Is your dog one of the breeds at risk of developing hip dysplasia? This section is for you!
Early signs of hip dysplasia include resistance or intolerance to exercise, frequent lying down, difficulty lifting the buttocks when standing up, a bunny-hop gait and ambling when gaiting.
To consult the list of breeds at risk, go to the end of this section.
Certain dog breeds, mainly large dogs, can present a congenital anomaly of one or both hips called hip dysplasia. This disease is transmitted directly from breeding dogs to puppies. That's why the Canadian Kennel Club recommends that dog breeders spay or neuter any dog showing signs of hip dysplasia, and that future dog owners ensure that the puppy they select has three generations of OFA hip certification. This way, you can be sure there won't be any surprises when your dog is 3 years old...
What is hip dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia, also found in humans, is an abnormal interaction between the femoral head (the tip of the large thigh bone) and the pelvis (the acetabulum). In this condition, the femoral head moves unevenly and abnormally within the acetabulum. These erratic movements of the femoral head erode the edges of the acetabulum in an abnormal manner, leading to stretching and inflammation of the acetabular capsule. This stretching and inflammation induces significant pain, which owners of dogs suffering from hip dysplasia have noticed.
Fortunately, this disease can be diagnosed at an early age, thanks to early X-rays taken when your pet is spayed or neutered. Indeed, both moving examinations and X-rays under anaesthetic are necessary to establish a diagnosis of hip dysplasia. When your dog is spayed or neutered, we need to administer a general anaesthetic in order to proceed with surgery, so this is the perfect opportunity to perform hip X-rays!
There are three steps to examining your dog's hips:
- Examination in hip motion
- Rectilinear movement
- Undulatory movement
- Muscle mass status of buttocks and thighs
- Radiography of the hips under anesthesia
- Determination of Ortolani and Barlow angles under anesthesia
At the time of presentation of Optima + Options, it is highly recommended that you take x-rays of your dog's hips if it is a high-risk breed, as listed below. Take the time to read up on this subject before you arrive at the hospital, so you can make the right decision.
Dog breeds predisposed to hip dysplasia:
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bloodhound (Chien de St-Hubert)
Boxer
Brittany Spaniel
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
English Setter
English Springer Spaniel
Golden Retriever
Gordon Setter
German Shepherd
Labrador Retriever
Old English Sheep Dog
Standard Poodle
Rottweiler
St. Bernard
Welsh Springer Spaniel (Cocker Spaniel)
Welsh Corgi
Dog breeds with low incidence of hip dysplasia:
Borzoi
Doberman Pinscher
Great Dane
English Greyhound
Irish Wolfhound
Siberian Husky
Reference: ©2007 Cornell University and Baker Institute for Animal Health