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Hip Dysplasia In Dogs
Simon Harris
A fairly common degenerative disease in dogs, canine
hip dysplasia, is often misunderstood. Many mistakenly
think that the ailment is a form of arthritis, but
that is simply not the case. Often, dogs that suffer
from hip dysplasia will develop
arthritis, but this condition is a result of hip
dysplasia and not the disease itself. The condition is
most common in mid to large size dogs that grow
rapidly and can be a source of severe pain and limited
mobility for the animal. Even when detected early,
there is no “cure” for hip dysplasia; it must be
treated with medication to reduce the amount of pain
that the dog suffers or be corrected as much as
possible with surgery.
What is Hip Dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is essentially an abnormal formation of
the hip joint. This formation causes looseness in the
joint that causes an array of problems for the dog.
The most common results of hip dysplasia include pain
and lack of mobility. Dogs that are
severely affected can not move their hindquarters at
all. There are many degrees of dysplasia; they range
from only the slightest abnormalities in the
connection of the joint to complete dislocation of the
femur from the hip socket.
What Causes Hip Dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is primarily caused by genetics. If one
or both parent animals carry a genetic trait for hip
dysplasia, it will be passed on to their offspring.
Genetic conditions and their likelihood of being
passed on are measured in terms of “heritability
factoring.” Something that is determined completely by
genetics, like eye color or gender, is considered to
have a heritability factor of 1, indicating that the
condition is 100% genetic. A condition that has
absolutely nothing to do with genetics, like a
sprained ankle, has a heritability factor of 0.
Scientists have determined that hip dysplasia carries
a heritability factor between .25 and .85, meaning
that there is a 25% to 85% chance that the condition
is genetic in origin. While injuries to a young pup –
incurred before or after birth – can cause the
condition, almost all hip dysplasia is passed on
genetically.
How is Hip Dysplasia Treated?
As stated earlier, there is no “cure” for hip
dysplasia. Medication can be given to control the pain
and reduce inflammation of the joint, but the only way
to treat the condition on any permanent basis is
through surgery. The best way to combat hip dysplasia
is through selective breeding. If the either of the
potential parent animals show traits of hip
dysplasia, they should not be bred and should be
spayed or neutered to ensure they do not pass on the
trait. All breeding dogs should be X-Rayed at a young
age to check for signs of the condition. Many times a
dog that appears perfectly healthy and has no signs of
the condition can actually have hip dysplasia.
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