Hip Dysplasia: Should Your Poodle Suffer From It?

Any owner would be very happy and proud knowing that the Poodle he raised and cared for can do a lot of things that can entertain and give happiness to those around. But who would be happy seeing a li...

Any owner would be very happy and proud knowing that the Poodle he raised and cared for can do a lot of things that can entertain and give happiness to those around. But who would be happy seeing a limping Poodle that seems to exhibit discomfort when making it up the stairs or having difficulty standing on rear legs? Not the usual Poodle, right? A Poodle is known for its straightforward trot and dignified appearance. Any irregularity therefore is an indication that a health problem possibly exists.

Hip dysplasia is one of the diseases seen in dogs, cats and humans. However, some dog breeds like the Poodle have higher incidence of this disease compared to others. Hip dysplasia is a degenerative disease of the joint in which, the severe form can eventually cause lameness and arthritis of the joints. In the normal hip, the femoral head (the ball at the end of the leg bone) fits smoothly into the acetabulum (the socket). In affected dogs, loose fit or partial fit do exist. This causes abnormal wear and tear that leads to malformation of the ball and socket. Hip dysplasia, may or may not be bilateral, is caused by genetic as well as environmental factors.

Hip dysplasia is not too difficult to detect. An affected dog seems to exhibit pain or discomfort during activities - reluctance to exercise, stand on rear legs, jump or climb stairs and abnormal gait. As the disease progresses, an affected dog may need assistance in getting up and may even be unable to walk at all. X-rays and hip scoring tests are used to confirm the existence of hip dysplasia, but these should be done at an appropriate age because the test may not show anything if done when the pup is too young.

Treatment of hip dysplasia varies depending on the severity of the condition. In mild cases, treatment usually consists of anti-inflammatories and pain relief along with proper diet, exercise and supplements. Anti-inflammatories and pain relief drugs should only be administered under the supervision of your veterinarian. Exercise and weight management are vital here too because overweight dogs are at higher risk of developing this disease. The owner should control what the dog eats and make sure to feed appropriate foods. Exercise should also be controlled - never too much nor too little.

Some cases of hip dysplasia requires surgical treatment. TPO (Triple Pelvic Osteotomy) is used for puppies usually less than ten months of age that show signs of dysplasia on x-rays but have not developed severe joint damage yet. In this procedure, the surgeon will break the pelvic bones and realign the femoral head and acetabulum correctly. Another option to correct hip dysplasia is total hip replacement. In this procedure, the damaged hip is removed and replaced with a prosthesis. A dog must be full-grown and weigh at least 35 pounds in order to qualify for this procedure.

Additional help can be extended to pets through pet beds, ramps, stairs and steps to help the dog move from one place to another without causing pain.