Dog arthritis quite commonly develops in the hip joint through a very common condition called hip dysplasia. In large dogs hip dysplasia is a serious cause of chronic pain, reduced mobility and quality of life. Owners should be watching out for it from a very young age and doing what they can to prevent it from happening. Here are a few tips to help.

Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is the abnormal growth or development of the hip joints. It is a condition that most often affects large and giant breeds such as German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, Saint Bernards and Great Danes.

Dogs of any age can suffer from hip dysplasia - it is a condition that develops in puppies or young dogs but the signs may only begin to show much later in life.

The hip is a ball and socket joint supported by muscle and connective tissues. When this ball and socket connection is loose or damaged, it is called subluxation or laxity. This brings abnormal wear and tear to the joint, which causes arthritis and pain in the affected hip. The hip joint will become arthritic and deformed and of course painful.

Causes related to hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is partly a genetic disease - studies suggest that hip dysplasia in a parent may be seen in the pups as well. Bydeveloping a selective breeding program, good quality breeders hope to reduce the incidence of this condition.

If hip dysplasia is only partly genetic it means there must be other (what we call environmental) things that can cause the disease. By far the two most common of these would be nutrition and exercise.

• Nutrition: Over feeding a large dog will lead to rapid growth. This means that the hip will grow faster than the surrounding muscles can stabilize it, creating the laxity or looseness that is central to the disease.

• Exercise: All activities that subject the hip to excessive force will increase your dog’s risk of developing hip dysplasia.

Signs of hip dysplasia

The following may indicate a problem with the hip joint: an altered gait when walking or running, restricted movement or extension of the rear legs, limping and unusual difficulty in climbing stairs. Dogs may lick at the joints and they may show behavioral changes such as defensive aggression.

Most dogs will only begin to show clear signs when they are older or when dog arthritis sets in. When you bring your dog for regular checkups, your vet will routinely check for early signs of hip dysplasia. Full diagnosis may involve further physical examination, x-rays and specialized tests like Penn-HIP x-rays.

Treatment options are covered in more detail in another post on my blog http://www.dogarthritisblog.info/dog-joint-health-1/prevent-dog-arthritis-with-hip-dysplasia-treatment/

Surgery: Hip dysplasia is best treated at an early age in life to prevent or slow the onset of painful arthritis. A variety of surgical procedures are used, often with excellent results in younger dogs. Older dogs can also benefit but often rely on salvage procedures rather than prevention.

Medical management treatments: Most dogs do not have surgery for hip dysplasia but will need to maintain a medical treatment plan that consist of weight management, exercise, supplements, and pain relief medication to slow down the progression of dog arthritis although the problem itself remains unchecked.

Ask your veterinary surgeon for further advice or visit my blog for some great information on the treatment of dog arthritis.