HIP DYSPLASIA

   The hip joint is a ball and socket joint.  The ball is the head of the femur, the large bone in the upper leg.  The socket, or acetabulum, is the part of the pelvis that cups and supports the ball.  The surfaces of the head of the femur and the acetabulum are composed of a very smooth cartilage.  A thick capsule of tissue surrounds the joint and contains the lubricating joint fluid.  Muscles attach to the bones around the joint. The anatomy of the normal joint allows for smooth and stable movement when the animal walks.

What is hip dysplasia?

   Hip dysplasia is abnormal development of the hip joint occurring primarily in large breed dogs.  As the puppy grows, looseness of the soft tissues surrounding the hip joint allows for abnormal movement.  Abnormal movement in the joint results in malformed ball and socket.  The malformed ball is flattened and irregular.  The socket becomes shallow, allowing more abnormal movement, instead of the firm cupping of the head of the femur.  The normal, smooth healthy cartilage is damaged and eroded and eventually wears away to the point where there is bone on bone contact between the acetabulum and the head of the femur.  This results in pain and inflammation.  The hip joint is actually normal at birth, but becomes deformed over time.

Why do some dogs develop hip dysplasia?

   Hip dysplasia is inherited from the pup’s parents, but that is not the only factor involved in the disease.  Young dogs who are fed diets too high in calcium, protein and calories OR who are simply fed too much food gain weight too quickly for the joint and muscle coordination required to develop a normal joint.  Therefore, an owner can protect a pup that may be at risk for hip dysplasia by consulting with their veterinarian regarding the dietary needs of the animal.  Our goal is to keep our puppies LEAN, LEAN, LEAN!

How do we know if a dog has hip dysplasia?

   Young puppies with hip dysplasia may show signs early on.  This is extremely important because it can help us to prevent the debilitating changes that occur in the joint as the pup grows older

   Young dogs—as young as 12 weeks of age—may display changes in movement that provide clues to the presence of a hip disorder.  The puppy may have reduced activity or trouble rising or lying down.  There may be an unwillingness to go up stairs.  Two easily recognizable signs include “bunny hopping” and the sit test.  If a puppy runs or climbs stairs with the two rear legs moving together (bunny hopping) rather than one after the other, that may indicate discomfort in placing full weight on either side.  Similarly, if the pup sits cockeyed on one hip, rather than squared up on both, he may be demonstrating tenderness and the start of a hip problem. If these signs can be recognized and confirmed by 16 weeks of age, the debilitating effects of hip dysplasia may be dramatically reduced or eliminated.

   There are examination techniques the veterinarian can do to diagnose hip disease and x-rays can confirm the problem.

   Adult dogs with dysplasia will have pain and lameness due to cartilage damage and inflammation in the tissues surrounding the joints.  They may have lameness in the rear legs and they may be reluctant to sit.  The dog may be slow and stiff when rising.  The muscles of the rear limbs tend to atrophy or decrease in size and there is a decrease in the range of motion in the hip joints.  Examination and x-rays will confirm arthritis and changes in the normal anatomy of the joint in these dogs.

How do we help dogs with hip dysplasia?

   The most important thing a puppy’s new owner can do is to be aware of the early signs of hip dysplasia.  If a pup is suspected to have hip disease, we will schedule a time for the puppy to be sedated, examined under sedation and x-rayed.  If the diagnosis of hip dysplasia is made, a surgical procedure called JPS (Juvenile Pelvic Symphysiodesis) can be performed at the same time the pup spayed or neutered.   JPS is a relatively non-invasive procedure that will allow the socket of the ball and socket joint to align itself properly and prevent the malformations that would otherwise occur. 

* THIS PROCEDURE SHOULD BE DONE AROUND 16 WEEKS OF AGE AND NO LATER THAN 20 WEEKS OF AGE.

   Another surgical procedure used in young dogs is called a triple pelvic osteotomy.  If the dog’s hips have not undergone significant deterioration based on x-ray evaluation, the bony framework of the pelvis is cut in several places, realigned and plated.  The result is a better fit at the ball and socket.  This is a more complex procedure that usually requires another surgery to correct the opposite side.  The “remodeling” of the pelvis resulting from this procedure eliminates the option of total hip replacement in the future.

   A total hip replacement can be performed in dogs that have significant discomfort due to the degenerative changes caused by hip dysplasia.  This procedure is similar to that performed in the human.  The acetablum and the femoral head are replaced by high quality synthetic and stainless steel implants, which restore the smooth, pain-free movement of the ball and socket joint.  Although this is quite an invasive procedure, advances in surgical techniques and implants make this a very realistic option for otherwise healthy dogs.  In uncomplicated cases, return to normal function is the goal of this procedure.

   Femoral head and neck excision is also an option in dogs suffering from the pain of the degenerating hip joint.  By eliminating the bone on bone contact that results from cartilage breakdown in the joint, we eliminate pain.  The surgical procedure involves removing the head of the femur (the ball of the joint) and thus eliminating the contact between the two joint surfaces.  A scar tissue capsule forms to support the joint and the dog retains satisfactory function in the limb. This is a less costly, “salvage” procedure with fewer potential complications than a total hip replacement and provides a good quality of life for most dogs with severe hip disease.  The time to pain-free recovery, however, is usually longer than with total hip replacement due to the time required for false joint formation.

   It is possible to treat the debilitating results of hip dysplasia in some cases without surgery.  In minimally affected dogs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and other types of pain medication can be used.  Cartilage health can be promoted with the use of supplements such as glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate. Weight control is an absolute necessity in these dogs.  An appropriate exercise program to build and maintain muscle mass is also important.

What is best for your dog?

   At this time, we feel that it is absolutely essential that we recognize hip dysplasia early in puppies.  The JPS procedure can literally spare your pet years of pain if done at the appropriate age—16 weeks.  If an older dog presents to us with degenerative arthritis due to hip dysplasia, we counsel weight control, appropriate exercise and medication to help control inflammation and protect joint tissues.  If we see that a dog will benefit from surgical intervention, we will determine which procedure will provide the most benefit to your pet.

Finally…

   In order to reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia in our dogs, conscientious breeders carefully screen their breeding animals.  Prior to purchase, we encourage you to consult us regarding what steps your breeder has taken or should take to ensure the health of your puppy.