LEARN ABOUT HIP DYSPLASIA

 
HIP DYSPLASIA
Hip dysplasia is a skeletal defect in dogs.   In hip dysplasia, the ball portion  (femoral head) of the hip is not securely seated in the socket portion (acetabulum).  This condition is especially common in working and sporting breeds of dogs.  Certain breeds are definitely predisposed . (see chart from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals further down this page)

 

 
Hip dysplasia is an inherited problem which is not usually present at birth.  It develops within the first 6-8 months of life.   The exact cause is unknown, but it is generally accepted that the condition is from the combined action of an unknown number of genes.  Nutrition and environment are also believed to be contributing factors.

Concerned dog breeders and veterinarians have tried to reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia through selective breeding.  X-rays has been performed on potential breeding pairs in an effort to determine the status of the hip joints.  Some progress has been made toward reducing the severity and incidence of canine hip dysplasia, but progress has been slow.

Hip dysplasia is defined as a biomechanical disease.  That is, the muscles do not develop and reach maturity at the same rate as the bones.  Since the hip depends on muscle power to be stable, it can pull apart and trigger a series of events resulting in hip dysplasia.

If a pup is so poorly developed that it cannot walk, then the demands of the musculoskeletal support system are greater than the strength of the surrounding musculature.  The muscles and ligaments are unable to maintain the needed relationship between the femoral head and the acetabulum.  This results in a partial or incomplete dislocation of the femoral head.  The acetabulum is unable to develop properly if the femoral head is dislocated, and is shallower than normal when the pup reaches maturity.  When the femoral head is dislocated, its cartilage covering is subjected to wear and tear. This eventually leads to a miss-shaped femoral head , and osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease.

The degree of hip dysplasia (mild, moderate, or severe) does not effect the signs exhibited by the affected dog.  Signs may range from no symptoms to a pronounced disability.  Symptoms can appear any time after 4 weeks of age, but are generally not detected,
except in severe cases, until after 6 months of age.

Clinical signs of canine hip dysplasia include:

  • Lameness after prolonged exercise 
  • A waddling or swaying gait 
  • Morning stiffness 
  • Difficulty in standing up 
  • Reluctance to move 
  • Change in temperament 
  • Pain when moving the hip joints. 
  • Limping
These signs often appear worse on cold damp days.

 Early clinical signs are caused by the stretching and tearing of the joint.  This pain may disappear as scar tissue forms, and the puppy seems to get better.  Unfortunately arthritis continues to get worse and eventually signs of pain appear again.  Early treatment will slow or stop the development of arthritis.

The diagnosis of canine hip dysplasia is bases upon: history, symptoms, a complete physical exam, and X-rays.  X-rays are necessary to confirm hip dysplasia.  They can show:

  • the shape and depth of the acetabulum 
  • the shape contour and position of the femoral head 

    • degenerative joint disease.
 
Treatment

Hip dysplasia can be treated surgically, medically, or a combination of both.  There is no cure for hip dysplasia, but with appropriate veterinary care affected dogs can live long, healthy, active lives.   Non-surgical treatment can include:

  • enforced cage rest when the dog is experiencing discomfort 
  • mild analgesics 
  • anti-inflammatory drugs.
There are several surgical procedures that can be attempted in young dogs, and if the disease is not severe:
  • Cutting of the femur and/or the pelvis and repositioning the joint.  This is recommended for 
  • dogs 6-12 months of age only. 
  • Cutting the pectineus muscle. This is useful in relieving pain in certain cases, but has no effect upon the progression of the disease. 
  • Removal of the femoral head and neck. and formation of a "false joint" between the proximal femur and the pelvic musculature.  Small and medium sized dogs usually do better with this procedure than larger dogs. 

    • Total hip replacement.  Although this procedure is expensive, many dogs are able to return to full activity .
 
HOW PREVALENT IS HIP DYSPLASIA

ny dog can have displasia. But, based on test results from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, the highest incidence of dysplasia is as follows:

1.    Bulldog 
2.    Otterhound
3.    Cumberland Spaniel
4.    St. Bernard
5.    Boykin Spaniel
6.    American Bulldog
7.    Newfoundland
8.    Staffordshire Terrier
9.    BullMastiff
10.  Bloodhound
11.  Fila Brasileiro
12.  Chesapeake Bay REtriever
13.  Gordon Setter
14.  Goldon Retriever
15.  Chow Chow
16.  Field Spaniel
17.  Staffordshire Bull Terrier
18.  Rottweiler
19.  Kuvasz
20.  Norwegian Elkhound
21.  Mastiff
22.  Giant Schnauzer
23.  Old English Sheepdog
24.  German Shephard
25.  Bernese Mountain Dog
26.  English Setter
27.  Spinone
28.  American Pit Bull Terrier
29.  Beagle
30.  Welsh Corgi Pembroke
31.  Welsh Springer Spaniel
32.  Black and Tan Coonhound
33.  Shih Tzu
34.  Briard
35.  Brittany
36.  Greater Swill Mountain Dog
37.  Welsh Corgi Cardigan
38.  Bouvier Des Flandres
39.  English Springer Spaniel
40.  Irish Water Spaniel
41.  Pudel Pointer
42.  Portugese Water dog
43.  Curley Coated Retriever
44.  Akita
45.  Chinese Shar Pei
46.  Australian Cattle Dog
47.  Airdale Terrier
48.  Poodle
49.  Leonberger
50.  Komondor
51.  Labrador Retriever
52.  Irish Setter
53.  Alaskan Malamute
54.  Great Dane
55.  Border Collie
56.  Anatolian Shepherd
57.  Munsterland
58.  Boxer
59.  Samoyed
60.  Akbash Dog
61.  Tibetan Mastiff
62.  Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
63.  Puli
64.  Great Pyrenees
65.  German Wirehaired Pointer
66.  Weimaraner
67.  Standard Schnauzer
68.  Nova Scotia Ducktolling Retriever
69.  English Pointer
70.  Kerry Blue Terrier
71.  American Water Spaniel
72.  American Eskimo dog
73.  Vizsla
74.  Shiba Inu
75.  Lhasa Apso
76.  Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
77.  Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
78.  Keeshond
89.  Bearded Collie
80.  Cocker Spaniel
81.  Rhodesian Ridgeback
82.  Tibetan Terrier
83.  Doberman Pinscher
84.  Australian Shepherd
85.  Belgian Malinois
86.  Irish Wolfhound
87.  English Cocker Spaniel
88.  Bichon Fiese
89.  German Shorthaired Pointer
90.  Afghan Hound
91.  Dalmatian
92.  Shetland Sheepdog
93.  Finnish Spitz
94.  Flat coated Retriever
95.  Border Terrier
96.  Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
97.  Belgian Tervuren
98.  Greyhound
99.  Cannan
100.Basenji
101.Collie
102.Belgian Sheepdog
103.Ibizan Hound
104.Schipperke
105.Pharaoh Hound
106.Siberian Husky
107.Saluki
108.Borzoi
109.Main Coon Cat
 Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD)
 OCD is a disease of bone formation that leads to lameness and arthritis. It results from a disturbance of the process by which cartilage is turned into bone during the growth process. Abnormally thickened cartilage forms in areas of the joints that are subject to stress and, hence, prone to damage. Cracks form, and the cartilage can tear, forming a flap. This flap may remain attached to the bone, or it may tear away and float freely in the joint. The cracks, flap or free cartilage piece lead to inflammation of the joint (arthritis), pain and lameness. More than one joint is often affected simultaneously. In dogs, a the most commonly affected joint is the shoulder, followed by the elbow, hock and knee.
 Paneosteitis

Sometimes referred to as "growing pains" or "pano", panosteitis occurs as a rotating lameness, usually in puppies about four months of age. There are tests for pano which should be done to rule out more serious problems. Sometimes crate rest is all a puppy needs for complete recovery.
Von Willebrand's Disease (VWD)
VWD is a hereditary a bleeding disorder similar to hemophilia. Dogs affected with VWD may have symptoms ranging from prolonged bleeding of toenails cut short to hemorrhaging during minor surgical procedures. Dogs may be carriers while exhibiting no outward symptoms. VWD is diagnosed through blood screening.
 Bloat
 Bloat is a common condition in which the stomach swells from gas, fluid or both. Bloat becomes a medical emergency when the stomach distends and then flips over, causing torsion. Bloat and torsion may be caused by over-eating, drinking large amounts of water after eating, and/or vigorous exercise after a meal. Efforts to prevent bloat may include feeding several small meals a day, crating the dog for several hours after eating, and monitoring water intake.
 Heart Diseases
The most common heart problem seen in Rottweilers is Sub-Aortic Stenosis. This disorder can be very mild or so serious that it results in sudden death. Reputable breeders, working with canine cardiologists, hope to identify the mode of inheritance of this and other heart problems. Additional details about Sub aortic stenosis in the Rottweiler here.......
Allergies
Some Rottweilers are prone to flea and/or food allergies. Symptoms and severity of the allergies vary from dog to dog.
Eye Diseases

Entropian (eyelids rolling inward) and Ectropian (Eyelids rolling outward) are inherited conditions which require surgical correction. Both of these conditions disqualify a dog from being shown in AKC conformation competition.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy (CPRA) and certain types of Cataracts are inherited conditions. Dogs used for breeding should be examined annually by a Board-certified Veterinary ophthalmologist, until at least eight years of age, as hereditary eye problems may not present themselves until later in life. Dogs examined by a Board-certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist and found to be free of hereditary eye disease may be registered annually with the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF).
Epilepsy
Epilepsy may result from injury to the head or from bacterial infections of the brain. If no such cause is found, it is regarded to be congenital. Congenital epilepsy can be an inherited trait, and has been observed in many breeds. The term epilepsy refers to recurring episodic seizures/convulsions. The episodes can be triggered by fatigue, excitement, anxiety, noise or in females, by estrus. It may be controlled with medication. Obviously, breeding is not recommended.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism refers to insufficient output of the thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. It may slow down the whole body functions; the dog may become lethargic, mentally slow, without much energy. Its coat may become dull, thin and fall out easily. In males it can lower the sperm count and reduce sexual activity. In females it may cause irregular heat cycles. The signs may develop very slowly, and the condition can be detected with a blood test. Usually, it is a permanent condition, and is treated with thyroid hormones. Hypothyroid is generally considered to be an inherited trait.
Cancer
Cancer is becoming a very common condition in the Rottweiler breed, with bone cancer being the most frequent type. Any suspicious lumps, moles, sores or unexplained lameness should be investigated by your veterinarian.

 
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