Tag Archive for: hip

Hip dysplasia is a very common problem in certain breeds: BullDog, Bordeaux Doge, St. Bernard, Neapolitan Mastiff, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Golden… all of them have an incidence above 20%.

Dysplasia is a multifactorial, multigenic and hereditary disease, that is, there are several factors that predispose and cause hip dysplasia, there are several genes involved in its appearance and it has a hereditary character.

Environmental factors are becoming more and more important in the development of hip dysplasia, the genetic factor is necessary to develop the disease but this is not the only factor. Genetics is a necessary but not exclusive factor, that is, you can have the genetic predisposition and not develop the disease but if you do not have a predisposition it is sure that it does not develop.

There are several degrees of dysplasia, and also those that appear when the dog is a puppy or those that give problem already in adulthood; but in this article we will focus on the treatment and specifically on the treatment of dysplasia to young dogs.

Classification of the degrees of dysplasia according to the OFA :

Grade I: minimal alteration with small subluxation and few degenerative changes.

Grade II: marked lateral subluxation of the femoral head, 25-50% of which is outside the acetabulum.

Grade III: 50-75% of the femoral head is outside the acetabulum; there are important degenerative changes.

Grade IV: dislocation of the femoral head with flattening of the acetabular border and femoral head; there are major degenerative changes.

The presentation in the young dog is puppy hip x-ray normally between 5 and 6 months and is marked by a significant limp.

A dog is not considered to be free of dysplasia until at two years of age already completed no problems or inconsistencies are observed in the control x-rays.

Food is one of the factors that predisposes to the appearance of hip dysplasia, Calcium-Phosphorus imbalances that must keep a correlation Ca1.6% – P1.1% and above all not overfeeding or providing excess proteins allows us to minimize the incidence of hip dysplasia. A hypocaloric diet from 3 months to 8 months protects dogs with rapid growth from dysplasia. Excess weight at 60 days is another factor that predisposes to the disease.

Hip dysplasia in the puppy usually debuts from 5 or 6 months, before it is not possible to observe any problem and the dog has been completely normal and has developed normally. The debut is usually presented as a sharp limp that prevents the dog from playing as it had done to date. We can observe changes in the desire to play, negative when going for a walk, to relate to other dogs or owners. Mood swings, frequent slips of the hind legs, discomfort and even refusal to be touched and the fact of “fleeing” from children in dogs that until a few days ago were playful and affectionate are frequent.

Sometimes when you reach 90% of the growth between 8 and 11 months the signs can be reduced and even disappear. Anyway the dysplasia remains and in many cases the problems reappear after a while and sooner rather than later signs of osteoarthritis appear in the hips.

The most common clinical signs are:

Lameness that may increase with exercise

Walking and jogging with hip swing

Morning stiffness

Difficulty getting up

Muscle atrophy

Refusal to move

Mood swings

Pain on palpation

Sign of Ortolani.

Although there are surgical methods: excision of the pectineus muscle, triple hip osteotomy, arthroplasty of the femoral head, osteotomy of the pubis, forage, hip prostheses most are practiced when the dog is young to supposedly decrease the possibility of secondary coxofemoral osteoarthritis in adulthood. The hip prosthesis should be reserved for severe cases and once the growth has finished.

Medical treatment is based on anti-inflammatories, we can start with natural anti-inflammatories, such as inflamex, which does not contain medicinal substances, if we do not obtain the expected results move to Aine’s and in extreme cases corticos are resorted to. We must include nutraceuticals especially chondroprotectors since they reduce the incidence of osteoarthritis and protect the articular cartilage. These are used in senior dogs in a very general way but are very useful as a joint protector in growing dogs, there are specific drug carriers for young dogs. Weight reduction, moderate and above all regular exercise are other basic points, as well as improvements in the environment and the fact of sleeping on a special mattress for older dogs and in a warm place away from humidity.

Canine physiotherapy can help a lot to better develop the muscles to reduce pain, to draw tensions and eliminate compensations that the dog has made with the wrong postures and antialgic positions. This will be based on TENS, ultrasound, therapeutic exercises, the use of hydrotherapy, laser, shock waves…

The main improvement in the environment is to sleep on a good therapeutic mattress, not to be cold or exposed to a lot of humidity, to use in winter a thermal coat for dogs, to be able to be a therapeutic canine blanket that can be used all year round.

We can help our Dog with hip dysplasia, regular physical exercise can be very useful to improve muscle mass that better withstands poor joint congruence, avoid impacts, jumps or uncontrolled runs during the presentation of the picture are also important elements. Physiotherapy and massages allow you to always have the dog in a correct muscular state, and all the adjuvant treatments such as acupuncture, massages, reiki, bach flowers … they can also help with treatment. The latest novelty is the hip supports that help stabilize the pelvis, give support and greatly improve the quality of life of our pets.

Toni

Ortocanis.com Team

1. What is hip dysplasia?

It is one of the most frequent diseases in dogs, especially large breeds.

2. What is the disease?

In a mismatch between the head of the femur and the acetabulum, that is, a bad gear of the hip joint. The femoral head is partially outside the acetabulum and the hip cannot work properly.

3. Does it affect some races more than others?

Yes, hip dysplasia practically does not exist in Greyhounds and yet it is very common in San Bernardo and Mastines. It is also quite common in the German Shepherd, the Golden Retriever and the Rottweiler among other breeds.

4. How to know the severity of dysplasia?

There are several degrees of dysplasia, but there are also different ways to measure it, the most common being an X-ray that should be done on dogs near the year of life. This x-ray must be performed in a very specific position and with the muscles relaxed, so it is usually necessary to anesthetize the dog.

5. What are the symptoms?

Normally lameness in dogs from 5 to 10 months but can remain without problems during youth and adulthood and debut with major problems in the geriatric period. Movement to the sides of the hips may also be indicative of hip dysplasia.

6. Does it have anything to do with osteoarthritis?

They are two different problems, but hip dysplasia, the mismatch of the joint, can cause over time that this joint degenerates and ends up suffering from osteoarthritis in the hip. Osteoarthritis is what hurts, especially in old age. Dysplasia may be more responsible for the dog’s development of osteoarthritis.

7. Is there treatment?

There are several treatments, various surgeries before the year of life and other methods such as hip prosthesis when the dog is older and has finished growing.

We also have palliative treatments such as anti-inflammatories or cartilage protectors (chondroprotectors). In very serious cases you can put a canine wheelchair and the dog continues to walk but without bearing the burden of its weight.

Ortocanis.com Technical Team

Hip dysplasia Irresponsible breeders, feeding, environment?

Currently, with only three months of age it is possible to know the existence of small anomalies in the conformation of the hip/femur joint, which will lead to dysplasia.

Origin of hip dysplasia in dogs:

In colloquial language (today we avoid veterinary terms) hip dysplasia is a “failure” in the head joint of the femur-hip. If the head of the femur is not lodged in the hip perfectly, there is a deterioration of the cartilage that protects the joint, and that deterioration is degenerative and irreversible. But why does hip dysplasia occur?
Genetic inheritance. Hip dysplasia is inherited, and if breeders do not perform the necessary tests to know that their dogs are free (certified X-ray) and that previous generations too, puppies can suffer from it. Many breeders (and more particular) ignore these x-rays (eye, there is no breed safe from the disease). Hopefully they include a clause in the sales contract in which they will give you a puppy if you prove that the one you have bought has dysplasia (as if they were appliances).
Environmental factors. In the period of growth (until the year, but especially critical the first six months of life), slippery floors, sudden exercises, jumps … Puppies with a limit hip can aggravate their situation if care is not taken in these critical months, and vice versa, they will be able to lead a perfectly normal life if they develop correctly in these months (even if their hips are not perfect).
Feeding. The months in which dysplasia develops are those of growth, and the slower the puppy grows the better. Foods very high in protein have been linked to the onset of dysplasia. Chondroprodectors help during growth (in predisposed individuals or breeds, always under veterinary supervision).
About prevention in line with the above, if the breeder is responsible and has all the controls done we still can not sing victory. It is very important that the puppy has a good diet according to his growth needs, which does not get fat (the image we all have of a rolly puppy is typical, but not healthy), supported by chondroprotectors if necessary, that the exercise is restrained (avoiding strange movements, and especially jumps and forced postures of the back three), be careful with the floors of the house (if they are slippery it is not a bad idea to get some old carpets that last us a few months).

Some exercises and “tricks” are very demanding with the hip, and therefore dangerous in puppies and young dogs.

And the greatest prevention: radiography There are many puppies that can limp for causes that have nothing to do with dysplasia, and in the same way, there are asymptomatic with serious femur and hip problems. The plate is painless, economical, and the only truly reliable method. At present we can know the state of the hips of our puppy from as early as three months (PennHip method), so that conservative treatments can be established, or in the case of an intervention being necessary, which is not drastic but reconstructive, preserving the joint. Until the year of age it is not possible to ensure that the hip has had a perfect development and, therefore, it will not be until then when the dog can start in canine sports (“start” is to go little by little) performing more demanding exercises with his body.

Source: www.doogweb.es

www.ortocanis.com

 

Incidence of hip dysplasia in dogs

In a study by the Orthopaedic Foundation of Animals OFA, which is the one that analyzes the largest number of cases, we can conclude with some criteria that dog breeds are more predisposed to suffer from hip dysplasia.

soporte para perro con displasia de caderaThe study shows a summary of the main breeds. The study has been extended over time from 1974 to 2010 with a minimum of 100 cases per breed analyzing up to 147 different breeds.

It is worth mentioning the English Bull Dog and the Carlino as the dogs with the highest percentage of dysplasia have together with the Bordeaux Dog exceed 50% very close are the Neapolitan Mastiff and the San Bernardo. On the opposite side are the greyhound with virtually no known cases of dysplasia.

Bull dog 72.6%

Carlino 64,3 %

Doge of Bordeaux 56,3 %

Neapolitan Mastiff 48.1%

San Bernardo 46.7%

Dog Argentino 41.0%

Basset 37.8%

Presa Canario 33.3%

American Bull Dog 33.0%

French Bull Dog 31.3%

American Stafforshire 26.0%

Bullmastiff 24.4%

Pit Bull 23.6%

German Shepherd 22.4%

Rottweiler 20.3%

Golden Retriever 19.8%

Chow Chow 19.5%

Mastiff 19.4%

English Shepherd 18.6%

Giant Schnauzer 18.0%

Beagle 18.0%

English Setter 16.3%

Bernese Bouvier 16.1%

Akita 12.9%

Poodle 12.2%

West Highland 12.1%

Great Dane 12.0%

Labrador Retriever 11.9%

Alaskan Malamute 11.5%

Samoyed 11.1%

Boxer 11.0%

Border Collie 10.9%

Pyrenees Mountain 9.2%

Schznauzer 8.6%

Pointer 8.1%

Bull Terrier 6.7%

Cocker Spaniel 6.5%

Rodesian 5.1%

Dalmatian 4.6%

Greyhound 2.1%

Siberian Husky 2.0%

Whippet 1.4%

Italian Greyhound 0.0%

 

Information extracted by Ortocanis from the OFA study on the incidence of hip dysplasia in different dog breeds

You can see all the data of the study in the following table:

Race Posic. Number of evaluations Excellent percentage Dysplasia percentage
BULLDOG 1 506 0.2 72.1
PUG 2 441 0.0 66.0
DOGUE OF BORDEAUX 3 406 1.0 56.7
OTTERHOUND 4 374 0.3 51.1
BOERBOEL 5 110 4.5 48.2
NEAPOLITAN MASTIFF 6 155 2.6 47.7
ST. BERNARD 7 2112 4.1 46.8
CLUMBER SPANIEL 8 864 3.0 44.8
BLACK RUSSIAN TERRIER 9 435 3.7 43.4
SUSSEX SPANIEL 10 258 1.6 41.5
ARGENTINE DOGO 11 193 3.1 40.9
CANE CORSO 12 687 6.7 40.0
BASSET HOUND 13 198 0.0 37.4
BOYKIN SPANIEL 14 2890 2.1 33.7
CANARY PREY DOG 15 180 3.9 33.3
NORFOLK TERRIER 16 274 0.0 33.2
AMERICAN BULLDOG 17 1733 4.9 33.2
GLEN OF IMAAL TERRIER 18 145 0.7 31.0
FRENCH BULLDOG 19 931 1.3 30.4
FILA BRASILEIRO 20 598 7.5 29.9
AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER 21 2860 2.4 26.0
BLOODHOUND 22 2768 2.8 25.7
NEWFOUNDLAND 23 14688 8.3 25.2
BULLMASTIFF 24 5369 3.9 24.4
MAINE COON CAT 25 1073 4.2 24.3
AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER 26 733 5.6 24.1
LOUISIANA CATAHOULA LEOPARD 27 531 11.7 22.0
ESPAÑOL SHEPHERD 28 322 10.6 22.0
CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVER 29 12356 12.3 20.6
ROTTWEILER 30 92235 8.3 20.3
CARDIGAN WELSH CORGI 31 1759 3.2 19.7
GOLDEN RETRIEVER 32 130304 4.1 19.7
NORWEGIAN ELKHOUND 33 3756 7.2 19.6
CHOW CHOW 34 5218 7.2 19.5
PYRENEAN SHEPHERD 35 108 2.8 19.4
MASTIFF 36 10505 7.9 19.3
SHIH TZU 37 615 2.0 19.3
GORDON SETTER 38 5947 8.8 19.3
HYBRID 39 1172 8.3 19.3
GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG 40 102750 3.9 19.0
GREATER SWISS MOUNTAIN DOG 41 2500 12.9 18.9
PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI 42 10636 3.2 18.6
OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG 43 10515 11.7 18.5
KUVASZ 44 1713 13.7 18.1
CHINOOK 45 581 9.3 18.1
FIELD SPANIEL 46 964 8.2 18.0
SHILOH SHEPHERD 47 701 9.0 18.0
BEAGLE 48 855 2.6 18.0
GIANT SCHNAUZER 49 4266 9.7 17.9
STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER 50 552 2.0 17.8
EPAGNEUL BRETON 51 121 1.7 17.4
WELSH TERRIER 52 104 5.8 17.3
ICELANDIC SHEEPDOG 53 197 11.7 16.8
ESPAÑOL SETTER 54 10145 10.4 16.1
ENTLEBUCHER 55 293 4.4 16.0
BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG 56 16544 13.6 15.9
AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG 57 3334 4.4 15.6
ITALIAN SPINONE 58 1120 18.0 15.5
LABRADOODLE 59 149 9.4 15.4
POLISH LOWLAND SHEEPDOG 60 464 8.2 15.3
CURLY-COATED RETRIEVER 61 1122 8.3 15.3
AFFENPINSCHER 62 274 4.0 15.3
BOUVIER DES FLANDRES 63 7959 6.1 15.0
BRITTANY 64 17673 8.7 14.6
BLACK AND TAN COONHOUND 65 678 10.3 14.5
BRIARD 66 2338 13.2 14.2
HARRIER 67 318 9.1 14.2
LEONBERGER 68 1574 20.2 14.0
TIBETAN MASTIFF 69 862 7.5 13.9
BEAUCERON 70 349 14.3 13.8
HAVANA SILK DOG 71 183 2.2 13.7
NORWICH TERRIER 72 693 7.1 13.4
CHINESE SHAR-PEI 73 9470 9.1 13.3
ESPAÑOL SPRINGER SPANIEL 74 14309 8.6 13.0
PORTUGUESE WATER DOG 75 7468 14.0 12.8
AKITA 76 15949 18.9 12.8
PUDELPOINTER 77 390 14.9 12.6
FINNISH LAPPHUND 78 144 11.1 12.5
CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL 79 5896 4.2 12.4
KOMONDOR 80 960 12.2 12.2
POODLE 81 21881 11.7 12.2
WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER 82 264 3.4 12.1
BOSTON TERRIER 83 182 6.0 12.1
GREAT DANE 84 12071 11.6 12.0
IRISH SETTER 85 11075 9.1 12.0
IRISH WATER SPANIEL 86 1250 17.3 11.9
LABRADOR RETRIEVER 87 221077 18.1 11.8
SMOOTH FOX TERRIER 88 317 8.8 11.7
WELSH SPRINGER SPANIEL 89 1893 15.2 11.7
AIREDALE TERRIER 90 5757 7.3 11.5
ALASKAN MALAMUTE 91 13605 16.8 11.4
PETIT BASSET GRIFFONS VENDEEN 92 677 4.1 11.4
SAMOYED 93 15590 10.4 11.0
BOXER 94 5221 3.4 10.9
WIREHAIRED VIZSLA 95 101 10.9 10.9
BORDER COLLIE 96 10353 12.9 10.8
ANATOLIAN SHEPHERD 97 1714 18.1 10.3
PULI 98 1717 16.3 10.1
HAVANESE 99 2776 9.1 10.0
SMALL MUNSTERLANDER 100 134 12.7 9.7
AKBASH DOG 101 537 23.8 9.7
AMERICAN ESKIMO DOG 102 990 8.6 9.3
AUSTRALIAN KELPIE 103 119 9.2 9.2
GREAT PYRENEES 104 5749 14.0 9.2
COTON DE TULEAR 105 640 9.2 9.2
GERMAN WIREHAIRED POINTER 106 3959 16.5 9.1
NORWEGIAN BUHUND 107 176 8.0 9.1
MINIATURE AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD 108 1131 16.9 8.7
SWEDISH VALLHUND 109 185 5.9 8.6
WEIMARANER 110 11733 21.1 8.5
STANDARD SCHNAUZER 111 4073 8.1 8.5
TIBETAN SPANIEL 112 319 6.6 8.2
POINTER 113 1501 13.7 8.1
WIREHAIRED POINTING GRIFFON 114 1914 20.5 8.0
FRENCH SPANIEL 115 167 18.6 7.8
AMERICAN WATER SPANIEL 116 736 10.1 7.7
VIZSLA 117 13032 16.5 7.1
BICHON FRISE 118 3364 11.4 6.9
DUTCH SHEPHERD 119 190 18.4 6.8
BULL TERRIER 120 105 11.4 6.7
NOVA SCOTIA DUCKTOLLING RET. 121 1683 17.8 6.4
COCKER SPANIEL 122 12575 10.8 6.4
LHASA APSO 123 812 14.5 6.4
KEESHOND 124 4537 9.1 6.3
DOBERMAN PINSCHER 125 14922 17.9 6.1
HOVAWART 126 131 22.9 6.1
BEARDED COLLIE 127 4356 16.3 6.1
FINNISH SPITZ 128 321 16.8 5.9
SCHIPPERKE 129 426 10.3 5.9
TIBETAN TERRIER 130 3836 30.6 5.8
AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD 131 30510 16.4 5.8
AFGHAN HOUND 132 6593 29.7 5.7
KERRY BLUE TERRIER 133 1502 13.2 5.7
SHIBA INU 134 2892 18.4 5.6
ESPAÑOL COCKER SPANIEL 135 6681 18.7 5.6
BELGIAN MALINOIS 136 2480 18.4 5.4
NORTH AMERICAN SHEPHERD 137 336 16.7 5.1
IRISH WOLFHOUND 138 1695 26.7 5.0
RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK 139 10672 21.8 5.0
SOFT COATED WHEATEN TERRIER 140 5817 16.9 4.8
SHETLAND SHEEPDOG 141 19079 27.5 4.6
DALMATIAN 142 3273 10.5 4.5
FLAT-COATED RETRIEVER 143 5242 19.5 4.2
GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTER 144 15084 25.8 4.2
IRISH RED & WHITE SETTER 145 197 29.4 4.1
BORDER TERRIER 146 2453 20.4 3.8
PARSON RUSSELL TERRIER 147 109 24.8 3.7
BELGIAN TERVUREN 148 5664 25.9 3.5
BASENJI 149 2448 23.1 3.4
RAT TERRIER 150 421 14.0 3.3
BELGIAN SHEEPDOG 151 3886 32.7 2.9
COLLIE 152 2825 29.9 2.8
IBIZAN HOUND 153 322 35.7 2.8
PHARAOH HOUND 154 444 15.5 2.7
AUSTRALIAN TERRIER 155 179 5.6 2.2
CANAAN 156 423 17.3 2.1
GREYHOUND 157 343 35.6 2.0
SIBERIAN HUSKY 158 16915 33.7 2.0
TOY AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD 159 100 28.0 2.0
BORZOI 160 846 31.0 1.8
SALUKI 161 261 42.5 1.5
WHIPPET 162 154 38.3 1.3
GERMAN PINSCHER 163 331 21.8 1.2
ITALIAN GREYHOUND 164 211 59.2 0.0

 

CONTACT US

Call Monday through Friday
from 9h to 18;30h

Phone : 930 219 323

SEND MESSAGE TO
CUSTOMER SERVICE

 

Do large breed dogs slouch?

Are the alterations in the movement of the hindquarters in our dogs due to hip dysplasia?

On many occasions consultations are made for movement disorders or difficulties, claudication, limping of the hindquarters, either in puppies or in adult dogs. It is important to understand that NOT all claudication responds to the same pathology and of course to the same treatment. It is very common to hear that older dogs “loosen”.

The term hip displasia popularly refers to hip dysplasia and if we refer to elderly animals, in most cases it is not the hip that is responsible for this problem, but rather conditions of the dorsal or lumbar spine, showing great displacement difficulties and even paresis of the posterior train. Spine problems can appear in dogs from 7 or 8 years of age, mainly in large breeds with or without dysplasia. The clinical manifestations of hip problems are more frequent in young dogs, but it must also be taken into account that a large percentage of animals are asymptomatic.

What happens in older dogs?

As our dogs get older, the first signs of aging appear: decreased activity and some lameness in the hindquarters.

If they were dogs that showed no gait problems when they were young, owners are surprised by the change in activity and it is common to think that hip dysplasia has knocked on the door. However, in many cases the spinal column of these dogs has suffered from the action of pressure and traction on the intervertebral discs, causing a fibrous hardening of the capsules (with which the cartilaginous discs support or cushion less blows and traction) and in many Opportunities the nuclei of these intervertebral discs move, squeezing the spinal cord (herniated disc) compressing the nerve roots and causing pain and neurological dysfunction.

This disease is known as spondyloarthrosis or degenerative stenosis in the lumbosacral region or in the thoracolumbar region of the spine.

The symptoms vary according to the location of the lesions, but on many occasions they are similar to hip dysplasia: pain in the hind limbs, claudication and difficulty standing up, staggering and less activity. Spondyloarthrosis can progress to paralysis of the hindquarters. Many animals have one or more affected vertebrae in a subclinical state (without symptoms) or show slight clinical signs.

In the case of spondyloarthrosis, the treatments must be very energetic.

Anti- inflammatories , neurotrophic vitamins, chondroprotective cartilage regenerators, analgesics, muscle relaxants, as well as rehabilitation therapies in more serious cases are used together. Consult your veterinarian in these cases since it is very important to make a good diagnosis, differentiate the different pathologies to implement the appropriate treatment.

What happens in puppies and hip dysplasia?

If we think specifically about puppies, not all of them show symptoms having hip dysplasia. The diagnosis can be made from 6 months of age through an X-ray taken with the animal under anesthesia, which allows a perfect position and distension of the ligaments of the coxofemoral joint.

Other lesions in the lumbar spine (cauda equina) may appear here, producing pain and lameness that may coexist with hip dysplasia or with totally healthy hips, making differential and specific diagnosis essential.

These concepts have the sole objective of giving a general idea of some of the pathologies that can affect our dogs, so as not to be left with the concept that the “hip is the mother of all evils”.

Specifically in “old” dogs and puppies, we can monitor and prevent joint problems. Oral and injectable chondroprotectors are used for this, which inhibit the processes of cartilage-degrading enzymes, are natural anti-inflammatories, nourish cartilage cells and stimulate cartilage regeneration.

It is also advisable that as our dogs approach 10 years, they are well fed but thin. Obesity or overweight is an ingredient against longevity. Moderate exercise will keep our animals active and with a good temperament.

Dr. Ana María Robles – Veterinary Doctor – MP 2626

Hip dysplasia is one of the most common mobility difficulties in dogs, especially large ones. At Ortocanis, we work every day to expand and improve our range of products for these types of problems, and we believe that any additional information is good. Here we leave you another interesting article.

At the University of León, a radiographic method has been developed for the early diagnosis of this disease with great emotional repercussions for owners.

Hip dysplasia is a very common disease in large and giant breeds of dogs, which consists of defective development of this joint.

In it, the two bones that form the joint, femur and pelvis, do not adapt correctly due to different biomechanical imbalances produced during the growth of the animal. It is a hereditary disease, so the main solution to eradicate it is to avoid breeding these animals, although it is also important to control factors such as nutrition, weight or overexertion of the puppy during its growth as well as consanguinity in selective breeding.

The symptoms presented by the animals vary according to the severity of the dysplasia, from a slight lameness to the total inability of the animal to lead a normal life.

The diagnosis of this disease is not easy, since there is no method that allows it to be determined in all cases. The method accepted in Spain for certificate purposes is radiographic, although it has the disadvantage that it must be carried out when growth has finished, that is, after twelve months for most breeds.

Early diagnosis can prevent transmission

In the Doctoral Thesis of Beatriz Melo Alonso, defended at the University of León and directed by doctors José Manuel Gonzalo Orden and Mario Manuel Dinis, hip dysplasia has been investigated in one of our native breeds: the Burgos Pointer.
The result of this research has been worrying, since 59.3% of the animals studied suffer from hip dysplasia in its different degrees, with 18.6% severe dysplasia. This high percentage should alert the Burgos Perdiguero associations to try to eradicate it.

Early diagnostic

The drawback is that the aforementioned diagnostic technique is very late, and therefore, has a great emotional impact on owners.
For this reason, another part of the research has consisted of perfecting, for this breed, a new diagnostic technique developed in the United States called the PennHIP or distraction method, which consists of taking a specific X-ray and taking a measurement on it called the index of distraction.

This study has concluded that with the PennHIP method this disease can be predicted from four months of age, and throughout the animal’s growth, with the same reliability, in the Pointer, and it has even been possible to enunciate a formula with the which will know the degree of hip dysplasia that he will have in the future from the distraction index that he presents at four months. This system could reduce this disease, which has so much repercussion, both on the animal itself and on the owners.

Source: University of León

Probably one of the most common diseases in large dogs, here they explain what it is.

Hip Dysplasia is the most common osteoarticular disease in dogs. a typical disease of dogs of large and medium breeds, less frequent in small breeds.

It presents with a poor congruence of the acetabular cavity (hip) with the femoral heads that may appear dislocated or sub-dislocated, that is, out of their natural place. The head of the femur, not having a good coating, “dances” and this produces stress, inflames and weakens the joint and the periarticular tissues.

It is very common for degenerative changes of osteoarthritis to appear. Osteoarthrosis that appears due to dysplasia will cause problems of inflammation, pain, which in turn will cause the dog to carry more weight on the hands, less on the hindquarters and therefore use less hindquarters and a clear muscle atrophy appears in the posterior third that will aggravate the symptoms.

The symptoms vary a little depending on the breed and especially the age of the dog, we must think that for the diagnosis a distraction X-ray is performed, that is to say with the dog lying up and symmetrical traction on the hind limbs, normally with the dog anesthetized or heavily sedated, but the symptoms do not always correlate with the x-ray result.

Sometimes we see dogs with a lot of dysplasia and that have little or no pain and also the opposite case, a lot of pain with a result in the radiological examination that is not so bad. The pain depends more on the inflammation of the joint (synovitis) among other factors than on the dysplasia itself.

From 5 or 6 months, the warning signs begin, the dog stands badly (puts one leg out), has difficulty standing, does not bear weight on the hindquarters, may have signs of pain after exercise , slipping, falling, sudden mood changes, becoming more aggressive, avoiding the presence of the owner when petting him and presenting the typical gait of the dog with dysplasia, which is rocking the back and running like a rabbit. Sometimes at the end of growth the symptoms disappear or are greatly minimized, the only clear sign remaining is a rocking gait.

Hip dysplasia has clear indices of heritability, although dogs are often carriers but do not develop hip dysplasia, not all environmental factors such as rapid development and nutrition are clear, as well as genetics or their mechanisms of action and we can see offspring with hip dysplasia from normal parents and even vice versa, although it is not very ethical to raise sick parents.

Excess weight, a non-varied diet where dogs can choose are factors that have been shown to increase the chances of suffering from the disease. The most critical period for the development of this disease is between 3 and 8 months, reducing caloric intake and regular exercise without much impact could be an interesting decision to avoid hip dysplasia in this phase. colchon para perros, artrosis, displasia cadera perros, perro anciano

In older dogs, the problems are determined as a result of the osteoarthritis that they present, the most typical symptoms are difficulty getting up, swaying gait from the hips, we observe that it carries much more weight in front and that it walks with the help of the forelimbs (rowing more than propelling), they have a lot of difficulty getting on their hind legs, climbing stairs, getting into the car or getting on the sofa. In the image we can see the typical position that a dog with hip osteoarthritis adopts, with its legs open to increase the base of support and its head forward to load more weight on the front part, you can also see the muscular atrophy that exists in the later ones.

Sometimes they present a limp that disappears after walking for a short period of time, which is suffered more in the morning when getting up, especially if they have not rested correctly or on a suitable mattress, the limbs are usually flexed while they walk, their steps they are short since the extension of the hips hurts and they present a very important development of the muscular mass of the hindquarters (atrophy). The times of the walks are reduced a lot, the dog sits or lies down and does not want to go for a walk or for a long time during the walk.
Although there are various classifications, the International Canine Federation is based on this classification:

  • No sign of dysplasia.
  • Almost normal hip joints.
  • Mild dysplasia.
  • Moderate or medium.
  • Serious.

Although there are surgical methods: excision of the pectineus muscle, triple hip osteotomy, arthroplasty of the femoral head, forage, hip prosthesis… in the end, the treatment is purely palliative, it includes pharmacology: anti-inflammatories and cartilage protectors, weight reduction, exercise moderate and above all regular, physiotherapy can help a lot to better develop the muscles without pain to remove tensions and eliminate compensations that the dog has made, improvements in the environment: sleep on a good mattress for example the mattress for older dogs , not being cold or exposed to high humidity, and all the adjuvant treatments such as acupuncture, massages, reiki, bach flowers…

We can help our dog with hip dysplasia in many ways: regular physical exercisecolchón para perros, displasia, artrosis can help us a lot to improve muscle mass that can make us better withstand poor joint congruence, physiotherapy and massages allow the dog to always have a correct muscular state, cartilage protectors delay the onset of osteoarthritis, anti-inflammatories prevent or reduce pain, we can protect the dog from the cold with thermal blankets and if the dog has trouble getting up, help it with a rear harness , it is important that the dog feels comfortable and that we encourage it to move and exercise.

Orthocanis Team

.