Hip dysplasia is prevalent in dogs and can become very painful at the same time. The good news is that some useful tips can prevent hip dysplasia in dogs. This will also help the dogs increase their longevity, healthy lifestyle, and the comfort in which they prefer to live.
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What Does Hip Dysplasia Refer To?
We all know that there are different kinds of the joint in the body that have other functions. The hip is a type of joint made up of two parts: the ball and another is the socket. The femur bone of a dog gets fitted into a cup-like formation made up of pelvis bone. Suppose this ball and socket are favorably joint in the correct position together, then the situation is considered normal. In some particular breeds of dogs (we’ll be discussing further in this article), the ball and socket joint are not correctly aligned. The joint’s improper alignment can be caused by some trauma or offensive bone development or some mutation in the genes. This specific condition is known as hip dysplasia and makes it very difficult for a dog to perform regular activities properly.
Why Does Your Dog Have Hip Dysplasia?
There are different specific deformations like the improper formation of the cup or the femur’s improper alignment that causes this disease in dogs. The dogs can suffer from different kinds of symptoms like pain on movement, osteoarthritis, and many other bone problems. This is a genetic disorder that means that usually, some specific breeds of dogs are born with this problem. There is a development of severe pain in the dog’s body that further worsens to develop a serious bone problem called osteoarthritis. This is caused by the poor alignment of the ball and socket joint of the hips.
There are many causes other than genetic disorders that can induce hip dysplasia in dogs. The reason may be a severe accident or a severe injury that has damaged the dog’s femur bone.
The appearance of the symptoms can be aroused with time. Some show severe pain symptoms while movement after they have been born, whereas, in others, the pain can appear after many years of life. It completely depends on the extension to which the bones have been affected.
Dog Breeds Prone To Hip And Joint Problems
Many breeds have developed this disease with the passing generations. If you desire to reduce the risk of this problem in dogs, it is better recommended to take an X-ray evaluation of dogs’ hip bones allowing them to mate and produce progeny. The reason behind this is that by an active selection of healthier and disease-free dog breeds, we can help reduce this heredity problem in the upcoming progeny of that particular breed. This can help in providing relief from this painful condition in the dogs.
There is always a common ratio that indicates specific dog breeds prone to developing this disorder from their birth. By selective breeding, one can decrease the chances of this disease’s fostering in upcoming generations of a specific breed. Some particular species that are prone to this hip dysplasia are:
German shepherds
In studies, it has been found that german shepherds have an inborn problem that is associated with their nerves and hindlimbs that makes them highly prone to hip dysplasia. This nerve to hindlimb prone is also called degenerative myelopathy. If you want to prevent hip dysplasia in German shepherds, it is highly recommended to keep the dog lean and well-muscled.
Corgis
These are particular kinds of breeds that are more prone to develop this disorder. They have an abnormal body shape, i.e., they have a long body with very short legs that tend to put extra pressure on their hip bones. This additional pressure applied over their hip bones makes them more susceptible to bone injuries that can further enhance to a great degree. Even if this breed dog develops mild hip dysplasia, it can become a severe disorder called osteoarthritis. This can worsen their condition and can make them struggle with their everyday activities.
Labrador
Being highly prone to obesity, a Labrador is at significant risk of developing hip dysplasia. Being overweight tends to put higher pressure on the spine and the hip bones, making these bones very sensitive to injuries. Studies have found that labs with lesser weight have generally a longer life and live up to 2 years more than the other dogs of their breed. This is a life-threatening disorder in the dogs and causes them to completely lose their mobility in due course. If you want to prevent this problem, it is highly recommended that labs are kept as lean as possible.
English and French Bulldogs
This specific breed is also more prone to developing hip dysplasia due to its abnormal body. These are short-faced dogs and often have poorly aligned knee, elbows, and hip joints. This leads them to develop fragility towards bone injuries. This disorder can be early shown in their life and can eventually worsen as they grow up.
Giant Breed Dogs
There are some giant breeds like Great Danes and Mastiffs that are very highly prone to develop these disorders. They are being known for getting lazier as they age, and their inactiveness further makes them prone to develop these disorders. Hip dysplasia in giant breed dogs can only be prevented if they are given the right nutrition, food, and proper exercise at the right time.
Is there any way to prevent this disorder?
Well yes! You can help your dog prevent hip dysplasia by the given following tricks:
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- Keep your dog at the right weight
- Make sure your dog has proper development of muscles
- Try giving them hip and joint supplements
- Make their diet more nutritious and balanced
- Have some physical therapy
Conclusion
Being prone to hip dysplasia is a genetic effect and can worsen if not taken the proper care. You should make sure to consult a veterinarian for adequate treatment. Some breeds are more likely to develop hip dysplasia than others, but with proper care, you can minimize the likelihood of the disease developing or limit the impact it has on your dog’s life.
