The abnormal growth of your dog’s hips, or hip dysplasia‚ will often lead to dog arthritis in later years. This condition is widespread in dogs of larger breeds such as Rottweilers, Great Danes and German Shepherds and is best treated when they are young because there is no cure for arthritis once it has taken hold.
Hip dysplasia occurs when the ball and joint connection of the hip separates due to an abnormality in the ball and joint structure and the laxity of the joint muscles, connective tissues and ligaments. Genetics, obesity, rapid growth and over exercise are factors that increase your dog’s risk of developing this condition.
While the condition can start in a dog’s early years, most dogs are able to go about their activities without showing signs of pain until arthritis sets in. Some dogs may limp, run or move differently or avoid extending the rear legs, most owners may mistake these as normal signs of aging.
Hip Displasia Treatment Options
Surgical Options
Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis
This is a less invasive option that must be done before the dog reaches 5 months of age and before arthritis sets in. In this procedure, two pelvic bones are fused together to allow the other pelvic bones to grow normally. This changes the angle of the hips and improves the movement of the joint, lessening the likelihood of developing dog arthritis.
Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO)
In TPO, a specialist surgeon will realign the hip socket so that it will properly cover the ball of the joint. TPO is a major surgical procedure that has high success rates in preventing arthritis for young animals usually less than 10 months of age.
Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO)
For older dogs with some signs of joint degeneration, this procedure is often resorted to as a way to salvage the joint by removing the femoral head or ball portion of the joint and the femoral neck to form a scar tissue that allows the joint to function without causing pain. Small dogs weighing less than 20 pounds are ideal candidates for FHO.
Total Hip Replacement (THR)
This procedure, which must 
be done by a specialist surgeon, involves the removal of the hip joint and replacing it with an artificial one or prosthesis. THP works well for older and bigger dogs with chronic hip dysplasia but which don’t qualify for FHO.
be done by a specialist surgeon, involves the removal of the hip joint and replacing it with an artificial one or prosthesis. THP works well for older and bigger dogs with chronic hip dysplasia but which don’t qualify for FHO.DARthroplasty
A fairly new and controversial bone grafting procedure. This procedure rebuilds portions of the dog hip (dorsal acetabular rim) using bone grafts, but the long term results are unclear. A specialist is required for this surgery.
Non surgical options
Non-surgical treatments for dog arthritis resulting from hip dysplasia is still possible using a multi modal treatment plan which combines:
- weight control
- exercise
- massage therapy
- heat therapy
- anti inflammatory medicines
- acupuncture and
- trigger point therapy
What did you think of this post? Have your say in the comments box below or get involved in our Facebook community!
Watch this video on: Treating Dog Hip Dysplasia with Surgery & Dog Arthritis Medication
Tags: Causes of Dog Arthritis, DARthroplasty, dog arthritis, dog arthritis medication, Dog Arthritis Symptoms, dog arthritis treatment, Dog Hip Dysplasia, dog joint health, dogs arthritis, Pain Relief for Dogs
I’m glad that I came across this article. Without this I might have never learned about dog arthritis. I knew and I heard about arthritis but didn’t though that dogs can be affected too. I have a 7 year old German Sheppard, and if I read this correctly this breed is likely to get this condition. I did not spot any symptoms, like limping or unusual running behavior, but I’ll ask the Vet on our next visit to check on this a little more thoroughly. It is better to spot early if there is a problem, if for nothing else at least I’ll be worry free.
Howdy! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I truly enjoy reading through your articles. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same subjects? Many thanks!
My dog is in some pain because her hips seem to be messed up. How long could I get away with giving her dog pain medication before I really need to have something done surgically?
How old is your dog? There is a surgical 'window' in the first 8-12 months. After that medical care (all the stuff we talk about on this blog) is very much the way to go. So weight loss, exercise, physical therapy, joint supplements like Dasuquin, high dose fish oils, acupuncture, trigger point therapy and prescription anti-inflammatories and pain killers. As you can see there is a lot that can be done before surgery. When this no longer works you should consider surgery but in my experience most dogs tolerate hip arthritis pretty well and do not need surgery
Keep me posted, this is a great topic for lots of people.
[...] Posted on September 14, 2010 by dogarthritisdoc The abnormal growth of your dog’s hips, or hip dysplasia‚ will often lead to dog arthritis in later years. This condition is widespread in dogs of larger [...]
[...] of the larger breeds is a major factor for hip dysplasia. With this in mind, the best way to avoid hip dysplasia is to choose a reputable breeder who is genuinely interested eliminating the trait from their line. [...]
[...] factor fοr hip dysplasia. Wіth thіѕ іn mind, thе best way tο avoid hip dysplasia іѕ tο сhοοѕе a reputable breeder whο іѕ [...]
[...] of the larger breeds is a major factor for hip dysplasia. With this in mind, the best way to avoid hip dysplasia is to choose a reputable breeder who is genuinely interested eliminating the trait from their line. [...]
[...] of the larger breeds is a major factor for hip dysplasia. With this in mind, the best way to avoid hip dysplasia is to choose a reputable breeder who is genuinely interested eliminating the trait from their line. [...]
I am trying everything under the sun to help my boy suffer less. I have just ordered NZymes and am waiting for the product to arrive. I hope it helps him. He was on Fresh Factors, and then on VetIonx…both seem to have failed to help him. Any other suggestions?
Hi Karen, does your dog have hip dysplasia? How old is he? As you know I do not like to rely on one product to solve all the problems of dog arthritis. I would try some sort of cartilage protector – Dasuquin is the best. I would also consider high dose fish oils. Both these are long term treatments. In the short term you may want to speak to your vet about an NSAID (Rimadyl, Metacam or Previcoxx) and some sort of pain relief such as Tramadol. There really is A LOT that can be done. What are your thoughts on these suggestions?
Hi. My Golden suffered from hip arthritis so I created the HipHug for her. It is a 100% cotton, rice-filled blanket that heats in your microwave. The rice creates moist heat which then cuddles the dog’s hips and lower back, easing joint pain and relaxing muscles. Heat is one of the suggestions of The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.
I am veterinarian recommended and endorsed by Atlanta Animal Rehabilitation and Fitness. Please check out http://www.hiphug.net for fast, natural relief.
Deb
That is great, I will check it out myself! Thanks for the comment.
[...] View the original article here This entry was posted in Canine Arthritis and tagged Arthritis, Dysplasia, Medication, Surgery, Treating. Bookmark the permalink. ← A New Tool for Evaluating the Effects of Arthritis Treatments in Dogs [...]
[...] of the larger breeds is a major factor for hip dysplasia. With this in mind, the best way to avoid hip dysplasia is to choose a reputable breeder who is genuinely interested eliminating the trait from their line. [...]
[...] [...]