Causes, symptoms and treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs

Hip Dysplasia in dogs, signs which do not always notice new dog owners, is one of the most difficult and, unfortunately, common ailments of the musculoskeletal system of our four-legged Pets. With the development of disease of the hip joints of the animal suffer degenerative changes. This causes severe pain and mobility issues.

If left untreated, it will cause irreversible changes and the dog will lose the mobility of the hind limbs. Severe pain causes suffering to animals. Often people who have never had Pets, ask: “How many of the dogs live with hip dysplasia?”. With early diagnosis, timely and proper treatment and complete all the assignments and recommendations of a veterinarian the majority of animals with this disease lead active and productive lives for many years.

What is dysplasia?

This is a deformation of the so-called acetabulum. Formed quite a big gap between the articular cavity and the head of the bone when driving the wrong adjacent to the joint and rubs against him. Bone splitting, changing their structure, they become brittle. The disease leads to partial and often total destruction of cartilage tissue and joints, loss of motor functions.

Veterinarians distinguish between different degrees of hip dysplasia in dogs classification according to FCI:

• 1 (A) – rate: symptoms and disease do not exist as such;
• 2 (B) – the state border;
• 3 (C)) – a mild form of the disease when the animal observed dislocations;
• 4 (D) – form of average weight;
• 5 (E) – severe: serious, sometimes irreversible damage of the joints.

Discover the symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs, treatment should be started immediately. With timely treatment of the disease in the early stages it is possible to alleviate the suffering of your friend, to slow down degenerative processes.

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Veterinarians say that in recent years significantly increased the number of suffering from this disease in dogs. He exposed to most often, animals are giant and large breeds. In small animals this disease is extremely rare.

Cause of disease

Unfortunately, today is very difficult to name the exact reasons of development of this disease. However, veterinarians are increasingly inclined to believe that hip dysplasia in dogs (the photo we posted in this article) refers to the genetic diseases. But it can affect such factors as diet regime, physical exercise, the animal's habitat. Special attention should be given to their Pets breeders large port:

• Senbernar.
• Labradorov.
• Ovcharok.
• Newfoundland.
• Vodolazov.
• Dohow.
• Rotveileri.
• Cow-Chow.

A Feature of the disease is that the symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs usually manifest themselves a year and a half after the birth of the puppy.

Very rarely it can be diagnosed in a six-month old babies. Today the main reasons that can cause the development DTBS, veterinarians include:

1. Heredity: often used breeding dogs not tested for this disease, which leads to the manifestation of disease in the offspring.
2. The Rapid growth of the joint and bone tissues in the first six months of a puppy's life.
3. Overfeeding and unbalanced diet, which is manifested by deficiency of phosphorus and calcium excess protein. In the end, excess weight will exacerbate the disease.
4. Excessive exercise. We must not forget that puppies under the age of eighteen months (growth period) is contraindicated great exercise. This primarily applies to large breed dogs.
5. Lack of movement: young dogs and puppies need a lot of exercise for proper development of bone and muscle tissue.
6. Injury: often sprains or trauma to the joint can cause the development of the disease.

Symptoms

Treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs should start immediately after detection of at least one symptom of the following. In the body of the dog the hip joint is one of the most vulnerable. During running and jumping they are subjected to powerful loads and amortization.

A Healthy animal does not experience discomfort even during strenuous and prolonged exercise and heavy physical loads. An animal with early stage dysplasia, whose symptoms are inattentive owner may not notice immediately, suffering from every movement that causes pressure on the affected joint and severe pain.

How to identify hip dysplasia in dogs? It should be noted that to define this disease on the eye in the initial stages the layman almost impossible. But veterinarians advise owners to pay attention to a number of characteristic symptoms:

• The animal changes gait: the dog shakes his body, limp, pawspodgibayutsya;
• Pet can not withstand his usual informed physical activity:
• Animal long rest after running, jumping;
• “rabbit” running: while Jogging the animal pushes forward the two hind legs;
• Movement difficult: the dog barely gets out, goes up the stairs;
• While resting or sleeping on stomach your pet may adopt an unnatural posture: highly expands in different directions paws & ndash; frog pose;
• Puppies if they cannot diagnose disease, it is possible to observe the asymmetry of the body: the front legs are powerful, well-developed chest and a weak back legs;
• Clicking in the joint area causing the dog pain, she shows anxiety may whine.

These Are the main symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs. The treatment started in a timely manner, will prevent its serious consequences.

Diagnosis and testing

The Attentive owner will notice a change in the behavior of your pet, but to determine what is happening with the dog, prescribe treatment can only vet. An experienced specialist will first examine the animal, try to identify the problem areas to the touch. Bending and unbending joints, listen to whether there is a creak, clicks and sounds of friction. Already on these grounds, he will be able to identify pathology.

The Next stage of survey will be the x-ray will confirm the diagnosis and identify the degree of deformation of the articular and bone tissues. This procedure requires complete immobility, but it's almost impossible to get the dog to lie down in a certain position, absolutely motionless. Therefore, the animal is administered a sedative.

The Most informative method of diagnostics experts believe arthroscopy. In the abdominal cavity is punctured, which introduced the camera that penetrates to the center of the problem area. It shows with accuracy to the millimeter structure and condition of the cartilage. This procedure is able to accurately determine the degree of damage of the joint, a stage of dysplasia. The operation is carried out in modern clinics with the latest equipment and only under General anesthesia.

How to treat hip dysplasia in dogs?

Vets claim that running, the last stage of dysplasia is extremely difficult to cure. However, this does not mean that your pet is doomed and we need to neglect the disease. Without treatment, it develops into a more severe disease – osteoarthritis. It is characterized by the disintegration of cartilage and degeneration of the joints. The dog completely loses its mobility.

To prevent this, vets medical treatment is focused on inhibition of the disease, suspension and slowing down the pathological processes.

How is it treated?

Identifying the symptoms of dysplasia, the treatment prescribed by the veterinarian based on the results of various types of research. The choice of method of treatment depends on the stage of the disease, General health of the animal, its age.

Drug therapy

To restore cartilage, veterinarians prescribe drugs, which prevent pathological changes in the joints – chondroprotectors ("stride”, “Banhart”). The latter drug helps to strengthen joint cartilage and weakening of the pain. It is important that these funds have virtually no side effects. However, such drugs gives a very positive short-term effect and only in the initial stages of the disease.

They are administered intramuscularly or directly into the joint. Medical treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs may include intravenous use of chondroprotectors. Injections into the joint the most effective, but doing them can only be a specialist.

Anti-Inflammatory drugs are used only those that are intended for treatment of animals. Of painkillers have proved himself “Duramax”, “Rimadyl”, “Ketoprofen”. Treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs is impossible without the use of food additives "Glucosamine" "Chondroitin". They can give the dog constantly, to prevent the destruction of tissues. In the treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs, the drug appoint a doctor, as the dosage and their combination among themselves also depend on the extent of disease and General condition of the dog and on the presence of chronic diseases that account for the specialist.

Homeopathy

Use in the treatment of homeopathic medicines is rather supportive, preventive procedures. These drugs can not stop the pathological lesions of bones and joints. And despite this, leave the vet the selection of these funds, of course, if it deems their use appropriate. The independent use of even herbal medicines may lead to disastrous results.

In veterinary medicine, it is commonly used for dogs under the age of nine months, the drug “Discus compositum”. It is given to puppies in the first weeks of life two times a week. Good reviews gets a homeopathic remedy called "Hondartron”, which is made on the basis of comfrey, rhododendron, bee venom,cinquefoil and other natural components.

Often treatment of dysplasia supplemented with antibiotics – “Cephalosporin”, “Lincomycin” or “Chloramphenicol".

Physical therapy

Conservative treatment must be supplemented by physiotherapy.
Often in veterinary clinics dogs administered laser therapy and electromagnetic radiation. The effect of these procedures is aimed at warming up the joints. However, this treatment does not always bring the desired result. The fact that there are a number of contraindications, when the influence of a magnet and laser can cause damage.

Treatment must be carried out only under the supervision of a veterinarian who will write a schedule of sessions and assign them a duration.

Surgical techniques

These methods it is impossible to cure the last stage of hip dysplasia in dogs. The operation in this case is vital. Such treatment is expensive, but most effective. In most cases it is through the intervention of surgeons the dog begins to walk normally. Today, veterinarians can offer three types of operation: arthroplasty, triple osteotomy, and arthroplasty. Explain what they are.

Replacement

In this case, is removed (fully or partially) head and femoral neck. This operation is recommended in the 4th or 5th stage of the disease, when the process becomes irreversible, the joint pathology goes into the next phase – osteoarthritis.

Triple osteotomy

The Goal of this mission – to surgically improve the angle of acetabular component of the joint, which touches the head of the bone. It is usually administered to young animals at the age of nine or ten months, when the skeleton, cartilage and bones are already formed.

Hip replacement

In the course of this operation prosthetic joint. I will not deny that this is a complex procedure both in technique and in the rehabilitation of the animal. There is a risk of rejection of the prosthesis. But in the majority of cases arthroplasty shows excellent results. Animals returned to active life, jump, run, do not feel pain when exercising.

Basics of a competent diet

• Cook for your pet broths. Liquid food quickly nourishes, stimulates secretion, easy to digest.
• In the puppy's diet from the first days of life, it is necessary to add fertilizing with "Chondroitin" and "Glucosamine" prevent the development of dysplasia.
• Choose a balanced feed, enriched with essential minerals, vitamins, probiotics.
• Pick up a ready mix weight and age of the dog.

Prevention of hip dysplasia in dogs

The Disease can develop at the genetic level, and due to incorrect lifestyle and nutrition. Below we will present the basic preventive measures that will prevent development of this serious disease.

• Carefully observe the behavior of a puppy, especially in the first six months of life, when he formed a skeleton growing joints and bones. In large dogs, these processes often occur very rapidly.
• For the purpose of prevention regularly visit the veterinary clinic, examine the body of the pet, watch for its development.
• Don't overuse protein in the diet of the animal. Components must be balanced. Fats and proteins, fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins and probiotics, minerals, phosphorus and calcium must enter in the daily diet of your pet.
• Obesity – one of the main precipitating factors. Excess weight greatly increases the pressure on the joints. Up and avoid excessive physical activity and grueling workouts. Full evening and morning walk strengthen the muscles and saturate the body with oxygen.

To Summarize

So how to defeat this terrible and insidious disease? You need to know about its existence and mentally to be ready for his appearance. According to veterinarians, dysplasia often occurs in perfectly healthy animals, which do not show any abnormalities of the first six months of life. The sooner a dog is diagnosed, the higher the probability of healing.