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.

Dog Hip & Elbow Dysplasia: How To Inhibit The Worsening of Your Dog’s Condition

It is not unusual for young pups to have hip or elbow dysplasia which resulted from genetic inheritance. Proper breeding over the long term can greatly reduce these problems, but it’s unfortunate that due to improper breeding by both professional breeders and amateurs, this condition is all too common.

You may have hear about canine hip dysplasia already. Canine elbow dysplasia is basically the same condition, except that it appears not in the hips but rather in the elbow joints. With regular healthy canine development, the head of the dog’s femur is meant to grow into the socket of the joint, and subsequently rotate smoothly inside the socket during canine mobility. Dysplasia is the condition that occurs when the head of the femure grows to the outward direction, causing the bone to thicken, and leaving a gap in the spot where the femoral head is meant to be in contact with the joint socket. That space leads to some troubles with motion, as the rotation can not take place smoothly without skipping. That can make it painful and unreliable for the dog to walk and run around.

In the event that you have a young dog that your vet diagnoses as having hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia, some approaches can be taken which might make the dog’s life more bearable and enjoyable. Let’s have a look at some pointers to take to heart and follow seriously:

A) This doesn’t affect your dog’s condition, but it does affect future generations of the breed and spieces: have your pet neutered. This is for the prevention of passing on the dysplasia genes to future generations of dogs.

B) You may be under the impression that giving your dog calcium supplements will help his condition. But the reality is that calcium might actually result in calcium deposits in the area of bone that is already unnaturally shaped and causing problems. A preferable approah is to supplement your canine’s diet with additional vitamins and minerals in consultation with your veterinarian.

C) One thing that can aggravate canine dysplasia is a fast growth rate. Eating a high calorie diet influences a high grow rate. So try to limit your dog’s rate of growth by feeding him just a healthy but balanced and light diet. Avoid feeding him too many calories, and also too much protein, since protein is used to build body tissue.

D) Help reduce the impact of your dog’s feet hitting the floor by putting down carpeting to cushion against this. This will bring your dog some immediate relief through lessened impact, but can also help prevent the condition from becoming worse.

E) Discourage your dog from running and sprinting. I know these activities are highly enjoyable for your pet, but running creates a harder impact on your dog’s joints and can cause inflammation, aggravation of the condition, and increased pain for your pup. Your dog still needs exercise, and exposure to the outdoors and nature, but try to minimize his pace.