Welcome back! Today we are going to learn a bit about a common condition that affects dogs: hip dysplasia. We’ll cover symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments. A diagnosis of hip dysplasia can be intimidating, but together we can keep your dog active and comfortable.
HIP DYSPLASIA
Dysplasia means abnormal growth or development. Hip dysplasia specifically refers to abnormal development of the hips. As a developmental condition, there is a definite genetic component to hip dysplasia. Other possible contributing factors include nutrition, rate of growth, activity level, and body weight. Large and giant-breed dogs are the most commonly affected.
The discomfort associated with hip dysplasia occurs because instead of the head of the femur being seated solidly in the hip socket, there is excess motion – called laxity. Joint laxity causes painful stretching of the joint capsule and wearing of joint cartilage. If you read the lesson on Arthritis, you know that wearing of joint cartilage causes the inflammatory changes that we call arthritis. Ouch!
DIAGNOSIS
Right: dysplastic hip
Hip dysplasia is diagnosed based on history, physical exam, and radiographs. However, a diagnosis of hip dysplasia does not necessarily mean a dog will have physical limitation or need surgery. Many dogs with a diagnosis of hip dysplasia can lead normal lives without significant intervention.
Hip dysplasia can be thought of as a bi-phasic condition. This means that there are two times (“phases”) during a dog’s life when hip dysplasia causes the most clinical signs. The first phase occurs during puppyhood. Signs can include “bunny-hopping” while running (moving both hind legs together in a hopping motion), reluctance to jump, and difficulty rising from a sit. Some puppies with hip dysplasia can “grow out” of these signs, although their anatomy will remain abnormal. The second phase occurs as a dog approaches old age, when arthritic changes to the hip cause chronic pain and functional abnormalities. Signs can be similar to those in puppies, and can also signs we learned about in Signs of Pain.
TREATMENT
There are a number of options for surgical treatment of hip dysplasia.
- Pubic symphysiodesis: the flexible fibrous joint between the two halves of the pelvis are fused while a puppy still has significant growth potential. As the pelvis continues to grow, this procedure encourages the hip sockets to cover more of the head of the femur.
- Pelvic osteotomy: the bones of the pelvis are cut and rotated to allow the hip socket to cover the head of the femur more normally. This procedure is performed in growing puppies.
- Femoral head ostectomy: the head of the femur is removed entirely, which removes painful bone-on-bone contact and stops the development of arthritis. This procedure can be performed at any age but is most often performed in adults.
- Hip replacement: the hip socket is replaced with a prosthetic hip joint. This procedure is performed after growth is complete.
Recovery from Surgery
Clearly surgery on the pelvis is a major undertaking. Some of the procedures above may be performed by a general practitioner veterinarian, but some should only be performed by specialist veterinary surgeons.
- The least restrictive recovery is associated with the pubic symphysiodesis, because no bones are cut in this procedure.
- The femoral head and neck ostectomy – although it seems pretty invasive – allows a dog to get back to activity quickly after the procedure. In fact, getting your dog walking and maintaining an active lifestyle is a very important part of the recovery process.
- Hip replacement surgery has a restrictive recovery period, because the implanted components need time to integrate with the body without being disrupted by activity.
The veterinary surgeon, your general practitioner veterinarian, and your rehabilitation veterinarian can help guide you through the recovery process to get the best possible outcomes following surgical intervention.
But wait! Sometimes non-surgical management is an option!
Surgery is appropriate for dogs whose mobility is severely affected by their hip dysplasia, dogs with high athletic demands (such as working dogs), and those whose discomfort is difficult to control. But there are many dogs who, with a little help from owners and veterinarians, can do very well without surgery!
So, how do we help?
- Muscle is the key! When the hip sockets have laxity, it’s up to the muscles of the pelvic limbs to help the hip joints stay in the right place. Make sure your dog gets consistent low-impact activity – like daily leash walks around the neighborhood. A veterinarian trained in rehabilitation (like Dr. Rushing!) can help make a home exercise plan for your dog that builds muscle and encourages normal use of the hindlimbs.
- Nutrition and weight are important too! Keeping your pet at a healthy body condition will reduce the stresses that their abnormal joints are subjected to. Check out the Resources tab for body condition score charts to help you monitor your dog’s condition (remember, these are intended for use in adult dogs!) Nutrition is also very important. A balanced commercial diet or a home-cooked diet developed by a veterinary nutritionist are the best options to make sure your dog gets all the nutrients it needs. Avoid excessive treats and human food, which tend to be calorie rich.
- Manage pain! Pain does not have to be a part of growing old, and it shouldn’t be something your pet should have to deal with on its own. Talk to your veterinarian about ways that you can help your pet stay comfortable. This can include medications and supplements, and complementary treatments such as acupuncture, PEMF, and laser therapy. Although there historically was a perspective that pain can protect a pet from excess activity, this is neither true nor fair for our furry family.
Tip Top Hip Health
Hip dysplasia is a developmental condition that affects growing puppies, and causes arthritis in aging dogs. If your pup is diagnosed with hip dysplasia, don’t despair! With the help of your general practitioner veterinarian and a rehabilitation veterinarian, we can keep your pet strong, active, and comfortable.
Do you have a pet with hip dysplasia? Dr. Rushing can help you make a plan for exercises and pain management for every stage of the disease, from developing pup to surgical recovery to arthritic aging dog. Together we can make sure your beloved pet continues to age gracefully.
Thanks for reading! Check out our next installment to learn about Hip Health in Cats.
Want to learn about something specific? Leave a comment to let Dr. Rushing know what topic you’d want to know more about!