Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
Dogs love their humans unconditionally. Have you ever been greeted by your canine companion after coming home from a day of rough work meetings? Ol’ Bruce will jump on your lap faster than you can loosen your tie and ditch your computer bag. What about the love a dog shows you every morning when you first wake up? Those wet noses and long tongues are more exhilarating than the first cup of coffee!
Our dogs are here to take care of us, so it is important that we properly take care of them, too. Unfortunately, hip dysplasia in dogs is a common skeletal condition, particularly in large or giant breeds.
What Is Canine Hip Dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia happens when the hip joint doesn’t properly develop, causing instability in the joint between the femur (thigh bone) and the pelvis. Over time, this instability leads to joint damage, pain and eventually arthritis. Let’s compare the hip joint to a ball and socket. In dogs with hip dysplasia, the ball and socket do not fit together or develop properly. Therefore, they rub and grind instead of sliding smoothly. This results in deterioration over time and an eventual loss of joint function.
That grinding pain sounds dreadful to this dog-loving human and the rest of the Vitalize® team who have dogs of their own. That’s why we wanted to dig in deeper to learn more about hip dysplasia in dogs so we can make their lives better. After all, they offer us unconditional love. Shouldn’t we do the same for them?
Causes of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
As we mentioned, hip dysplasia in dogs is more common than we’d like to think about. Though fairly common with larger breeds, it can occur in any dog. But what causes this painful disease that can take away the ability of our animals to run and play with us? Let’s explore 3 common causes.
1. Genetics
Hip dysplasia is often hereditary, passed down from parents to offspring. So, if you’re a breeder, you shouldn’t consider breeding dogs with hip dysplasia. This will help reduce the incidence of the condition in future generations. Since dogs are typically identified with hip dysplasia at a young age, it should be simple to prevent breeding them to prevent the genetic passage of this condition from generation to generation.
2. Environmental Factors
While genetics play a large role, environmental factors such as excessive growth, weight and activity level during puppyhood can contribute to the development of hip dysplasia. We know that active puppies are healthy puppies, but sometimes extreme roughness while playing can also lead to hip dysplasia in dogs.
One study suggests that puppies less than 3 months old, especially in larger dog breeds, should avoid climbing stairs. Stair climbing can actually lead to higher incidences of hip dysplasia, and prolonged pain for your dogs. If your dog avoids the stairs, it could be due to the pain that climbing stairs causes.
3. Nutrition
Nutrition is often the factor that most dog owners don’t think about as a cause for hip dysplasia in dogs. Diets that lead to rapid growth or weight gain in puppies, especially in large breeds, can put undue stress on developing joints.
It is vital to keep your puppies on a puppy food diet, giving them recommended feedings each day. Yes, they are growing, and it seems like they could eat forever, but just like people, rapid weight gain is NOT the goal. Giving them balanced dog nutrition in a puppy formula of dog food, however, IS the goal.
Remember, just because dogs can eat human food, doesn’t mean they should. Avoid giving your dogs, especially growing puppies, any table scraps, which might lead to rapid weight gain and extra and unnecessary pressure on the joints.
High-Risk Breeds for Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
Hip dysplasia can impact any dog breed; however, the larger breeds are more susceptible. Some of the most commonly affected breeds include:
Smaller breeds can develop hip dysplasia, though it is less common. Sometimes the inherited structure of a breed, like the Basset Hound – think short, twisted legs – is enough to lead to hip dysplasia in a breed.
Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia
The symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs can vary depending on the severity of the condition and the age of the dog. Some dogs might not show any signs, especially in the early stages, while others may have very obvious discomfort. Symptoms include:
Decreased Activity
Dogs may become reluctant to play, run or climb stairs. If your dog is always running, jumping and playing and has turned into a furball and doesn’t want to play at all, something is obviously the matter. Or, if you fur child normally runs downstairs with you to watch you on the treadmill and has resorted to laying at the top of the stairs and whining, it merits having your pet checked out.
Limping or Lameness
Nobody knows your pet like you do. Watch for it to favor one or both back legs, meaning that it does not want to put weight on one leg or the other. This is a sign that something is wrong.
Difficulty Rising or Jumping
Back to the unconditional love that dogs offer, they are usually the first to jump up and greet us. However, if you notice they are having challenges getting up or jumping, particularly after periods of rest, this might be a tell-tale sign of hip dysplasia.
“Bunny Hopping” Gait
It might look cute to see your little dog doing the classic “bunny hop,” where both legs are kept together when running. However, that isn’t natural for dogs. This gait is typically a sure sign that something is wrong with their joints and merits the attention of a veterinarian.
Pain & Stiffness
If your dog is experiencing unusual amounts of pain or stiffness, especially after exercise, something might be wrong. Especially in puppies and young dogs, unwarranted pain or stiffness is not something you will see.
Muscular Atrophy
As dogs become less active, their muscle mass deteriorates, known as muscle atrophy. Loss of muscle mass in the hind legs is often a sign of hip dysplasia in dogs because of the other symptoms we have already discussed. Your canine companion is becoming lethargic or less active, is in pain, not climbing stairs or jumping. All of these sources of exercise help build muscle mass, and since your dog’s activity level has decreased, so has its muscle mass.
Swaying Gait
Since the joint and socket are not connecting, you will typically start noticing a wobble or unsteadiness while your dog is walking. This swaying is another sign you need to contact your veterinarian sooner rather than later.
Diagnosing Hip Dysplasia
You’ve probably noticed that we recommend taking your faithful fur friend to the veterinarian when symptoms arise. What we think is even more important than that is building an established relationship with your veterinarian long before any symptoms rear their ugly head. It is so important to have a veterinarian-client relationship established with your local pet doctor to keep your dog healthy and thriving.
One of the benefits of this trusted relationship is that your vet or vet technician will know what your healthy pet looks and acts like. And frankly, that is a great thing. Another benefit is if you take your dog to the veterinarian for regular checkups, it is used to going. It will ensure they’re less likely to act up or struggle with dog anxiety when you do go for something more serious.
To accurately diagnose hip dysplasia in dogs, a veterinarian will typically:
Conduct a Physical Examination
The vet will manipulate the hips to check for signs of pain, reduced range of motion and joint looseness. Once again, we can’t emphasize the importance of the veterinary-client relationship enough, so your pet doctor knows what the “healthy” status of your dog looks like.
Take X-rays
The definitive diagnosis of hip dysplasia is made through X-rays of the hips to assess joint structure and severity. The X-rays will be able to show what we can’t see on the outside, helping make a final diagnosis.
Provide Genetic Testing
Some breeds may benefit from early genetic screening for hip dysplasia to assess risk. Although your veterinarian might not be able to conduct the genetic screening in his or her own offices, they can likely recommend a service that does the genetic testing and help you collect the samples you need to send for testing.
Treatment Options for Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
While prevention is always our preference versus treatment, as long as we have dogs, we’ll be treating them for some disease or illness!
Treating hip dysplasia depends on the severity of the condition, the age of the dog and any other underlying conditions the dog might have. Treatment options range from conservative management options to surgical intervention.
Non-Surgical/Conservative Treatments
1. Weight Management
Maintaining a healthy weight reduces stress on the hip joints. Control your dog’s weight with a proper diet and avoid human food.
2. Exercise Modification
Low-impact exercises like swimming can help maintain muscle tone without putting undue strain on the joints. Most dogs enjoy water, and swimming is great exercise for dogs, just like it is for humans.
3. Physical Therapy
Rehabilitative exercises can help strengthen muscles around the hips. Talk to your veterinarian about the best option for your dog, based on the severity of hip dysplasia in your dog.
4. Pain Relief
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other pain medications may be prescribed to manage discomfort.
5. Joint Supplements
There are many joint supplements on the market for pets. Perhaps one of the best, most natural is Vitalize® Trixsyn® Canine Performance, a liquid product for dogs designed to support joint health using hyaluronic acid and astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is an antioxidant that helps relieve the pain and soreness in joints and muscles.
Vitalize Trixsyn Canine Performance:
- Supports hip, joint and soft tissue health.
- Contains MHB3®, a patented high molecular weight hyaluronic acid.
- Helps maintain a normal inflammatory response and supports normal exercise recovery.
MHB3 is a patented high molecular weight hyaluronic acid. This ingredient supports hip and joint health and boosts mobility. Hyaluronic acid exists inside the joint capsule and acts as a lubricant for the joint.
Other ingredients that you might want to consider for joint supplementation include glucosamine, chondroitin and omega-3 fatty acids.
Importance of Treating Hip Dysplasia Early
If you can catch hip dysplasia early and treat it, before it reaches its severity, that is the preferred treatment, If not, and in more severe cases, surgery might be necessary. A veterinarian could recommend surgery for hip dysplasia in dogs if the dog is experiencing significant pain or has lost mobility. Four common surgical options include:
Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis (JPS)
JPS is a preventive surgery that is performed on puppies to help correct hip joint growth. Usually performed on puppies at least 4 months old, this simple outpatient surgery is minimally invasive. The growth plate of the pubic bone is destroyed with electrocautery. Therefore, that portion of the pelvis no longer grows. The remaining parts of the pelvis grow, which rotates the sockets of the hips over the femoral head or the ball of the hip. There is about an 85% success rate with this surgery.
Triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO)
The triple pelvic osteotomy surgery is performed on young dogs, typically less than 1-year-old to improve hip joint alignment. TPO involves bone cuts in the pelvis so that the socket portion of the joint can be rotated over the ball (femoral head). Then, the bones are then stabilized with a bone plate.
Typically, each side is operated on separately, with a 4 to 6 healing period in between; however, they can be performed simultaneously. It is important to note that once arthritis shows on the X-Rays, a TPO can no longer be completed.
Femoral head ostectomy (FHO)
FHO is primarily recommended for smaller dogs. It is a procedure that removes the femoral head (the ball portion of the hip joint) to reduce pain. Your dog’s leg muscles will initially hold the femur in place as scar tissue develops between the femur and the acetabulum. Gradually over a period of time a “false joint” will begin to form and scar tissue will act as a cushion between the femur and the acetabulum.
Total hip replacement (THR)
A total hip replacement is a highly effective but more invasive surgery than what we have already outlined. The THR replaces the damaged hip joint with a prosthetic one, restoring mobility and reducing pain.
Although it is the most expensive treatment option, the THR is usually the most effective and will help your dog live a somewhat normal life.
Prevention
Since hip dysplasia in dogs is predominantly genetic, prevention focuses on responsible breeding practices. Breeders can screen dogs for hip dysplasia using X-rays and ensure that only dogs with healthy hips are bred. We offer a few more preventative measures for your furry friend.
Weight Control
Keeping your dog at a healthy weight, particularly when it is a growing pup, is essential. Weight control starts with our next point of a balanced diet.
Balanced Diet
Feeding a balanced diet that supports healthy development is key, particularly in large-breed puppies. Do not overfeed your dogs and avoid giving them human food, especially as puppies.
Appropriate Exercise
Exercise is important, however, avoiding excessive high-impact activities in young dogs can help protect their developing joints. Try to keep exercise on level terrain and avoid stairs as their joints are developing.
Joint Supplement from Vitalize
We already suggested one of our Vitalize Trixsyn products as a treatment protocol, as it can help eliminate pain. However, we also have another Vitalize joint supplement that can help your furry friends.
Vitalize® Trixsyn® Canine is a liquid product for dogs designed to support joint health using hyaluronic acid. Like its counterpart, Vitalize Trixsyn Canine Performance, it also contains MHB3, a patented, high molecular weight hyaluronic acid. Vitalize Trixsyn Canine Supports hip and joint health and mobility.
Implementing a combination of prevention methods early in your dog’s life can greatly improve a dog’s comfort and longevity, especially if you think it could be prone to hip dysplasia.
Why Vitalize?
Vitalize is a line of supplements for horses, dogs and cats with proven solutions to keep your animal healthy and performing. Although we put special emphasis on our Trixsyn products for joint support for hip dysplasia in dogs in this blog, we also make a line of products to give your animals a #goodgutfeeling.
However, for the interest of this blog, we wanted to provide you a little more information about our Trixsyn products and what makes them unique.
MHB3 Hyaluranon
MHB3 Hyaluronan is a natural hyaluronic acid (HA) bioidentical to the HA naturally produced by the body. That means there is minimal risk of complication or malabsorption.
MHB3 is unique to other hyaluronic acid ingredients on the market due to its oral liquid formulation that allows for quick absorption and maximum. Liquid supplementation with MHB3 is research-proven to be 3.8 times more effective than dry forms of hyaluronic acid.
MHB3 currently holds 8 U.S. patents for its role in improving bone and joint health including. Some of those include:
- For the prevention and maintenance of osteoarthritis
- For the prevention and maintenance of osteopenia – the precursor to osteoporosis
- For the prevention of osteophytes or bone spurs
- More generally, it has a role in improving joint health.
How MHB3 Helps
MHB3 improves the symptoms of osteoarthritis as well as symptom frequency.
A 30-day course of MHB3 treatment reduces friction within the joint and preserves protective cartilage preventing the formation of bone spurs. This results in more fluid movement, less pain and increased range of motion.
Treatment with MHB3 decreases markers of bone breakdown, having a positive impact on bone mineral density and bone formation.
Study-backed outcomes associated with MHB3:
- Tissue hydration
- Anti-inflammation
- Cartilage protection
- Osteophyte prevention
- Pain reduction
- Increased range of motion
Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is known as nature’s strongest antioxidant. It is a natural red algae that acts as an antioxidant and assists with soft tissue health, muscular recuperation and exercise recovery. All those issues can lead to inflammation. Because astaxanthin is an aquatic algae, it has a briny aftertaste.
MHB3 Hyaluranon and Astaxanthin are the key ingredients in Vitalize® Trisxyn® Canine Performance. Vitalize Trixsyn Canine Performance supports hip, joint and soft tissue health and helps maintain a normal inflammatory response and support normal exercise recovery.
Both Trixsyn Canine products are simple to use, require no prescriptions and don’t require the labor or mess of a shot or topical ointment. They come in an easy-to-use, pump bottle. Dosage is determined by dog size and weight, and each dog gets 1 to 3 pumps on their food twice daily, depending on size.
The Final Word
We hope you have found this blog useful. As large dog lovers ourselves, we know that hip dysplasia is likely inevitable. However, with good management, weight control, diet and some Vitalize Trixsyn Canine, this dreadful disease can be prevented.
Always consult a veterinarian. Your animal doctor knows what’s best for your dog. Listen to him or her, and make sure to have your dog examined annually. That is the best way to build a veterinary-client relationship with your dog and the vet. That also helps with dog anxiety, and the dog won’t think going to the vet has to be just for troubleshooting or sickness.
Read and follow labels. We cannot emphasize this enough. Even on our Vitalize products, we put labels there for a reason, and if you don’t read them, your dog might not be getting the best nutrition possible.
Monitor your dog’s health. Just because he or she licks the bowl clean every time, doesn’t necessarily mean that food is the best option. Give your puppies puppy food, and your adult dogs, adult food. Can dogs eat human food? There are certain foods they can eat, but try to avoid giving them human food, especially if you are managing their weight. Does your dog have bright eyes, a shiny coat and seem happy and active? Those are good signs. If those change, take note and consult your veterinarian ASAP!
Get your Vitalize Today!
Your dog is going to love you unconditionally, regardless of if you know more about hip dysplasia now or not. And keeping them comfortable, healthy and fit ensures they can keep loving you for years to come! Help support their joint health with Vitalize Trixsyn. Get your Vitalize today. Best of all, we have made purchasing Vitalize as easy as possible.
You can visit your local dealer to purchase Vitalize products. Locate a dealer near you today.
Perhaps you prefer the convenience of online shopping. You can shop online and have Vitalize delivered right to your front door.
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