| however, that not all dogs with hip dysplasia and | | | | susceptible to canine hip dysplasia, buying from a |
| arthritis will become lame. Some may become lame | | | | reputable breeder can prevent this developing. Find |
| as puppies, some may not ever become | | | | out more about some of these loveable breeds here |
| lame.Symptoms of hip dysplasia include:* walking with | | | | at The Dogs Bone: Large breed dog articles, with |
| a limp | | | | photos, include these on the bloodhound dog, and the |
| * a swaying gait | | | | dalamation breed. |
| * bunny hopping when running | | | | |