What is canine hip dysplasia?
Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is a real headache in veterinary medicine because it's super tricky to prevent and treat. CHD is a bone development issue where the thigh bone's head doesn't fit well into the hip socket, messing up the cartilage, wrecking the joint over time, and causing pain and swelling. Don't mix it up with hip arthritis, though; it's actually the main reason for arthritis in the hips.
How is canine hip dysplasia passed on?
CHD is a hereditary deal. It gets handed down from parent dogs to their pups. So, the best way to kick it out is to stop dogs with hip dysplasia from making more pups. But it's not a walk in the park because not all dogs with hip dysplasia show signs, and seemingly normal dogs can still pass on the gene, keeping the disease around.
How can you tell if a dog has hip dysplasia?
Dogs with hip dysplasia are usually less peppy and struggle to get up from sitting. They might limp in the back legs, hop like a bunny when running, and avoid going upstairs. But these signs usually don't pop up until the dog hits middle age. In serious cases, some pups can show hip issues as early as 5-6 months old.
How does a vet confirm hip dysplasia?
Unfortunately, there's no blood or genetic test yet to spot if a dog is carrying CHD. Diagnosis mostly happens through check-ups and x-rays. X-rays help gauge how bad it is and track progress. There are two main types:
- Hip-extended ventrodorsal view x-ray: It gives a front view of the pelvis and hips, showing the arthritis severity.
- PennHIP radiography technique: It spots hip looseness in dogs as young as four months.
What's the deal with treating hip dysplasia?
- CHD doesn't have a full-on cure, but there are non-surgical ways to ease the symptoms. Pain and inflammation drugs like Rimadyl, Ectogesic, and Deramaxx do wonders. Weight loss, controlled exercise, and physical therapy can also help in some cases.
- When the non-surgical route isn't cutting it, there's surgery. Two main types: Prophylactic surgery prevents arthritis progression, while therapeutic surgery deals with already arthritic hips.
- Prophylactic surgery: Triple pelvic osteotomy cuts the pelvis in three places, rotating the hip sockets for better coverage. It's effective if done before arthritis or joint damage. Pubic symphysiodesis, manipulating pelvis growth, is still under study for its effectiveness, mainly done on young dogs.
- Therapeutic surgery: Total hip replacement is for larger dogs, using high-quality materials to replace the socket and ball. It's successful, eliminates pain, and gets the dog back to normal. Another option is femoral head ostectomy, removing the top of the femur to stop painful grinding, allowing a false joint with scar tissue. It works better for smaller, muscular dogs and not so much for mild arthritis.
Can you dodge canine hip dysplasia?
Top prevention move is careful breeding because it's hereditary. Delay hip dysplasia onset by controlling weight gain in the early months and ensuring pups don't stress their hips too much. Check pedigrees for OFA, PennHip, or GDC certifications when getting a pup.
To sum up, recognizing and managing canine hip dysplasia is vital. Early detection and responsible breeding are key, along with considering both non-surgical and surgical options for treatment. By staying informed and proactive, we can improve the lives of dogs dealing with hip dysplasia.