Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is one of the most common skeletal diseases seen in dogs. Gender does not seem to be a factor, but some breeds are more likely to have the genetic predisposition for hip dysplasia than other breeds. Symptoms depend on the degree of joint looseness or laxity, the degree of joint inflammation, and the duration of the disease. Hip dysplasia often begins while a dog is still young and physically immature. There are also instances where the hip disease develops later.

• Early disease: signs are related to joint looseness or laxity;
• Later disease: signs are related to joint degeneration and osteoarthritis;
• Decreased activity;
• Difficulty rising;
• Reluctance to run, jump, or climb stairs;
• Intermittent or persistent hind-limb lameness, often worse after exercise “Bunny-hopping,” or swaying gait;
• Narrow stance in the hind limbs (back legs unnaturally close together);
• Pain in hip joints Joint looseness or laxity – characteristic of early disease; may not be seen in long-term hip dysplasia due to arthritic changes in the hip joint;
• Grating detected with joint movement Decreased range of motion in the hip joints;
• Loss of muscle mass in thigh muscles;
• Enlargement of shoulder muscles due to more weight being exerted on front legs as dog tries to avoid weight on its hips, leading to extra work for the shoulder muscles and subsequent enlargement of these muscles