Your Questions On Canine Hip Dysplasia - Answered.
- Author Jack Russell
- Published December 6, 2005
- Word count 811
What is canine hip dysplasia?
Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is one of the most frustrating
diseases in veterinary medicine today simply because it is so
difficult to prevent and treat. CHD is a developmental disease
of the bones in which the head of the thigh bone poorly fits
the hip socket, causing damage to the cartilage, gradual
destruction of the joint, pain and swelling. This disease
should not be confused with hip arthritis. Rather, it is the
most common cause of arthritis in the hips.
How is canine hip dysplasia transmitted?
CHD is a heritable disease. It is passed on by the parents to
the offspring. The only effective measure therefore to
eradicate the disease is to prevent dogs with hip dysplasia
from breeding. However, this is easier said than done, because
not all dogs with hip dysplasia show signs of the disease.
Seemingly normal dogs still carry the gene for CHD and are
bred, causing the disease to stay within the genepool.
How does one know if a dog has hip dysplasia?
A dog with hip dysplasia generally has less energy and
movement. It has difficulty rising from a sitting position,
lameness in the back legs, is hopping like a rabbit when
running, and is reluctant to go up the stairs. However, these
symptoms are usually not evident till the dog reaches middle
age. In extreme cases though, some dogs exhibit obvious hip
problems as early as 5-6 months of age.
How does a vet confirm if a dog has hip dysplasia?
Sad to say, there is no blood test or genetic test yet that
will detect if a dog is a carrier of CHD or not. Diagnosis of
the disease is routinely done through physical examinations and
x-rays. X-rays help in assessing how bad the condition is, and
through comparison with future x-rays, it can also serve as a
gauge of how well the chosen treatment is working. Two
techniques for taking x-rays of CHD-afflicted dogs are listed
below:
1.hip-extended ventrodorsal view x-ray – It provides a frontal
view of the pelvis and hip-joints and best assesses the degree
of severity of arthritis present.
2.PennHIP radiography technique – It is used to detect hip
looseness in dogs as young as four months of age.
What are the treatment options for canine hip dysplasia?
There is no real cure for CHD just yet, but there are
conservative or non-surgical ways to relieve its symptoms.
These include the use of drugs to relieve pain and
inflammation. Rimadyl, Ectogesic and Deramaxx are effective and
have given a lot of suffering dogs the relief needed to live a
normal life. Weight loss programs, controlled exercise and
physical therapy are also very effective in certain cases.
When conservative treatment is not enough, the only other
option is surgery. Surgery can be very effective as it corrects
the underlying cause of hip pain which is a malformed joint.
Surgery is approached in two different ways when dealing with
hip dysplasia. Prophylactic surgery is done to prevent the
progression af arthritis while therapeutic surgery aims to
treat already arthritic hips.
Triple pelvic osteotomy is the primary preventive procedure
available. It involves cutting the pelvis in three places and
rotating the hip sockets to provide better coverage. This
procedure is effective as long as it is done before arthritis
sets in or before the joint is damaged. Another kind of
preventive surgery, although still being studied if it is
effective or not, is pubic symphysiodesis. This involves
manipulating the way the pelvis grows to ensure a tighter hip.
This procedure is done on very young dogs.
Therapeutic procedures include total hip replacement and
femoral head ostectomy. Total hip replacement is performed
mainly on larger dogs. High density, medical plastic is used to
replace the socket and a high-quality, non-corrosive alloy is
used for the ball. This procedure has a high success rate,
almost completely eliminates pain and enables the dog to
completely resume activity.
Another therapeutic procedure for hip dysplasia is femoral head
ostectomy. It involves the removal of the top of the femur which
then eliminates the painful grinding at the hip joint. The femur
is then allowed to float freely causing the formation of scar
tisue which then serves as a false joint. This procedure is not
recommended for mild cases of arthritis and is generally
effective only on smaller, well-muscled dogs.
Can canine hip dysplasia be prevented?
The best measure of prevention is of course careful breeding
since hip dysplasia is a heritable condition. The onset of hip
dysplasia can be delayed in many dogs with a genetic
predisposition by preventing excessive weight gain during the
early months and by making sure that the puppy does not place
undue stress on the hips.
OFA and PennHip offers information on breed risk. Prospective
puppy buyers are advised to check for pedigrees for OFA,
PennHip or GDC certifications.
Jack Russell is a a long time dog fancier,
visit his Dog Resources Blog and download his Free Dog Owners
Handbook - it's Dog Gone Good!
http://www.daveshealthbuzz.com/dogcare/
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- How Much Per Meal Should I Feed My Puppy?
- Selecting the Perfect Pet for Your Lifestyle Made Easy: Experts 7 Tips
- Horse Box Hacks: How Equine Awnings Elevate Your Travel Experience
- Why Regular Pet Grooming Is Important For A Happy And Healthy Pet
- Unleash Your Dog’s Potential: Effective Techniques for Improving Communication and Obedience
- The Illusion of CSR Training Is Finally Reality - BUILDING A PROFESSIONAL CAREER PATH FOR CSRs
- The Diet of a Dog Affects Dental Health
- Do Pets at Home Remove Ticks? What You Should Know About Pet Tick Removal
- The Importance of Cat Furniture Accessories for Your Feline Friend
- Top 6 Pet Products You Need for Your Sweet, Furry Friend
- A QUICK GUIDE ON HOW TO USE PET GROOMING GLOVES PROPERLY!
- Dogs and Cats Compared
- Blog posts 5 Useful Tips on How to Clean Fish Poop in Tank
- The Importance Of Spending The Extra Cash On A Larger Rabbit Hutch
- Street Dogs in Nepal | Animal Welfare Nepal | Oxsa Nepal
- The Importance of Pet Care
- Tips on keeping your bird happy and healthy
- Why pet insurance – and why now?
- 600 million dogs
- What You Need to Know About Canine Deafness
- Pet Relocation - Tips For International Pet Moving
- Dengue Mosquitoes Best Ways To Avoid Dengue
- 5 Unique but Helpful Services for Your Pets
- To Meet Hero Dog Crate Mat
- Are you looking for a valid ESA letter? A complete guide to get an ESA.
- Facts about Best Self Cleaning Litter Box Uncovered
- Are Bird Toys Useful for Your Pet?
- Pets-ability is the Best Online Pet Supplies & Pet Medicine Store
- Cat Litter Choices
- Animals Turn to Nature for Self-Medication