How To Treat A Dog With Hip Dysplasia

Introduction

Hip dysplasia is a common degenerative disease that can affect both dogs and cats. It’s a genetic condition in which the hip joint doesn’t form properly and, as such, it can’t adequately cushion the ball-and-socket joint. This means that every time your pet moves, their hip bone rubs against their pelvic bone. Over time, this results in the degradation of cartilage in the joint and eventually leads to debilitating osteoarthritis or other problems with mobility. The good news is that there are ways to treat this disease (especially when diagnosed early). There isn’t a cure for hip dysplasia—the best thing you can do is prevent it from happening in the first place—but with some smart approaches to treatment, you might be able to manage your buddy’s symptoms so they live a long and happy life.

What Is Hip Dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia is a condition that affects the joints of your dog’s hips. It can be caused by genetics or environmental factors.

This disease can be treated and prevented, but it can be difficult to cure if left untreated.

Causes Of Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a congenital condition, meaning that it’s present at birth. This means that your dog was born with hip dysplasia, rather than developing it in later life. However, there are some factors that can make symptoms worse, including:

Genetics – A dog with two parents who were both affected by hip dysplasia (or any other breed where the condition is common) will be more likely to inherit the disease.
Poor nutrition – If a mother has poor nutrition or is malnourished during pregnancy or while nursing her puppies, they may be born with skeletal abnormalities such as hip dysplasia.
Excess weight – Being overweight can put extra strain on your dog’s joints and ligaments which will likely lead to them wearing down faster than normal, especially in his hips and knees.
Injury – The more trauma you dog experiences throughout his life (such as being hit by a car), the higher his chances of getting damaged joints like those found in his hind legs.

There are also other conditions associated with Hip Dysplasia:

Symptoms Of Hip Dysplasia In Dogs

The following are signs of hip dysplasia in dogs:

The dog will be in pain. Dogs with hip dysplasia sometimes howl, whimper, or yelp when they try to move around. Sometimes this happens when the dog is just getting up from lying down or sitting down on a hard floor like wood or tile. They may also display more obvious signs of distress such as panting heavily, limping, or refusing to move at all for fear of causing more pain.
Your dog may have difficulty standing up from lying down, sitting up from lying down (or vice versa), jumping up onto things like furniture and beds, walking normally on flat surfaces like sidewalks and floors rather than running around an open field where it can take advantage of its full stride length; some dogs may develop a limp after going outside because they quickly tire out their painful hips while moving around so much while playing fetch inside (dogs run faster than humans do).
You should look out for any sudden changes in activities that involve running/jumping (e.g., chasing squirrels) since these activities require quick pivoting movements which could cause severe discomfort if performed by dogs with faulty joints

Diagnosing Hip Dysplasia In Dogs

Hip dysplasia is usually diagnosed by a veterinarian during a physical examination. An X-ray may be taken to confirm the diagnosis. If your dog has hip dysplasia, he or she will need to be kept from jumping and running for at least six weeks after surgery.

The veterinarian may recommend that you periodically bring your dog back for follow up visits so he or she can monitor your pet’s progress and check for signs of pain or lameness.

Treating And Preventing Hip Dysplasia In Dogs

Management of hip dysplasia:
Medications are the first line of treatment for dogs with hip dysplasia. These can be used to manage pain and inflammation, but they don’t help to correct the underlying problem.
Surgery is an option, but it’s not a cure; the surgery only helps to relieve symptoms. If your dog has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia and shows signs of lameness in their hips or legs, you should consult your veterinarian about whether surgery is right for them.
Weight management may help prevent or improve symptoms associated with this disease. Your dog shouldn’t gain weight as they age because it puts more pressure on their joints—especially their bones and joints in their hips—and contributes to arthritis development if it isn’t already present due to other health problems like having bad teeth (which can cause gum disease).

hip dysplasia can’t be cured, but it can be managed.

There is no cure for hip dysplasia, but it can be managed. Medication and exercise are both important parts of managing this condition.

Medication is used to reduce pain and inflammation in the joints and surrounding tissue.
Exercise is important because it maintains muscle mass and strength, which helps protect against further damage to your dog’s hips

Conclusion

As we can see, hip dysplasia is a devastating condition for your dog. If you’re concerned that your pooch might be showing symptoms of this common canine condition, then it’s important to talk to your vet right away and get started on treatment as soon as possible. Left untreated, hip dysplasia can lead to arthritis and other painful conditions that could cause serious discomfort for your pup—and no one wants their fur baby to suffer!