Hip dysplasia is a congenital disease that, in its more severe form, can lead to lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. Hip dysplasia is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Hip dysplasia can be found in many animals and, rarely, humans, but is common in many dog breeds, particularly the larger breeds.
In the normal anatomy of the hip joint, the almost round “ball” of the thighbone sits in the “socket” of the acetabulum in the pelvis. The socket is partly bone and partly cartilage. Normally, the weight of the body is carried on the bony part of the acetabulum, and not on the cartilage part.
In hip dysplasia, the head (ball) of the femur doesn’t sit in the socket correctly. This doesn’t allow the joint to function correctly, eventually leading to degeneration of the joint cartilidge, and abnormal stress on the entire joint and it’s structures. Sometimes, the ball of the thighbone can even slide out of the acetabulum, leading to subluxation of the joint, which is very painful.
In dogs, hip dysplasia almost always appears on x-rays by the time the dog is 18 months old. The disorder can be anywhere from mild to severely crippling. Hip dysplasia can cause severe osteoarthritis eventually.
If you are purchasing a purebred breed that is prone to hip dysplasia it is wise to pick a puppy whose parents have been certified by the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA). This means that the parents have been radiographed in a very specific manner, and have been evaluated for hip dysplasia by several radiologists in different parts of the country. By doing this you are greatly cutting down the odds of having your dog developing hip dysplasia. The breeder will have a certificate showing the parent’s OFA status.
If your dog has hip dysplasia, therapy includes: preventing obesity, pain medications, joint protectants, and possibly surgery. Several surgical options exist for hip dysplasia, depending upon the individual case–even hip replacement surgery at The Ohio State University can be an option.
You can also visit OFA’s website at www.offa.org