Hip dysplasia is a disease process characterized by a lack of "fit" between the head of the leg bone (femoral head and neck) and the pelvis at the hip (acetabulum). This malformation leads to progressive arthritis of the hip joint.
The treatment for hip dysplasia depends on the age of your dog, the severity of its symptoms, and your financial situation. In mild cases, anti-inflammatory drugs may be needed to provide pain relief. The use of glucosamine or chondroitin can be helpful as well.
Dogs that are more severely affected may require surgery to correct the problem or to relieve pain. Young dogs that are not showing severe signs might benefit from a corrective surgery called triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO), which will correct the positioning of the hip joint and may prevent more severe signs in the future. This surgery is usually performed by veterinary specialists. Femoral head osteotomy (FHO) is the removal of the head of the femur in the affected hip. A false joint forms, and while most dogs will show a changed gait, the surgery does relieve the pain of bone rubbing on bone. A more extensive but effective surgery is a total hip replacement, similar to that performed in humans. In this case, an artificial femoral head and hip cup are implanted. Only certain veterinarians are equipped and trained to do this procedure.
For all hip dysplasia patients, maintaining the strength of the surrounding muscles while minimizing the impact on the hip joint is important. Nonweight-bearing exercise, such as swimming, is useful. Maintaining proper weight of your dog is of upmost importance so there is a decreased load on the joints.
New surgeries and treatments are being tested all the time, so it is important to discuss the options with your veterinarian. While this syndrome may decrease your dog’s ability to do some activities, it shouldn’t prevent him from living a full and happy life.
