subject: The Dangers Of Hip Dysplasia In Dogs And Available Treatments For It [print this page] Hip dysplasia in dogs is a common problem, and more and more owners are faced with it, not knowing exactly what it means or how to deal with it. This is quite a common problem for large and giant dog breeds, and owners of such breeds need to pay close attention to their dog, and take it to the vet regularly to check for any signs of hip dysplasia. All cases of hip dysplasia are visible by the time the dog reaches the age of eighteen months, and the effect can be anywhere from mild to crippling. This can lead to severe arthritis, as well as cause pain for the dog, so it is important for it to be detected early and action taken. If you have a dog that you think is showing signs of hip dysplasia then you should certainly take it to a vet for some X rays. The vet can also check for dog skin problems and other ailments, and also recommend you special accessories, in case your dog is actually suffering from hip dysplasia or arthritis, such as a dog car ramp or a special harness.
It can be difficult to detect the condition though, even using X rays, because sometimes the features that show dysplasia are not present when the X rays are taken, and only appear after the dog is older. In fact, some dogs show absolutely no clinical signs to raise suspicions about hip dysplasia, and only start displaying signs of it when they are older. However, it is also not uncommon for some dogs to suffer from this as early as seven months of age.
Dogs that suffer from this starting at an early age usually get accustomed to the chronic pain, and they show no signs of pain, unlike dogs that start suffering from it at an older age. Such dogs display signs of pain and the condition is much easier to spot. Even though dogs accustomed to the pain do not signs of chronic pain, they may show other signs from time to time, and it is important to recognize them and request a consult from your vet. For example, the dog may suddenly decide to stop moving and sit down, or refuse to climb over objects. Naturally, there may also be other causes for such behavior, but you should keep in mind that this may also be a sign of hip dysplasia that was not detected.
Hydrotherapy and food supplements containing glucosamine are recommended in such cases, because if your dog is suffering from hip dysplasia it may end up suffering from arthritis as well, and the glucosamine supplements will help it regenerate its cartilage faster, while the hydrotherapy is excellent for allowing your dog to exercise its muscles without having to bear the weight of its body.
While there is not much you can do to prevent hip dysplasia, you can at least make sure that your dog is as comfortable as possible and that it is getting the treatment it needs. Hip dysplasia in dogs is not something that should be ignored, because it can lead to more serious issues plus it causes a lot of pain for your dog. The more severe the condition is, the more difficult it is to treat, and the more treatment is required. In very serious cases, surgery can also be considered, either to reshape the hip or to replace it with an artificial one. If the condition is mild, then there are several treatments available, and one should be started as soon as possible. You should also consider purchasing special accessories such as a dog car ramp to help your dog get into and out of the car, if it is unable to do this due to arthritis or hip dysplasia. The cost of the treatment or the cost of the eventual surgery should not be an issue, at least not when you consider that you will be saving your dog from constant pain. Even if your dog is not suffering from anything, any time you take it to the vet make sure you ask the vet to check for symptoms of different conditions or for symptoms of dog skin problems, because it is easier to treat them if they are detected early.
