Hip dysplasia in German Shepherds is extremely common. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals found that 19.1% of German Shepherds are affected by this disease. Personally, I’ve had to put down two of my dogs down due to this painful condition.
What is it?
Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is a degenerative joint disease caused by an abnormal formation of the hip joint. Basically, it leads to insufficient stability, or weakness in the surrounding muscles, to keep the head of the femur (the ball) in the acetabulum (the socket) of the hip joint. The exact cause is unknown but it is hereditary. Other factors which may put your dog at more risk are body weight, rate of growth or any trauma during growth. Other breeds to which it’s common to is Rottweiler’s, Golden and Labrador Retrievers.
Signs
- Some things you should be on the lookout for are;
- Stiffness or soreness after rising from rest;
- Reluctance to play, walk, climb stairs, or jump;
- Change in way they use hind legs, i.e. bunny hopping, limping;
- Early exhaustion.
If you think your dog has it
If you think your dog might have hip dysplasia, go see local vet to get examination and possibly some x-rays. They will be able to confirm the severity of the disease and the best way in which to treat it.
Ways to treat
For mild cases, some options include weight loss, pain medication, basic exercises and/or physical therapy.
For more severe cases, a surgical procedure may have to be done. The vet will attempt to slow the spread of the arthritis but unfortunately, it most cases, it won’t last for whole life (the surgery).
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