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Hips
Breeding advice
Breed organizations and veterinarians in
various countries have developed control
programmes that rely on radiographic evaluation
and a central registry of dogs. Dogs from
large and giant breeds should be evaluated
by one of these established screening programmes
before breeding, and should be bred based
on the guidelines of that programme. The
distraction index (DI) is determined by the
PennHip technique and is statistically the
most predictive method for hip joints in
pups. Essentially, the best way for breeders
to prevent hip dysplasia is to breed only
dogs that have disease-free joints, based
on appropriate radiographic evaluation, and
that come from families with disease-free
joints. Do not breed dogs whose offspring
have hip dysplasia (dogs with hip dysplasia
can produce normal offspring, and normal-appearing
dogs can produce offspring with hip dysplasia).
Registries that keep statistics on hip dysplasia
are Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA
- www.offa.org) . Thoughtful selection by
breeders, using dogs from these registries,
has reduced the incidence of hip dysplasia
in some breeds and some areas.
What is hip dysplasia?
The hip joint is a "ball and socket"
joint: the "ball" (the top part
of the thigh bone or femur) fits into a "socket"
formed by the pelvis. If there is a loose
fit between these bones, and the ligaments
which help to hold them together are loose,
the ball may slide part way out of the socket
(subluxate). With time, as this occurs repeatedly,
other degenerative changes in the joint occur
(also called osteoarthritis) and your dog
will become painful, lame and weak in the
hind end.
This disease is progressive; that is, it
gets worse with time.
How is hip dysplasia inherited?
The mode of inheritance of this disease is
polygenic (caused by many different genes).
Scientists do not yet know which genes are
involved, or how many genes. Factors that
can make the disease worse include excess
weight, a fast growth rate, and high-calorie
or supplemented diets.
What breeds are affected by hip dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is the most common inherited
orthopedic disease in large and giant breed
dogs, and occurs in many medium-sized breeds
as well. When obtaining a dog from a large
or giant breed, you should ask the breeder
about hip certification in their breeding
dogs, and for several generations back.
For many breeds and many disorders, the studies
to determine the mode of inheritance or the
frequency in the breed have not been carried
out, or are inconclusive. We have only listed
breeds for which there is a strong consensus
among those investigating in this field and
among veterinary practitioners, that the
condition is significant in this breed.
What does hip dysplasia mean to your dog
& you?
While there is a severe form of hip dysplasia
that affects young dogs (less than one year
of age), signs of this disease are most common
in older dogs. The loose fit at the hip joint
will be present in young dogs, but it may
take years for the other changes (such as
osteoarthritis) to cause pain. Your dog may
be painful after exercise, have difficulty
with stairs, or even have difficulty getting
up. You may only notice this once in a while,
but over time you will find it getting worse.
There is no cure, but your dog’s pain and
lameness may be reduced by making sure that
s/he is not overweight, restricting exercise,
and using pain-relieving medications and/or
alternative therapies such as acupuncture.
Large and giant-breed dogs are more likely
to get hip dysplasia later in life if they
are overfed and gain weight quickly as puppies.
If you have such a puppy, you may be able
to reduce the chance of future hip dysplasia
by careful feeding. Your veterinarian can
help you determine the right body weight
and diet for your dog.
How is hip dysplasia diagnosed?
Your veterinarian will probably suspect hip
dysplasia if your large or giant breed dog
has pain or lameness in the hips. Your vet
will take x-rays to evaluate the general
fit of the femur and pelvis, and to look
for any osteoarthritic changes in the hip
joint. Usually sedation or anaesthesia is
required to ensure proper positioning of
the dog. In order to see how much looseness
there is in the hip joint, your veterinarian
may take special stress or distraction radiographs.
For the veterinarian: There are several established
scoring systems to evaluate radiographs for
the presence of hip dysplasia. The Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals evaluates a standard
ventrodorsal view with hips extended and
stifles rotated internally. Radiographs are
scored based on degenerative joint changes
and evidence of subluxation. Dogs must be
2 years of age in order to be certified by
the OFA.
How is hip dysplasia treated?
The degree to which the hips are dysplastic
does not always correlate with the amount
of pain. Some dogs with very bad hips radiographically
are less painful than others whose x-rays
show only minor changes. Although there is
no cure for hip dysplasia, there are ways
to manage the pain. Your veterinarian will
work with you to keep your dog comfortable.
Treatments include anti-inflammatory drugs
and/ or alternative therapies such as acupuncture.
Nutraceuticals such as glucosamine may also
be helpful. Controlling exercise and maintaining
your dog at an appropriate weight, are important
in managing the pain. Your veterinarian may
suggest surgery (such as hip replacement)
if the pain is severe, and/or can not be
controlled by medical treatment as above.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS DISORDER,
PLEASE SEE YOUR VETERINARIAN.
1998 Canine Inherited Disorders Database.
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