I have a German shepherd dog, she has hip dysplasia and she was given a treatment that at first seemed to be better but not long.
After changing veterinarian and treatment and seeing that it did not improve I documented myself online and found Mascosana, there I bought cissus, they are capsules that have improved a lot. Every day he limps less, I see her happy.
Ahh they sell a shampoo that leaves her hair super nice and shiny.
Hello, I have a Dalmatian, his age is 13, he is female and a year ago dr. He was diagnosed with dysplasia, he was treated with medication, but now he has become more acute. These days my dog can not walk, it has no strength in the back limbs, when getting on the furniture falls. We are giving Rimadyl, it is for inflammation and pain.
I have been recommended to take her with a traumatologist veterinarian, to be treated for dysplasia. Let's see how it goes.
my dog is a six-year-old hound and started limping two months ago limping from the left hand the vet treated him with (hyaloral) last week he did an x-ray but found nothing abnormal but still limping
Hip dysplasia
If you have a puppy that you just adopted, with about five or six months, and you see that start walking weird, you can't stand up easily, pull one leg out. You should start worrying, because that could mean that it has dysplasia.
Dysplasia is a bone disease It mainly affects some breeds of dogs, such as German Shepherds. However, it is true that it can occur in any dog, depending on the conditions in which it was raised. To know for sure if you have dysplasia, you will have to take him to a veterinarian and that this is the one that performs the necessary tests, starting with a hip x-ray. But this is one of the diseases that can be detected before, because it can be seen with the naked eye, if the dog has a slightly droopy ass down, and difficulties to stay on all fours, surely suffer dysplasia.
This injury is irreversible, since it is genetic and is usually, to some extent, hereditary. It is much more possible for a puppy to have dysplasia if one of its parents also had it. Yes it is true that harnesses can be used to avoid the dog as much pain as possible, and it is good that they do not carry too much weight on their hind legs to try not to worsen. Dysplasia, in some cases, can eventually degenerate into osteoarthritis in the bones, causing even more pain to the dog, and even inflammation.
To prevent a dog from having dysplasia (if you have not presented it since puppy), you have to try to keep it well nourished. You should not be overweight, nor malnutrition, because both states could end up hurting you in the same way. It is best to ensure dogs maintain a balanced diet to avoid such injuries.
Dislocation of the hip, the most common lesion of all
Hip dislocation is a lesion that It occurs in large numbers of dogs throughout their lives, and it can happen at any time and through a bad movement. It is also known as dislocation, and it is one of the least worrisome injuries you can find, although for your dog it will be very annoying and will require ample recovery time.
There are different types of dislocations, and, depending on what occasions, it can end up leading to an operation. However, these are the least, normally, the most common is that it requires a period of immobilization, and the bone ends up healing by itself. And it is that a dislocation basically consists in that the head of the dog's femur is separated from the ligaments of the pelvis, either by a rupture or by a simple separation.
If you see that your dog has a limp, he may have this injury. In that case, the best thing you can do is take it to a veterinarian and it is this that, after the necessary medical tests, the procedure that must be followed for your dog to heal. On some occasions, in addition to noticing your pet's limp, you will also notice a kind of crunch which is heard every time you walk, in addition to a leg (the affected one) much less flexed and active.
This type of injuries it can happen to any dog, regardless of their race, their age or their weight, a bad fall, or a movement too abrupt at an inconvenient time, and could suffer a hip dislocation.
Hip fractures
As in the case of humans, dogs' hips can also fracture or break This can happen because he suffers some kind of outrage, a very strong fall, or even a fight with another dog that ends very violently. In any case, it is one of the most painful injuries for animals.
A broken hip It's something you'll notice quickly, because your dog can barely move, and will complain a lot. The best thing you can do is take it immediately to the veterinarian, without waiting even five minutes, and there are fractures that can generate a subsequent neurological damage in the animal if they are not treated immediately.
In order for the dog to heal properly, it will surely have to maintain a long rest time. If the veterinarian dictates that the hip can recover on its own, surgery will not be necessary, everything depends on the type of fracture, exactly the same as in the case of humans.
Tear in the muscle
The hip is not only bone, but is also formed, in large part, by muscles. And the muscles of dogs, like ours, they may also suffer tears. This injury is also quite common, much more than we can think. The positive is that this does not need operation as a rule, and it can heal faster than the previous ones.
You will notice that your dog has this injury if he limps and, in addition, the hip shows swelling symptoms. In that case, it means that your pet has a tear in the muscle. Besides, of course, take it to the vet, the best thing you can do is alternate between applying cold packs and applying hot packs. In this way, it will gradually reduce the pain of your pet, until the tear ends healing itself.
These are the most common injuries that you can find in a dog's hip but, as you can see, they can all be easily cured with the proper treatment and, if not, at least be treated to relieve the pain of our partners to the fullest.
What is hip dysplasia in dogs?
The name of dysplasia has Greek origin and its meaning is that of difficulty formingIt is for this reason that hip dysplasia in dogs consists of a joint malformation coxofemoral The hip or coxofemoral joint is the joint that joins the femur (thigh bone) with the pelvic bone. The head of the femur is shaped like a ball and moves into a concave cavity of the pelvic bone, called an acetabulum.
During the growth of the pet the hip does not adopt a harmonious and adequate form, on the contrary it moves slightly or excessively to the sides, preventing a correct movement that worsens over time. As a result of this malformation the dog suffer pain and even limp causing you difficulty in developing your routine activities such as sitting or climbing stairs.
Although there are many dogs that can carry in their genes this disease in many cases does not develop.
Signs that your hairy joint hurts
Among the signs that may indicate that your hairy feels pain in his joints we can point out:
- Unusual movements
- Disadvantages to get up
- Limp
- Walk stiffly
- Swollen joints
- Difficulty stretching
- Licking of the affected areas
- Irritability
- Lack of will to perform certain physical activities, such as jumping or climbing stairs
- Refuse to walk, when the pain is very intense
If you detect that your hairy has any of these signs of joint pain, take it immediately to the vet. No doubt, no one better than an expert can correctly diagnose what happens to your pet.
Treatments for your dog's joint pain
The first thing that a suitable professional will indicate to you, is a treatment to reduce the inflammation and pain that your four-legged friend is suffering.
Surely, it will prescribe your dog some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. In these cases, Always remember not to self-medicate your dog, especially with remedies that are used in humans. The veterinarian is the only one who can indicate the medication and the correct dose according to how you evaluate the physical condition of your pet.
Also, corticosteroids may be prescribed. Anyway, These medications will only cause temporary relief to your dog and cannot be given for too long. without causing some adverse effects.
More tools to protect your dog's joints
Then, beyond the anti-inflammatory, you must take other measures to relieve your dog's joint pain. For example, provide you with a healthy diet that contains amino acids, vitamins and minerals, which are essential for strengthening muscles and bones.
But If your barking friend's joint problem is because he is overweight, he should also be given a specific diet.
Other options are to provide your hairy with nutritional supplements such as chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate, which can help your pet's joints heal.
Omega 3 fatty acid, meanwhile, has anti-inflammatory properties. And methylsulfonylmethane will help the joints recover lost mobility.
In the event that your dog suffers from degenerative arthritis, a surgical option may be imposed. Since, as your joints are severely damaged, medicinal treatment will not be enough.
Other options that help a dog with joint pain
Other strategies you can use to treat your pet's joint pain are:
- Exercises so that the joints become more resistant and flexible and to help you lose excess weight
- Massages to improve blood circulation and to decrease inflammation, especially before you get up
- Provide a comfortable bed to relieve joint tension
- Make him swim, an activity>
Diet and exercise, two allies for your pet's joints
As prevention is always better than cure, even if your pet does not have problems with its joints, avoid them in the future.
Because, an adequate diet that does not run risks of overweight and a good daily amount of exercise, to keep fit your tone and muscle mass, are essential to keep your dog from joint pain.
Remember that if in doubt, you should turn to a trusted veterinarian. Your hairy will thank you.
Breeds predisposed to hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia can affect all kinds of dogs although it is more common to develop in large or giant breeds. We must try to prevent it by informing ourselves well of the needs of our pet at every stage of its life.
Some breeds of dogs prone to hip dysplasia are:
Causes and risk factors of hip dysplasia
Coxofemoral dysplasia is a complex disease because it is caused by multiple factors, both genetic and environmental. Although it is inherited, it is not congenital, since it does not occur from birth but the dog develops it as it grows.
The factors that influence the appearance of hip dysplasia in dogs are:
- Genetic predisposition: Although the genes involved in dysplasia have not yet been identified, there is strong evidence that it is a polygenic disease. That is, it is caused by two or more different genes.
- Rapid growth and / or obesity: An inadequate diet can favor the development of the disease. Giving the puppy a lot of high-calorie food can lead to rapid growth that predisposes him to suffer hip dysplasia. Obesity in dogs can also favor the development of the disease, both in adult dogs and in puppies.
- Inappropriate exercises: Growing dogs should play and exercise to release their energies, develop their coordination and socialize. However, exercises that impact the joints can cause damage, especially in the growth stage. Therefore, the jumps are inadvisable in dogs that have not yet completed their development. It also happens the same in elderly dogs that need to exercise without resenting their bones. An excess of activity can suppose the appearance of this disease.
While rapid growth, obesity and inappropriate exercises can favor the development of the disease, the critical factor is the genetic.
Because of this, the disease is more common in some breeds of dogs among which large and giant breeds are usually found, such as St. Bernard, Neapolitan Mastiff, German Shepherd, Labrador, Golden Retriever and Rottweiler.
However, some medium and small-sized breeds are also very prone to this disease. Among these breeds are the English bulldog (one of the breeds most likely to develop coxofemoral dysplasia), the pug and the spaniel. In contrast, in greyhounds the disease is almost non-existent.
In any case, it must be borne in mind that being a hereditary disease but influenced by the environment, the incidence of it can vary greatly. Of course, hip dysplasia also occurs in mongrel dogs.
Symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs
Symptoms of hip dysplasia tend to be less obvious when the disease begins to develop and become more intense and evident as the dog ages and its hips deteriorate. The symptoms are:
- Inactivity
- I refuse to play
- I refuse to climb stairs
- I refuse to run and jump
- Limp
- Difficulty moving the hind legs
- "Rabbit jump" movements
- Rocking
- Rigidity in the hip
- Stiffness in the hind legs
- Hip pain
- Pelvic pain
- Atrophy
- Audible clicks
- Difficulty getting up
- increased shoulder muscles
- Curved back
These symptoms they can be constant or intermittent. In addition, they usually get worse after the dog plays or does physical exercise. If you detect any of these symptoms we recommend go to the vet to perform ultrasound and certify if the dog really has this disease.
Suffering from hip dysplasia does not mean the end of your dog's daily routines. It is true that you must follow some guidelines and tips that can change your life but the truth is that, by means of the medicines that your veterinarian recommends or with homeopathy, your dog can improve its quality of life and continue enjoying a lot of time with you.
Diagnosis of hip dysplasia in dogs
If your dog has some of the symptoms described, he could have hip dysplasia and you should take him to the veterinarian to make the corresponding diagnosis. During the diagnosis, the veterinarian will feel and manipulate the hips and pelvis, in addition to requesting an x-ray of that area. In addition, you can ask for blood and urine tests. The result of that diagnosis will indicate if the condition is hip dysplasia or other disease.
Keep in mind that pain and difficulty moving depend more on inflammation and damage to the joint than on the degree of dysplasia itself. Therefore, some dogs that have mild dysplasia in the radiographic analysis may suffer a lot of pain, while others that have severe dysplasia may be less sore.
Treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs
Although hip dysplasia It has no cure, there are treatments that allow relieve pain and improve the quality of life of the sick dog. These treatments can be medical (non-surgical) or surgical. To decide which treatment to follow, the age of the dog, its size, general health and degree of damage to the hip must be considered. Of course, the preference of the veterinarian and the cost of treatments also come into play in decision making.
Medical treatment for hip dysplasia in dogs
Medical treatment is generally advised for dogs with mild dysplasias and for those who for different reasons cannot be operated. It usually requires the administration of anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, administration of chondroprotectors (medications that protect cartilage), exercise restriction, weight control and strict diet.
It can also be complemented with physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and massages to relieve joint pain and strengthen muscles.
Surgical treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs
Medical treatment has the disadvantage that it must be followed throughout the dog's life and that it does not eliminate dysplasia, but simply delay or stop its development. However, in many cases this is not very complicated and it is enough for the dog to enjoy a good quality of life.
Surgical treatment is recommended when medical treatment does not give results or when joint damage is very severe. One of the advantages of surgical treatment is that once the post-operative care is over, it is not necessary to maintain strict treatment for the rest of the dog's life. However, it should also be taken into account that the surgery presents its own risks and that some dogs may present pain after it.
The curative treatment par excellence is the triple pelvic osteotomy that consists of the surgical remodeling of the bones thus providing an artificial union by means of a plate that correctly holds the bones in place without allowing the femur to move.
There are other cases in which this type of work cannot be done, we talk about incurable cases. For them we have palliative treatments such as Arthroplasty due to excess of the head of the femur, which consists in removing the head of the femur, thus allowing the artificial formation of a new joint.
Avoid the pain but reduce the range of movements and it can generate abnormalities when walking although it grants the dog a dignified quality of life. In addition, there is also the option of replacing the hip joint with an artificial prosthesis.
Hip dysplasia in dogs and their prognosis
If hip dysplasia is not treated, the dog suffers a life of pain and disability. For dogs that reach very advanced degrees of hip dysplasia, life becomes a very long agony.
However, the medical prognosis for dogs that receive treatment on time is usually very good. These dogs can live very happy and healthy lives, although with some restrictions on diet and physical exercise.
Prevention of hip dysplasia
Since hip dysplasia is a disease caused by the interaction of genes and the environment, the only real way to prevent and eradicate it is preventing dysplastic dogs from reproducing. This is why pedigrees of dogs of certain breeds indicate whether the dog is free of the disease or the degree of dysplasia it has.
For example, the International Cynological Federation (FCI) uses the following classification based on letters, from A to E:
- A (Normal) Free of hip dysplasia.
- B (Transition) There are small indications on the radiograph, but they are not enough to confirm dysplasia.
- C (Mild) Mild hip dysplasia.
- D (Medium) The radiograph shows middle hip dysplasia.
- E (Severe) The dog has severe dysplasia.
Dogs that have dysplasia with grades C, D and E should not be used in breeding grounds, since they are very likely to transmit disease-bearing genes.
On the other hand, we must always have exercise caution Physical and obesity of our pet. These two factors are clearly influential in the appearance of hip dysplasia.
Even if your dog suffers from hip dysplasia you can Improve your quality of life considerably if you take care of him as he deserves. In this way, and following some guidelines, your dog can continue doing its routine activities, yes, with more calm than before.
- One of the proposals that work best is the swimming both on the beach and in the pool. In this way the dog develops the muscles that surround the joints without wearing them out. A couple of times a week will be enough.
- Don't stop taking your dog out of walk Because he suffers from dysplasia. It reduces the walk time but increases the times you take it out, it is very important that between all the walks together add at least 60 minutes of exercise.
- If your dog suffers obes>
This article is purely informative, at ExpertAnimal.com we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case he presents any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Hip dysplasia in dogs - Symptoms and Treatment, we recommend that you enter our section of Hereditary Diseases.
