Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia (HD) is a genetically determined maldevelopment of the hip joint – and it particularly affects large and medium-sized dog breeds. The tricky part: The disease often creeps in unnoticed before pain, arthritis and stiff movements noticeably restrict the dog’s life. HD is one of the most common orthopaedic diseases in dogs – and anyone with an affected dog knows: It is a topic that stays with you for many years.

What is hip dysplasia?

The hip joint consists of two parts that must fit together perfectly: the femoral head and the acetabulum. Normally, the head slides firmly and smoothly into the socket. In a dog with HD, however, it sits there too loosely – sometimes the socket is also too shallowly formed – and the joint loses its stability.

What happens next is a gradual process: the femoral head rubs against the joint, the cartilage wears down, and sooner or later osteoarthritis develops. The result is pain, inflammation and increasingly restricted mobility – a vicious circle that reinforces itself without treatment.

Causes of hip dysplasia

In Switzerland, HD is primarily genetic. In addition, environmental factors play a role in determining how strongly the predisposition actually develops:

• Genetic predisposition: HD is a hereditary condition. If a dog’s parents or grandparents have HD, the risk increases significantly. Anyone buying a puppy should therefore insist on tested hip health of the parent animals – this is not a nice-to-have, but mandatory.
• Rapid growth: Especially in large breeds, rapid bone growth can promote the development of HD. If bones and soft tissues grow unevenly, the hip joint is put under stress.
• Incorrect nutrition: Too much food in puppyhood, too much energy, too much calcium – all of this can increase the risk. Puppies of large breeds do not need “extra growth”, but balanced portions.
• Overweight: Every unnecessary kilo puts unnecessary strain on the joints, accelerates cartilage breakdown and causes osteoarthritis to set in earlier. A slim dog is a healthier dog.
• Exercise and load: Too intense activity or frequent jumping during puppyhood and adolescence can also increase the risk. During the growth phase, it is better to do a little less than too much.

Breeds that are frequently affected

HD occurs particularly frequently in large and medium-sized dog breeds. Anyone who owns one of the following dogs should keep this topic in mind from the start:

• German Shepherd Dog
• Labrador Retriever
• Golden Retriever
• Rottweiler
• Saint Bernard
• Bernese Mountain Dog
• Newfoundland
• Great Dane

Smaller breeds are not automatically safe either – with appropriate genetic predisposition, HD can affect any dog.

Symptoms of hip dysplasia

The symptoms often develop gradually. First signs typically appear in puppyhood or adolescence; however, older dogs can also suddenly develop problems if osteoarthritis has already developed. You should watch out for these signs:

• Reluctance to move: Dogs with HD often avoid movements that cause pain. Stairs are avoided, getting up and lying down become a challenge.
• Limping or lameness: Particularly after intense activity or immediately after getting up, dogs may limp or be lame on one hind leg.
• Unsteady gait: This typical “waddling” is usually noticed early – the dogs appear stiff and put as little weight on their hind legs as possible.
• Difficulty getting up: Sometimes an affected dog needs several attempts to get on its feet at all – a unmistakable signal.
• Pain sensitivity in the hip region: Touches in the hip area are resisted or cause visible discomfort.
• Reduced muscle mass: Because the dog spares its hind legs, the muscles there atrophy – so-called atrophy, which often becomes visible optically.

Diagnosis of hip dysplasia

The diagnosis consists of clinical examination and imaging. The vet watches the dog walk and manually checks the hips for pain and restricted mobility:

• X-rays: The X-ray image of the hips is the gold standard for HD diagnosis. It shows whether the femoral head sits correctly in the acetabulum and whether osteoarthritis changes are already present.
• Gait analysis: The vet observes the movement pattern – irregularities in the gait often become clearly apparent.
• Orthopaedic tests: Targeted manipulations of the hip joint show how loose the joint is and how painful the movement becomes for the dog.

Treatment of hip dysplasia

The treatment depends on the severity of the disease and the age of the dog. There are conservative (non-surgical) and surgical approaches – and often a combination is the most sensible.

Conservative treatment:

• Weight management: Less weight means less pressure on the joints. A dog with HD should be kept slim – this is one of the most effective measures at all.
• Physiotherapy: Movement therapy and hydrotherapy (swimming in water) strengthen the muscles around the hip joint and improve mobility without straining the joints.
• Painkillers: Anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) relieve pain and reduce inflammation – they are a standard part of HD treatment.
• Dietary supplements: Glucosamine, chondroitin and omega-3 fatty acids can be given additionally to support cartilage and reduce inflammation.

Surgical treatment:

In severe cases, the surgical route is often the only option to sustainably improve quality of life:

• Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO): This procedure is particularly suitable for young dogs before osteoarthritis sets in. The pelvis is repositioned so that the femoral head is held better in the acetabulum.
• Femoral head resection (FHO): The femoral head is removed – this eliminates friction in the joint. This method is predominantly used in small to medium-sized dogs.
• Hip replacement: This is the most complex, but also the most comprehensive option for severe cases. The damaged joint is replaced with an artificial hip; many dogs regain largely normal mobility afterwards.

Prevention

HD cannot be completely prevented – especially if it is genetically predisposed. But the risk and severity can certainly be influenced:

• Careful breeding selection: Only buy from breeders who have tested the parent animals for HD. Anyone who cannot or will not provide this information should raise suspicion.
• Healthy nutrition and weight control: No overweight, balanced portions – this is crucial especially during the growth phase.
• Moderate exercise: Puppies need exercise, but not high performance. Intensive jumping, steep stairs or jerky loads should be avoided in the first months of life.