Conservative therapy does not cure arthritis caused by hip dysplasia, but is aimed at controlling the pet’s clinical signs (hip pain, lameness, reluctance to exercise). Many pets with hip dysplasia can be managed with conservative/medical therapy. In mature, otherwise healthy dogs with moderate to severe hip pain from hip dysplasia, we usually recommend a hip replacement over FHO, assuming there are no major client constraints or patient contraindications. Although biomechanically inferior to total hip replacement, the advantage of FHO is that it reduces pain without the long-term risks and commitment of a total hip replacement. For active dogs, return to high levels of activity is more variable. Due to the fact that the hip joint is removed, dogs that have this procedure often have an abnormal gait at the walk and run, even in the absence of pain. Instead, a “false” joint made of scar tissue is allowed to develop. In this procedure, the painful hip joint is surgically removed however, a replacement joint is not placed. There is no evidence of degenerative joint disease (arthritis).įemoral head ostectomy (FHO) is another procedure used to treat dogs with pain from hip dysplasia. The head of the femur (arrow) is poorly seated within the acetabulum, indicating poor hip joint congruity. Radiographs (X-rays) of a juvenile dog with subluxation of both hip joints secondary to hip dysplasia. Total hip replacements are usually very successful for the lifetime of your pet, and active dogs are able to resume a high level of activity for the remainder of their lives. The advantage of total hip replacement is that it eliminates pain and lameness and provides normal range of motion and gait (how your pet walks) by removing the affected joint and replacing it with a prosthetic (artificial) joint that is biomechanically similar to the original joint. This procedure allows your pet to keep its own hip joint, and eliminates pain and lameness by correcting the laxity within the hip joint.ĭogs older than 12 months that have osteoarthritis or dislocation of the hip joint secondary to severe hip dysplasia can be treated with either a total hip replacement (THR) or femoral head ostectomy (FHO). Young dogs that show hip pain early in life (usually 6-12 months of age) that have no evidence of osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) on pre-operative radiographs (X-rays) may qualify for a triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO). What are the treatment options for hip dysplasia?ĭepending on your pet’s age, physical condition, and degree of hip pain/lameness, there are several surgical treatment options. The head of the femur (arrow) is seated deeply within the acetabulum, indicating excellent hip joint congruity. Radiographs (X-rays) of a normal dog’s pelvis and hips. Many dysplastic dogs will show these signs early in life (6-12 months of age), but some dogs do not show signs of pain until they are older. Owners report that their dogs are lame after exercise, run with a “bunny-hopping” gait, are reluctant to rise or jump, or aren’t as active as other puppies. If left untreated, dogs with hip dysplasia usually develop osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease).ĭogs with hip dysplasia commonly show clinical signs of hind limb lameness, pain, and muscle wasting (atrophy). This laxity causes stretching of the supporting ligaments, joint capsule, and muscles around the hip joint, leading to joint instability, pain, and permanent damage to the anatomy of the affected hip joint. The abnormal development of the hip joint that occurs in young dogs with dysplasia leads to excessive hip joint laxity (looseness). There is no single cause of hip dysplasia rather it is caused by multiple factors, some of which include genetics and nutrition. It occurs commonly in large breed dogs such as Labrador retrievers, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Saint Bernards, but it can occur in dogs of any breed and size, and even in cats. Canine hip dysplasia is the abnormal development and growth of a dog’s hip joint.

Hip pain xray normal