Hip dysplasia is an abnormal development of a dog's hip joints.Genetics are a major factor in the development of this condition, so dogs can inherit hip issues from their parents or be susceptible to hip dysplasia due to their breed.German Shepherds, Labradors, Golden Retrievers and Rottweilers are some of the larger pure breed dogs that have hip dysplasia.It's possible for your dog to live a happier life with less hip pain if he is diagnosed with hip dysplasia.
Step 1: The shape of the dog's back is something to pay attention to.
If your dog is having low-grade hip pain, subtle signs like their posture and shape of their back may be indicative of hip dysplasia.If your dog has hip dysplasia, they may have a sloping back.Their back may be arched and their pelvis tucked underneath them, giving the impression of a back sloping down to the pelvis, rather than a flat, level back.If your dog develops a sloping back at a young age, this may be a warning sign, as many pups who inherit hip dysplasia from their parents will show signs at less than 12 months old.
Step 2: You should look at how your dog walks.
If your dog is taking short, mincing steps with their back legs, rather than long, easy strides, this may mean he is experiencing pain in his hips.One of the consequences of hip dysplasia is premature arthritis, so younger dogs with this condition may experience issues usually associated with older dogs, such as inflammation, pain, and bone remodeling.The muscles of your dog's forequarters will be more developed than those of his rear end due to his habit of transferring weight onto his front legs to relieve pain in his back legs.
Step 3: Check to see if your dog is hopping.
Some dogs with sore hips will hop instead of walking.If you want your dog to hop forward, he may move his two back legs as one unit.
Step 4: If your dog doesn't want to get in the car or climb the stairs, notice.
Dogs with hip issues may be reluctant or unable to perform activities that require propulsive power from their back legs like climbing stairs, jumping into a car, or leaping over objects.
Step 5: Take your dog to the vet.
Because the signs of hip dysplasia in young dogs are not very obvious, it can be difficult for the owner to realize something isn't right.Hip dysplasia is a more serious issue that may appear to be a short term injury.If you want to be certain, take your dog to the vet.
Step 6: Do you know if your dog has hip problems?
Older dogs may have had hip problems when they were young, only to have them later in life.If your dog has a history of hip issues, they may have hip dysplasia but missed being diagnosed or misdiagnosed.
Step 7: Do you know if your dog is stiff or in pain after a lot of exercise?
Lots of running around and playing can cause older dogs with hip dysplasia to be stiff.Once they start using their muscles and exert themselves, they may have hind leg lameness that clears up after they rest.
Step 8: If your dog shows signs of being in pain, take it to the vet.
Older dogs may have other health issues, but proper diagnosis of hip dysplasia in an older dog will ensure they live a long and pain-free life.
Step 9: Your dog should be watched by your vet while you walk and run.
Your vet will be by your dog as he runs.If one hip joint bobs up and down more than the other, she is looking at the degree of his pelvic roll.If both back legs strike out at the same distance or if one leg takes smaller steps, she will look at your dog run and walk from the side to see the length of his stride.
Step 10: Your dog's muscles should be analyzed by your vet.
It is easy to feel the bones beneath the skin of a dog, so your vet will be checking to see if your dog's thigh muscles are developed or weak.If a young dog has weak muscles, he is not exercising as much as he should because he may be uncomfortable or in pain.
Step 11: Your dog's leg joints should be examined by your vet.
Each joint in your dog's back legs will be looked at by your vet to make sure there is no pain in the hip joints.Even though a dog has hind leg lameness, it doesn't mean the problem is in his hips.If the other joints are sound and there is no heat or swelling on them, your vet can focus on your dog's hips.
Step 12: The range of motion of your dog's hips can be seen by your vet.
Your dog's leg will be extended backward by your vet to check his hip joint.If your dog pulls against this movement, he may have a sore hip, as he will want to keep it as still as possible and not move it to avoid pain.A dog with supple, healthy hips will allow the leg to be moved with almost balletic flexibility.A dog with hip dysplasia will have a limited range of motion because their hip is in all directions.The sound of bone clunking against the hip joints can be heard in severely dysplastic hips.The bone can rub against another bone because the joint space is not evenly distributed.
Step 13: When your dog is under general anesthesia, get an x-ray of him.
A general anesthesia will be used to get an ideal position of your dog's hips, as they are too sore to tolerate the legs being held in position for an x-ray.The vet will look for landmarks on the radiograph, like the angle of the femoral neck, to make sure the ball joint is joined onto the shaft.A dog with dysplasia will have a straight femoral head.Another sign of a poor hip is the ball barely sitting in the sockets.The ball joint is rounded rather than square and the vet will check that.Dysplastic hips look like a square peg in a round hole with a block-shaped femoral head.
Step 14: Make sure your vet performs an Ortolani test on your dog.
Hip dysplasia can be confirmed by looking at an x-ray, but it doesn't show the degree of pain or lameness your dog might be experiencing.Make sure your vet does an Ortolani test with an x-ray.Under anesthesia, your dog will lie on his back with his thigh bone pointing towards the ceiling.Your dog's knee will be put under pressure by the vet.The hip bone can slip out of the joint if the dog's hip is not stable.The hip will be moved with a "clunk" by the vet.Hip dysplasia is a sign that the hip joint is not being supported properly by your dog's muscles and ligaments.
Step 15: You can become familiar with the hip.
Hip dysplasia can occur in your dog if there is a clear sense of hip anatomy.The hip is made of metal.The acetabulum is a boney cup which sits in the femoral head of the thighbone.The cup is the perfect fit for the ball, so the hip joint moves smoothly.
Step 16: The factors necessary to avoid pain in your dog's hips should be kept in mind.
Even joint space, where the gap between the femoral head and the acetabulum is even all the way around, leads to healthy, pain free hips.Maintaining a perfect angle of 45 degrees where the femoral head joins onto the femur is important because when your dog stands, they will transfer weight up the shaft of the thigh.Your dog's body weight will not spread evenly through the joint if the angle is too straight.A tight soft tissue support network is an important factor.A combination of muscles, ligaments, and tendons hold your dog's bones in their correct alignment and allow for pain free movement.If the soft tissue network is too slack, it will allow the bones to move around too freely and lead to serious pain for your pup.
Step 17: It is possible to restrict your dog's diet to combat hip dysplasia.
Studies show that a restricted diet for susceptible breeds can lead to a decrease in hip dysplasia.The stress on dogs' hip joints can be lessened by feeding them less weight.Hip dysplasia is not altered by a restricted diet in larger dog breeds.