What
breeds are prone Hip Displasia?
Usually, large breeds of dogs
are more prone to hip dysphasia. Labradors, Great Pyrenees,
Great Danes, Retrievers, German Shepherds, Saint Bernards,
Rottweilers and Sporting Dog Breeds are examples. However,
small dogs can also acquire this. If your dogs belong to any
of the mentioned breeds, the following information might help
you.
What is Hip Displasia?
Hip Displasia, a degenerative condition, is an abnormality
in the expansion of the hip joint, where the ball joint of
the dogs hips are misshapen, caused by too much laxity in
the joint. This in turn results to wear and tear of the abnormal
arthritic bones causing extreme pain. Not only can this cause
pain, the joint can also come right out of the socket.
How did my dog acquire this?
Hip displasia is a genetic disease, meaning the pup can inherit
it from its parents. Note that not all dogs inclined to get
this disease will acquire it. Other factors also contribute,
like environmental factors, rapid weight changes and other
genetic factors as well. Tracing your pet's family lineage
will help you determine if your dog is prone to this disease.
If there is no incidence of hip displasia in your pet's family,
then your dog will not get it.
What are its symptoms?
It is difficult to diagnose because it may or may not show
clinical signs. Common signs exhibited are lameness on one
or both rear limbs, difficulty in standing or walking, hopping
like a bunny, and decrease in mobility. After the joint's
growth period, many pups display pain sporadically even before
arthritis begins to exhibit. It can lead to severe arthritis,
in which your pet can be in extreme pain. Rarely, puppies
as young as 5 or 6 months can show these symptoms.
What is the treatment?
If you suspect your dog has hip
displasia, bring to the clinic and have your pet X-rayed.
There are two methods to see if your dog has hip displasia
- the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) testing uses
a standard view and another developed by the University of
Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip), which shows
to be more effective in detecting Hip Disphasia in puppies.
There are two treatment plans based on the time the disease
has occurred - before and after the growth of the hip joint.
Triple Pelvic Osteotomy, the surgical reconstruction of the
hip joint, is recommended for puppies less than a year of
age. Be careful though - clinical symptoms related to hip
dyspasia can be caused by other illnesses such as osteochondrosis,
strain or sprain in one of the joints, or back and pelvis
injury.
However, dogs that show symptoms after the growth, it is
best to first find out of it can be treated through medication
or surgery. Medical treatment includes aspirin, phenylbutazone
or glycosaminoglycosans. Narcotics can be used to eliminate
pain. There is a strong connection between the administration
of glycosaminoglycans and a considerable decrease in the dog's
arthritis.
Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications
can be used, different dogs have varying reactions to medicines.
That's why it is best to consult your veterinarian on which
medicine works well for your dog. If this proves to be unsatisfactory,
you may resort to surgery.
Total Hip Replacement is most excellent, especially for severe
hip displasia. This is very effective because the hip joint
is replaced with artificial parts to eradicate pain. Femoral
Head Ostectomy or Femoral head and neck excision is also an
option wherein just the femoral head is removed, which can
be performed at any age. It eliminates most of the pain associated
with hip arthritis because there is a reduced contact between
the bones, but not all dogs are cut out for this method. Surgery
is more costly primarily, but in the long run, it will save
the dog owner on pain relievers. Once the surgery has completed,
a recuperation period of about 3-6 months will be commended
by the doctor.
Any more advice?
This illness is very painful for your pet. Thus, measures
should be taken to alleviate pain such as medication and giving
them a warm and comfortable place to rest in, especially for
older dogs. Regular walks and physical
exercises can reduce weight, which can decrease the dog's
discomfort. For young pups, gradual introduction of adult
dog food is recommended for gradual gain weight.
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Andrew Jones by
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