Hip dysplasia in dogs is a terribly painful disease. It is a disease that does not only affect large breed dogs, although it is traditionally assumed that these are the only dogs that contract it. However, there are some solutions to ease your dog’s pain and work through the disease. Avoiding obesity, a regular low-impact exercise routine, and glucosamine appear to be part of the solution. With the right insight and care, a dog’s suffering can be assured.

The simplest way to see hip dysplasia is that the bones of the hips do not fit together correctly. The thigh bone (the ball) is supposed to fit snugly into the hip bone (the socket). Some of that snug fit is for movement, and some of that fit is for weight bearing. Obviously, there’s more than bone in there, there’s a layer of cartilage involved. When any of these factors is compromised, it is called hip dysplasia.

The technical terms for this is that the femur is supposed to fit into the acetabulum. The femur is the thigh bone and the acetabulum is the hip socket. Think of your own leg and how easily it rotates inside your hip. Now imagine an air pocket there, or a layer of sandpaper covering the femur. Or imagine that it is loose and that you can reach out and move your leg inside the socket. You are well on your way to understanding hip dysplasia in a dog.

If the bones don’t fit together properly, eventually there will be some friction and that can lead to all sorts of arthritic pain issues. Bread grades can be mild to none, or extreme. If the ball is rolling in the socket, this is called a subluxation (partial dislocation). If the ball falls completely out of the socket, this is called a dislocation (complete dislocation). More interesting still is the fact that both legs will be affected, this is not a “one sided” problem. The lameness that a dog will demonstrate is simply on the more compromised side.

Think again about the sandpaper between the ball and the socket. There is supposed to be a smooth surface called the surface of the articular hyaline cartilage (or cartilage). It is basically a layer of elastic cartilage. Obviously, this would be the oil or grease for the machine, but in the case of hip dysplasia, this layer of fleshy lubrication is no longer present. What results is bone-on-bone rubbing with every movement of the hip. The ugliest part of this whole cycle is that the dog’s body tries to compensate for this by creating more bone within the hip socket and in the ball of the femur. This, in turn, can cause many strange and painful deformations as the new bone wears away.

With the extra “wiggle room” between bone cavities, joint problems such as arthritis come into play. Interestingly, it’s not just large breeds like Great Danes, Rottweilers, and Mastiffs that succumb to this genetic defect. Smaller dogs like Bulldogs and Pugs also suffer from this. The dog breeds that seem to escape the plague of hip dysplasia are sighthounds. Greyhounds, for example, have low incidences of this disease. It is a complicated disease because it skips generations. However, if there is dysplasia in the dog’s immediate ancestry, the chances of your pet having it are definitely increased and that goes for strays as well.

Overweight dogs are more prone to hip dysplasia, as are dogs with too much or too little calcium in their diets. Other theories suggest that overexercising a dog at a young age can also trigger hip dysplasia. Exercise is good, though. A dog suffering from hip dysplasia has underdeveloped upper thigh muscles. Muscle mass in that area is said to possibly reduce the chances of the disease.

One way to tell if a puppy will become a dog with complete or even minor hip dysplasia is to examine how it moves. If your puppy is slow to do things like get up on all fours, climb stairs, or jump, these could be signs of potential joint problems. Another way to determine possible hip dysplasia is if the hind legs have cow hocks. Cow hocks is a term that refers to a human-like appearance (genu valgum). Simply, the legs are folded in at the knees and then back. A puppy with cow hocks is a strong sign of hip dysplasia.

If you have the finances, there are several surgeries that can be performed at different stages of the dog’s life. The most obvious and expensive is a total hip replacement once the dog reaches adult size. Hip dysplasia in canines is a difficult topic to address because it is a hereditary disease. It’s been programmed into the dog’s DNA. Relief is what a homeowner should consider. Part of this relief would be non-impact exercise like jumping. In addition, the exercise routine must be regular and not something sporadic. Another aspect would be to manage the dog’s diet so that obesity is not a problem.

One of the simplest measures a dog owner can employ to help a dog with hip joint problems is to begin administering glucosamine. Glucosamine is a proven preventative additive found in some dog foods and can be purchased separately. It is absorbed into the system and goes directly to the joints. It’s already in the dog’s system, concentrated in the cartilage. The great thing about glucosamine is that it is anti-inflammatory and actually helps regenerate cartilage. Of course, it’s not an absolute solution, but a dog can feel the benefits of glucosamine supplements as early as ten days after starting to take them. Also, there are few adverse reactions to glucosamine. High doses can cause stomach upset that can lead to diarrhea or even vomiting. Glucosamine is primarily known for being easy to ingest (some dogs find a dose a treat) and helpful to a dog’s system.

Hip dysplasia in dogs is a disease that brings extreme discomfort. It is a disease that affects most dogs, and is inherited through the family tree. There are some treatments for it, and there are some ways to ease the pain it causes. Proper weight, low-impact exercise, and glucosamine appear to be part of the solution. Obviously, it would be better if dogs didn’t have to deal with such a hereditary disease, but with proper attention and care, much of the suffering can be alleviated.

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