It is almost impossible to predict that your dog will develop hip dysplasia or already has hip dysplasia until the symptoms are severe enough to be noticed through physical limitations, unless you are aware of the issue and run regular x-rays on your dog. Dogs unwilling to run and play as much as they usually do, trouble getting up from laying, sensitivity to the hips or a change in their stance or walk can be clear signs of developing or worsening hip dysplasia. Unfortunately, hip dysplasia is a degenerative cycle that causes more and more un-comfort and will eventually lead to crippling pain and can eventually leave your dog not being able to walk at all.

During the early stages and development of hip dysplasia, signs can be relatively minimal. Typically, the first signs of arthritic behavior is your dog having increased difficulty getting up after long exercise or sleep. Additionally, the pain and discomfort quickly wears off once your dog is up and moving. This is the number one reason to bring your dog to the vet. Dogs, especially ones with great health records and boisterous personalities should never be soar on a regular basis. As symptoms develop, your dog may become uneasy with children or strangers petting them because of the pain. A change in the stance and walk will be obvious and as more time passes you will notice your dog spending more time laying down and increased pain their hips.

Radiographs are used to diagnosis Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) but results may not be present until your dog has fully matured. Additionally, affected dogs of CHD show clinical signs much differently. Some dogs manifest problems of Canine Hip Dysplasia before six months of age, others won’t show signs until well into adulthood but damage could still be occurring. Fortunately, research and advancements in technology have increased the success rate of surgical procedures greatly in the past 10 years. Total hip replacement and stem cell regrowth are two of the newest options of dogs diagnosed with hip dysplasia.

SYMPTOMS

• Noticeable decrease in activity
• Difficulty getting up after laying
• Strange posture (gait) when walking
• Calluses and sores from excessive laying and inactivity

It is important that other conditions like Cauda Equina Syndrome (lower back issues) and ligament tears are not the actual culprit of your dogs pain. However, these conditions are much less prevalent compared to Canine Hip Dysplasia and symptoms are usually on the extreme side and appear and worsen rapidly. It is always to important to bring your dog into the vet on first indication that something might be wrong. Catching hip dysplasia early is the key to returning your dog to full health.

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When a dog develops hip dysplasia, the snugness of the ball and socket that form their hip become more and more loose due to generation of the tissues and continues grinding of the two hard surfaces. Joint tissues and vital joint lubricants deteriorate, leading to painful arthritis that will worsen and can completely debilitate a dog if not treated.

A dog developing, or having developed hip dysplasia shows the relatively same general signs with more or less emphasis on a certain symptoms based on the dog at hand. You have to remember, some dogs have had the issue sense birth and develop a much higher tolerance for the pain and discomfort and learn to live with it better then a mature dog beginning to develop hip dysplasia. So, if your puppy or young dog is showing even small signs of any of the symptoms below, it is probably best to get them checked out before it is too late.

As a puppy, signs of canine hip dysplasia are generally a discomfort of the hind hips and can occur as early as 5 months. Your dog might resemble a rabbit, by hopping the back legs forward instead of an extended gate with separate motion of the legs and hesitation getting up after prolonged periods of rest. Your dog might also extend his legs straight forward or backward while resting; Some people describe it as chicken legs–or frog legs.

• Worsening trouble getting up after sleeping
• Wining and a general unwillingness to get up
• Change in the way your dog walks–resembling a bunny hopping
• Anxiety or displeasure toward people rubbing their hips
• Signs disappear once the dog is on their feet and active

Development of hip dysplasia in mature dogs usually happens around 4 or 5 years of age for the degeneration to be advance enough and pain and discomfort become obvious. Pain usually is worst after exercise or in the morning but works out once the dog is up and moving. It is important to bring your dog to your vet when any signs of discomfort in their legs is present, dogs are built to run–pain is not in their blood.

The most important part is to take your dog to the vet even if you are unsure their is an actual issue. Examining any dog (or human) and treating an issue before it develops is the number one way to ensure your dog won’t live in pain the rest of his life if they do indeed have hip dysplasia. Treatments range from anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers to surgery depending on the dog and severity of the case to further develop.

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The detection of canine hip dysplasia often varies on the amount of background knowledge you have of dysplasia and dog arthritis in general. Detection Of Canine Hip Dysplasia is relatively the same in puppies and fully grown dogs. Overall, your dog or puppy will have increased issues getting up, especially after prolonged laying or exercise and you may notice a change in the posture and walk of your dog.

• Tests to eliminate other possible reasons for the change in your dog.
• Veterinary Detections (physical and neurological exam and x-rays).
• Final Results are determined by the vet. Some dogs will need anti-inflammatory and pain medications and other will need surgery and post-operative treatment.

Detecting early signs of hip dysplasia in your dog can be hard. Typically, dogs will have worse days and seem perfectly fine and willing to play, and jump, and beg for treats the next. This is the number one sign that something is physically wrong with your dog, especially if you have noticed consistent off days. Typically, and especially in puppies—dogs don’t have off days. They’re built to run and anytime your dog shows trouble getting up after laying or general discomfort in their legs should be taken seriously.

Puppies

To begin, if you have a puppy that’s showing signs of dysplasia you should immediately bring your dog to your vet, especially if you don’t know anything about the parents or bought them in a puppy store. You should not be running the dog on hard surfaces for longed periods of time or do any repetitively damaging or stressful activities to their legs while they are developing.

If you have been allowing your puppy to eat out of a bowl of food when ever they want, you should stop. Studies have linked a large number of hip dysplasia diagnosed dogs to an over-growth spurt caused by excessive nutrition. Most puppy foods have 25% more fat and carbohydrates then typical adult doggy food. Instead of a daily feeding of puppy food, a regimen of three times (morning, lunch, and dinner) a day should be started. Typically, thyroid issues in puppies are not prevalent, but can have some of the same symptoms of hip dysplasia and can be very dangerous to change their diet, so please consult your vet before making any large changes to your puppy’s diet if signs of dysplasia are occurring.

As hip dysplasia continues to effect your dog, their hips will gradually become more and more inflamed and damaged and a change in the dogs walk (or gait) will worsen, including their trouble getting up every morning (instead of some mornings), and if this hasn’t already, should ring a definite alarm that something is wrong with your puppy. Once hip dysplasia has become mild, puppies will whine and show an obvious discomfort toward their hips.

When the unfortunate event occurs that you think your puppy has hip dysplasia, the veterinary is first going to run a complete physical and neurological examination of the dog. Afterward, if no diagnosis has been found, a number of x-rays of your dogs hips will be taken and observed by doctors.

Adult Dogs

The majority of adult dogs that begin showing signs of hip dysplasia have had abnormalities in their joints for a long time, and just now have symptoms become severe enough to be noticed. Unfortunately, these are usually the worst cases because the degeneration of tissues and promotion of abnormal growth of your dogs hips has probably already reached a point where surgery is necessary to keep the dog from reaching a point of debilitating arthritis.

If you haven’t been giving your dog additional vitamins and supplements as puppies, it is a great idea to do so. Vitamins and supplements that promote joint laxity and other beneficial minerals are very important. Just like humans, dogs can be lacking certain vitamins and minerals. Introducing and maintaining extra vitamins not offered in typical dog food can drastically increase the health over your dog on a short and long term basis. Vitamins and supplements also have very little negative side effects. If a dog experiences itching, diarrhea or vomiting decrease the amount of supplements given, and if the problems continue it may be necessary to get your dog checked for food allergies or thyroid issues.

Exercise is also very important. Older dogs need to continue a daily exercise regimen or deterioration of the bones and muscles will significantly increase. Just like humans, if you remain inactive for long periods of time your body will be negatively effected and muscle mass will disappear.

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