It was common practice back in the early 1970s for young dogs to be put to sleep when they were discovered to have canine hip dysplasia. In those days it was the most common recommendation from veterinarians, and most owners would reluctantly agree to have their dogs put down because it was assumed that the dogs would never be able to lead a happy and fulfilling life without being able to run, play fetch, jump, go for walks, hunt, or any other physical activities that involved walking/running.

Some Veterinarians Disagreed With This Thinking

In actuality, puppies and young dogs that have dog hip displasia have a good chance of going on to live a normal and fulfilling life if the dog is simply left to mature with no further intervention. Many dogs will cease to be badly affected by the condition once they reach their full level of maturity, leading some veterinarians to avoid recommending surgery or putting the dog to sleep.

There is little in the way of reputable research or statistics to show that young dogs exhibiting hip dysplasia turn out any better after surgery than do those who are left to mature without intervention. Countless dogs that overcame their condition naturally without surgery can take place in dog shows, tracking, obedience trails, and other forms of exercise and activity. So we have a large amount of anecdotal evidence that surgery is not necessary in young dogs. Scientifically speaking, it makes little sense to sever tendons and muscle in the young dog. It results in the ball slipping out of its socket, which is exactly the problem of hip dysplasia in the first place.

However, when performed on an older dog undergoing constant pain, dog dysplasia surgery can be a useful procedure that instantly relieves discomfort. This is done by adjusting the weight bearing surface in the hip joint. But it is not clear how long such relief lasts, or what percentage of dogs experience relief by undergoing this procedure. But this is definitely a valid option for older dogs.

Uncertainty Over Whether Dog Hip Dysplasia is Genetic

Human hip dysplasia is genetic, so early researchers of canine hip dysplasia were working under the assumption that it too was a genetic condition. Their research focused on whether the cidtion was dominant or recessive. There is evidence that there is a genetic element to hip dysplasia in dogs, but a Swedish study was conducted on over eleven thousand German Shepherd dogs that determined that a decade of selective breeding could not successfully lower the number of offspring with canine hip dysplasia. They also could not lower the number of moderate-severe cases.

The Swedish researchers concluded that there was less of a genetic factor causing dog hip dysplasia as they had originally assumed. They observed different factors linked to the condition: the characteristics of the pelvic inlet, as well as the rate of bone maturation in the particular dog.

Greyhounds are the only large breed of canines that does not experience hip dysplasia. This is a breed with very slow bone maturation. Cases of cross-breeding Greyhounds and German Shepherds resulted in a generation of offspring with no hip dysplasia. If slow bone maturation is the key to preventing the condition, then is there any way we can slow bone maturation? There is some evidence that a restricted day that slows bone maturation is possible.

We don`t yet have a complete understanding of what factors cause dog hip dysplasia. But the rate of bone maturation, as well as giving young dogs the opportunity to overcome the condition without interference, seem to be key points to focus on.

Canine Hip Dysplasia Treatment and Prevention

Perhaps the most challenging task facing dog veterinarians is how to best deal with canine hip dysplasia. Numerous methods of treatment are available, but here we’ll discuss just the most widely accepted and practiced approaches.

1. Maintenance: This is simple monitoring and management of the disorder without surgery. It entails rest and limited exercise, pain killers, and anti inflammatory medicine. It is the best option is particularly mild cases or in canines who might be in excessive danger if they undergo surgery.

2. Reconstruction of the Hip Joint: This is serious bone surgery, the final goal being tje returning pf the hip joint to a regular anatomical position. It is fairly hard to execute and sometimes needs to be done by an orthopedic surgeon. This kind of surgical procedure to fix hip dysplasia is best for young dogs before arthritis has become an issue. Some of the various techniques are pelvic osteotomy, acetabuloplasty, and varus osteotomy.

3. Replacement of the Joint: Older dogs might benefit the most from this type of surgery. The ball of the joint can be replaced with an artificial ball or taken out completely. Artificial replacements haven’t been so successful until this point. Taking away the femoral head ends its bone contact with the pelvis and thus takes away the pain.

How to Prevention Canine Hip Dysplasia

Any disorder with a hereditary element is at least partially controllable through selective breeding. Studies so far have been rather informative. A nonprofit organization, the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals (O.F.A.), has been studying orthopedic diseases ever since 1966.

Their plan for controlling dysplasia centers around an x-ray evaluation of the hips. Three independent veterinary radiologists investigate every x-ray received by the foundation. If the joints seem fine, an O.F.A. Certification number is provided. If some degree of dysplasia is discovered, the dog and his vet are informed. Dogs exhibiting any amount of dysplasia shouldn’t be used for breeding purposes.

Owners of larger breeds should definitely get a radiographic evaluation of the hip joints of all dogs that will be used for breeding, both male and female. Anybody who has experienced raising a growing pup that has this debilitating disorder can understand the sigificance of this kind of intervention program. Wwe should point out that O.F.A. certified parents might occasionally give birth to dysplastic puppies, but the rate of occurrence is much lower.

Because treating hip dysplasia is only a partial solution in many cases, restrictive breeding is still our most powerful weapon for eliminating the disease.