What is hip dysplasia in dogs. What is dysplasia in dogs, its symptoms and treatment. Characteristic features of dysplasia

Dysplasia in dogs is characterized degenerative changes in the hip joints. That is, they are gradually destroyed, which causes severe pain to the animal. Any movement, even the smallest one, is real torture for a four-legged family member.

You can recognize that a dog will have dysplasia at an early age. This allows treatment to begin as early as possible, which will allow the dog to remain physically active. long time. How to recognize that a puppy or adult dog Is there a risk of suffering from dysplasia?

Normally (in a healthy animal) the head femur fits perfectly into the hollow of the pelvis, they are in close contact with each other. With dysplasia, the dog has a gap (empty space) between the head and the cavity. When moving, friction occurs, as a result, the articular surfaces are abraded and destroyed.

Dysplasia is understood as a pathology of the acetabulum, in which the head of the bone is fixed, which manifests itself in the fact that the cavity becomes flat. Since the bone in this case does not fit tightly in the joint, destruction begins hip joints, and the animal begins to experience discomfort and pain.

Stages of dysplasia in dogs.

Joint dysplasia in dogs is divided into stages:

light form, in which the acetabulum has become flat, but the bone is firmly fixed in it.
in the moderate form of the disease, the plane of the cavity is more pronounced, due to this, the articulation of the bone in the joint weakens. The head of the bone bears traces of irregularities.
a severe form of the disease means destruction of the head of the bone and the joint remaining in a state of dislocation.

Reasons for development

The disease is often genetic in dogs. large breeds. With careful culling of sick animals from further development of the genotype, only healthy animals are born.
Dysplasia can also develop due to poor nutrition. Scientists have already proven that an unbalanced ratio of phosphorus and calcium in a dog’s diet, low-quality dry food, and also, conversely, too much meat in the diet can serve as an impetus for the development of dysplasia.
Also, in the case of large breeds, you should always carefully monitor the dog's weight. The development of dysplasia will only worsen excess weight.

There are two main causes of hip dysplasia, genetics and poor diet. Most often, the development of the disease occurs precisely because of genetic predisposition. Ecology plays a significant role, that is, the state of the environment in which the individual develops.

Advances in nutritional research have shown that diet also plays an important role in the development of hip dysplasia. Large breed puppies should develop gradually; it is better to be underweight for their age than to be at least slightly overweight. You should not overfeed them, accelerating growth, because this will ultimately lead to unnecessary pressure on the joints.

Behind Lately Joint dysplasia is spreading rapidly and taking on terrifying forms. Over the years of studying the disease, many experts have come to the conclusion that joint dysplasia is a genetically determined disease. Pathology is passed on from generation to generation.

However, there is an opinion that the disease can be acquired (as a result of injury). But this hypothesis is broken by the fact that unhealthy puppies are more often born to certain breeds. Moreover, in the same females and males.

In addition, the theory of genetic predisposition is confirmed by the fact that homeless people and mongrel dogs are not susceptible to the disease, although pets are more often injured. The disease also develops in puppies resulting from “mixed marriages” between outbred representatives and individuals of breeds predisposed to dysplasia. Therefore, one can hardly think that the disease is acquired.

The role of hereditary predisposition to the occurrence of the disease is enormous. There are factors that contribute to the development of dysplasia in dogs:

lack of essential vitamins and minerals;
early and inappropriate physical activity;
unbalanced diet;
incorrect proportion of calcium and phosphorus;
obesity;
excess protein;
diseases that lead to disruption of the development and growth of an animal.

All of the above factors have their place in the development of pathology, but their “contribution” to the occurrence of the disease is no more than 5%.

This condition can be characterized as a consequence of formation in the hip joint pathological sizes gap between the articular head and the articular cavity, while their fit to each other should be tight.

If a dog's femoral head does not fit properly into the socket of the hip joint, friction between the two leads to degeneration of the articular surface and bone, which ultimately leads to impaired musculoskeletal function.

Canine hip dysplasia results from a number of genetic and environmental factors.

Some dogs are already born with hip dysplasia, this more often refers to early onset hip dysplasia. From the point of view of the mechanism of heredity, this is a rather complex disease associated with the involvement of polymer genes.

Therefore, in such genetically determined cases, the disease cannot be quickly eliminated from a particular breed or within-breed line. This is either practically impossible, or has a long-term, delayed effect.

Older dogs may develop dysplasia with obvious signs of arthritis (more commonly referred to as adult canine hip dysplasia).

External influences can also lead to hip dysplasia. The cause may be rapid weight gain and obesity of the dog, eating habits, poor development of the muscles of the hind legs, pelvic injuries or chronically recurring bruises and sprains, for example, as a result of training or hunting.

Hip dysplasia is a real scourge of large breed dogs. With dysplasia, the joint is formed incorrectly and therefore functions poorly, causing discomfort to the animal. And although big dogs are more susceptible to this disease, it also occurs in smaller breeds. The main disadvantage of this disease is that it is not completely curable.

In the photo you can compare x-rays of a healthy and diseased hip joint.

The main reason for the development of dysplasia in dogs is a genetic factor. If at least one of the parents of the litter had this disease, then the probability that it will be passed on to the puppies is 50%.

If a male dog has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia (no matter what degree), he will not be allowed to be bred. Particularly valuable bitches can continue the pedigree if they have a mild degree of the disease.

You can find out whether at least one of the puppies' parents suffers from this disease using a dysplasia test. Puppies whose parents had a disproportion in size often suffer from hip dysplasia.

Much depends on the breed. Large breeds, such as shepherds, are predisposed to dysplasia different types, Chow Chows, Labradors, St. Bernards, etc.

A less significant factor influencing the development of dysplasia in a dog, but still occurring, is incorrect physical exercise. Under excessive loads in early childhood, the hip joint (TJ) becomes deformed. Therefore, it is extremely important to closely monitor puppies, especially large breeds. Among other things, do not let them go down the stairs on their own, this puts a very strong load on the hip joint.

Lack of physical activity can also lead to hip dysplasia. An inactive lifestyle of your dog, especially a growing puppy, can lead to the fact that the knee and elbow caps, as well as the cups of the hip joints, will be underdeveloped, and the animal will require treatment, even surgical intervention.

Your pet's excess weight is another risk factor. Overweight This is a big load, especially for immature joints. An unbalanced diet, including a lack or excess of calcium, phosphorus and other vitamins and minerals, will have a detrimental effect on the health of your pet’s limbs.

And of course, various joint injuries lead to dysplasia. Even such a small thing as a sharp tug on the leash, when the puppy behaves disobediently and pulls the owner, leads to changes ligamentous apparatus and can unbalance joints.

It is worth noting that dysplasia is not a congenital disease. The hip (or elbow) joint becomes deformed around the sixth month of life.

This happens because bones grow much faster than ligaments and muscles. It is during this risky period that many puppies look ridiculous due to their disproportionately long hind legs.

Be vigilant and carefully monitor the symptoms of dysplasia.

Hip dysplasia in dogs is being reported more and more often. Dogs of large breeds or those with a large body weight are most susceptible to it, since it puts a strain on the musculoskeletal system. Joints also wear out due to excessive physical activity. What is dysplasia, how does it manifest itself and how can you help your beloved four-legged friend?

Large breeds of dogs often suffer from a serious disease - joint dysplasia. The pathology causes pain and discomfort to the pet.

Lameness and deforming arthritis are serious consequences of late diagnosis of the disease in an animal. We will tell you how to notice the development of the disease in your friend in time and when you need to contact a veterinarian in order to prolong the dog’s life and relieve pain.

Causes of joint dysplasia

Joint dysplasia in dogs, such as shepherds, Rottweilers and collies, is genetically determined. The presence of joint diseases in the pet's parents can serve as the first signal for examining the baby. But even healthy parents cannot guarantee the absence of disease.

The muscle frame of a large breed puppy grows rapidly at an early age, and the soft bones, without having time to harden, are subject to constant deformation. This is how the disease develops in absolutely healthy babies.

The main reasons for the development of dysplasia in dogs include:

Poor nutrition. An unbalanced intake of meat and cheap feed causes disturbances in the cartilage tissue of a growing organism, contributing to disease.
Excess calcium and phosphorus in the diet. Uncontrolled use of dietary supplements for bone growth can cause an imbalance of microelements in the body.
Obesity. The animal's high body weight increases its susceptibility to the disease.
Intense workouts. A high load on a fragile puppy can provoke the development of the disease.
Low mobility. If the baby walks very little, his joints do not receive the necessary load and begin to deform.
Limb injuries. Any bruise, sprain or fracture can cause problems for your pet in the future.

Knowing the causes of the development of the disease, it is necessary to know the traumatic factors to which the puppy was exposed and, if at least one of them is present, seek advice from a veterinarian. It is impossible to prevent the development of the disease, but early diagnosis of the disease will save your friend from severe pain and lameness.

Symptoms of joint dysplasia

Symptoms of joint dysplasia in dogs can appear both at an early age in the period from 4 to 12 months, and in adult animals. When identifying the first signs, as well as diagnosing the disease in the parents of an animal or puppies of the same litter, you must immediately contact a specialist for diagnosis.

Joint dysplasia in dogs is manifested by the following symptoms (see photo below the list. a - healthy joint, b - with dysplasia):

puppy limping, slight lameness;
the puppy does not jump up immediately, but begins to pace;
“starting” lameness;
lameness after exercise;
got tired during walks, the puppy sits down and doesn’t want to go further;
refusal to climb stairs, difficulty getting up;
“hare” running – the dog pushes off with both legs at once when running;
unnatural position of the legs during sleep;
body asymmetry - the upper part of the body becomes more massive, with a narrow pelvis;
swelling and swelling of the joints,
painful reaction when palpating the joints.

The disease may not manifest itself for a long time, but remember that early diagnosis of the disease will help your pet live a life without pain and complications.

Treatment of dysplasia in dogs

The doctor determines how to treat the disease depending on the degree of damage, the weight of the animal, lifestyle, breed and diagnoses.

When treating hip dysplasia in dogs, there are conservative and surgical methods.

Conservative treatment of joint dysplasia in dogs is carried out with the following drugs:

Chondroprotectors. Substances that restore cartilage tissue are administered intravenously, intramuscularly, in the form of tablets and powders.
Antispasmodics. Reduce pain syndrome.
Anti-inflammatory drugs. Reduces swelling and swelling of tissues.
Dietary supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin, which restore cartilage tissue.

If dysplasia is diagnosed against the background of obesity, then it is necessary to reconsider the dog’s diet and reduce caloric intake, add moderate fitness exercises. Be sure to help your pet’s body with vitamin supplements.

With the risks of developing and diagnosing the disease on early stages You can reduce the chances of complications with nutrition. It is advisable to exclude industrial dry food from the diet and focus on natural nutrition.

Reduce the amount of pure proteins and replace them with carbohydrates. Otherwise, this will cause the dog to become obese, which also provokes the development of the disease. Therefore, provide the puppy with soft, adequate exercise. Swimming is very beneficial.

Physiotherapy will be effective. Massage, ozokerite, laser and magnetic therapy, paraffin baths help well.

In Germany, homeopathic remedies are often used, but the treatment plan must be determined by a doctor. For this purpose, injectable preparations Cel and Discus Compositum are used. They must be used for a long time and under the supervision of a doctor, but the effectiveness of expensive drugs is controversial and not confirmed by research.

Most effective way treatment – surgical correction of the joint capsule. This method is used when conservative procedures do not help. Large breed dogs are operated on in the hospital using closed and open methods. Depending on the degree of damage, the doctor either changes the joint capsule or secures the joint with a screw. It is possible to use endoprostheses.

Prevention of dysplasia in dogs

Prevention of hip dysplasia involves maintaining a proper diet and moderate stress on the puppy’s joints.

Owners of animals with this disease are always interested in prognoses: what is the risk of hip dysplasia in dogs? If the baby is playful and active, early diagnosis and prevention of the disease will help him maintain his ability to move and be cheerful for a long time.

The only reliable method of treating the disease is surgery. It will definitely protect your baby from pain, lameness and severe arthritis.

In addition, puppies with this diagnosis are unsuitable for breeding.

And the second question that interests people: how long do dogs with hip dysplasia live? Here the answer will be much simpler. The disease is genetically determined and does not affect life expectancy. That is, when proper care he can live with his pet for a long time and happy life.

If your pet shows the first symptoms of the disease, take him to a specialist for diagnosis as soon as possible. And remember, this disease is not a death sentence for the baby, but only a test that only you can help him survive. Love your baby, take care of him and he will thank you with devotion.

Hip dysplasia was first isolated from dogs and described in the United States 60 years ago, although the disease has been diagnosed and treated in humans for a long time. Subsequently, Swedish veterinarians proved that the disease is caused by hereditary factors and is most often found in large dogs.

Although the size of the animal is not a determining factor in the development of the disease, since even small breeds, for example, chow chows, also suffer from hip dysplasia (HD).

Veterinarian observations have shown that puppies are born with normally developed joints, which are then susceptible to disease due to hereditary predisposition. At the same time, in large breeds the disease progresses at a high speed, as they rapidly gain body weight, which is a strain on fragile joints. The disease is especially dangerous for short-legged breeds.

Most often, hip dysplasia (HJD) affects German Shepherds, Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, Rottweilers, Great Danes, Boxers and English Bulldogs. Greyhounds are free from the disease. In 89% of cases, dysplasia affects two hip joints at once, 3.3% are unilateral lesions of the left joint, 7.7% - the right.

Dysplasia in large breed dog puppies may well be congenital. It is inherited. To prevent this possibility, experienced breeders have to cull sick animals, which leads to an improvement in the situation. After such radical measures, puppies are born absolutely healthy.

Over the past decades, hip dysplasia has been spreading at a terrifying pace and has the same terrifying forms. The best specialists the world has long come to the conclusion that dysplasia is a genetically determined disease. This pathology is passed on from generation to generation.

Types of disease

Symptoms and disease, as stated, develop in large breeds of dogs - Labradors, Great Danes, Shepherds, St. Bernards and others. Dysplasia is a serious pathology that leads to the destruction of the hip, elbow or knee joints. At the last stage of the disease, animals cannot move independently.

There are 5 degrees of dysplasia:

1 (A) - absence of disorders in the joint;
2 (B), 3 (C) - sometimes there are dislocations;
4 (D), 5 (E) - moderate and severe degrees, which lead to serious and severe damage to the joints.

There is dysplasia of the hip, elbow and knee joints.

Hip dysplasia (HJD)

The appearance of signs of hip dysplasia is determined by the severity of the disorders:

with minor changes, the symptoms of the disease usually do not appear at all or develop only in old age;
with significant changes in the hip joint, signs of the disease will immediately become visible even with correct content puppy.

Elbow dysplasia

If the disease is concentrated in the elbow joint, then the following symptoms are observed:

the dog limping on its front legs;
reluctance to give paw on command;
the appearance of thickenings or other fragments on the elbow joint;
withdrawal of the limb upon palpation of the neoplasm;
refusal to go down stairs.

Some symptoms of this type depend on the characteristics of the disease. For example, articular bones can thicken, causing friction, or, conversely, shrink, creating a strong gap.

Knee dysplasia

Knee changes in dogs are uncommon and usually result from injury or increased stress on the hind legs. In such situations, the position of the bones changes according to the type of subluxation. Signs of knee dysplasia:

visible deformation of the knee joints;
pain when feeling the knee;
severe lameness on the hind legs.

To prevent the disease from developing, large breed puppies should be given the right conditions and try to eliminate the possibility of injury.

The most common type of this disease is hip dysplasia. Most often seen in puppies of large dogs. It can be recognized by the incorrect position of the hind legs, lameness during exercise, lethargy of the puppy, difficulty jumping and instability of gait.

With hip dysplasia in dogs, body asymmetry is observed: a disproportionately narrow rear, poorly developed paws and a massive, wide chest.

Elbow dysplasia is a developmental defect of the forelimbs. The defect can be on either two or one paw. This genetic disease successfully treated surgically. However, even a cured individual is not allowed to breed. In advanced cases, you can hear a cracking and crunching sound in the elbow joint.

In the photo you can see an x-ray of the diseased elbow joint.

The most severe stage of hip dysplasia is multiple epiphasic dysplasia. This is a hereditary defect. Most often, a dog is affected in early childhood. Growth in puppies stops abruptly due to calcification of the pineal gland. The joints of a sick animal seem swollen, the gait is very unsteady and swaying.

Degrees of dysplasia in dogs

— A — no signs of disease;

— B — there are almost no deviations from the norm;

— C — mild degree of illness;

— D — dysplasia within acceptable limits;

— E — significant degree of destruction.

— 0 — no violations detected;

— 1 — arthrosis in minimal manifestation (osteophytes up to 2 mm in width);

— 2 — moderate level of pathology (pathological growths from 2 to 5 mm);

— 3 — deep tissue deformation (more than 5 mm).

The final conclusion on the condition is made by a specially trained specialist at the RKF.

Signs of dysplasia in dogs.

At an early age, the puppy's flexible skeleton grows quickly, and the bones and joints gradually harden. And only around six months, and sometimes earlier, do the first alarm bells appear. Lameness and pain are the only obvious signs dysplasia in dogs, but sometimes they are difficult to notice. Therefore, the owner of a large breed puppy should specifically look for these symptoms, paying special attention to the baby:

slight limp, stiffness after sleep;

habit of "pacing". The puppy does not jump up to meet you, but first tries to walk carefully, as if consciously stretching stiff muscles (this is from the outside; in fact, the puppy needs time to develop the sore joint);

“starting” lameness (at the beginning of the run the dog limps, then seems to move normally);

lameness after exercise, intermittent claudication (either appears or disappears without a trace for days or weeks);

the habit of “resting” in the middle of the journey, although the distance traveled cannot be called large. The puppy plops down on his butt and sits for a while, not wanting to go further;

refusal to go up and/or down stairs. Many breeders recommend carrying babies for walks in your arms, and only when the puppies are 4 months old should they gradually master going up and down stairs.

It is important to understand that the sooner treatment begins, the greater the dog’s chances for a full life. “Yes, he just twisted his paw/hit himself/slept uncomfortably, etc.” - don’t get your hopes up, even if you turn out to be right.

If you notice at least one of the symptoms, you should immediately contact a veterinarian. Dysplasia discovered after reaching the age of one is extremely difficult to overcome, especially if the pathology is serious.

The problem with the timely detection of dysplasia in dogs is the inability to determine the presence of the disease at an early stage without an x-ray. You, as the owner, should closely monitor your puppy and respond with a trip to the veterinarian if any of the following symptoms occur:

During walks, your four-legged friend's running pattern changes. The dog runs, as if pushing off the ground with its hind legs. At the same time, rest after jogging becomes frequent.
The dog's running towards the owner does not begin immediately, but after some warm-up. The dog carefully begins to walk towards you, gradually increasing the speed of the step, and switches to a shallow trot.
During physical activity, lameness appears and disappears in the animal.
A lying puppy's paws are turned out in an unnatural way.
refuses to obey the command “Paw!” or whines while this command is being executed.
walking up the stairs causes discomfort and pain and the puppy does not want to go up and down the steps.
Feeling the joints causes the dog to become restless and cry.
When you lightly press on the joints, you can feel that they are swollen.

Symptoms

Most often, dysplasia is diagnosed in dogs aged 12-18 months. This is due to the puppy’s rapid growth and rapid weight gain. And these loads lead to the fact that dogs’ joints begin to deteriorate. This leads to lameness of the animal, which can already appear at the age of two years.

The most striking symptoms of the development of dysplasia are:

it is difficult for the dog to get up after lying down and climb the stairs;
when walking, the dog sways unevenly or limps;
she winces or whines when you touch her thigh.

Even if the dog is not limping, this does not exclude the possibility of developing dysplasia. Simply incorrect positioning and development of the joints has not yet led to lameness.

Thus, in a puppy, the first alarming signs of the development of the disease are that it often lies with its hind legs spread out in different directions, as well as rapid fatigue during long walking and the so-called “rabbit” run, in which the dog pushes off with both hind legs while running. .

Joint dysplasia is sometimes diagnosed at the age of 4-5 months, when dogs’ hind legs are not yet strong. In this case, treatment should be started immediately, without waiting until the baby reaches 12 months of age. Otherwise, osteoarthritis may develop.

Symptoms depend on the degree of instability (looseness) in the dog's hip joint, the degree of joint inflammation, and the degeneration that occurs. It is important to note that pain in dogs is not always directly dependent on the stage of development of the disease. Some dogs with moderate dysplasia may experience extreme pain, while dogs with severe dysplasia may experience little to no pain.

General signs Hip dysplasias include:

exercise intolerance;
jumping gait (especially on stairs);
cerebellar gait (the hindquarters visibly sway);
stiffness, pain;
difficulty getting up from a lying or sitting position;
sitting position “frog” (one hip is twisted);
reluctance to run, jump, climb stairs;
pain when touched;
hind limbs are lame, often worsening after exercise;
The hind legs are positioned closer together than the front legs (narrow position).

As hip dysplasia progresses in dogs, the following symptoms may appear:

muscle atrophy of the hind limbs;
arthritis (especially in older age);
avoidance of touching;
inexplicable aggressive behavior(for constant chronic joint pain).

Recognizing the symptoms of dysplasia is not so difficult, but the diagnosis can only be confirmed after additional research. The most effective is x-ray. The image will show a gap between the articular surfaces of the bones or degeneration that has already begun. However, there are also visible clinical signs that the owner can notice without an x-ray.

You can suspect something is wrong if the pet begins to limp or stagger when walking (“slips” the pelvis).

Notice how the dog runs. If he pushes off with both hind legs, then this is a signal that something is wrong with the limbs. This is considered incorrect paw placement.
Think about it if the animal began to rest often during a walk. He runs less, plays less, and tries more and more to lie down or sit. It is noticeable that physical activity is difficult for him.
There was some stiffness in movements. For example, going down and up the stairs), and sometimes getting up from the floor has become extremely difficult. Even raising a paw for a dog becomes challenging task.
The dog lies down unusually, spreading its sore legs in different directions. In addition, it is noticeable how the load is transferred from damaged limbs to healthy ones. Therefore, healthy paws become more massive (due to the fact that all the work is redistributed to them), but sick paws, on the contrary, “lose weight”, the muscles atrophy.
With hip dysplasia, the affected joints swell, swell, and become extremely painful when touched and palpated.

Dysplasia (from the Greek dis - destruction, plasia - formation, appearance). Hip dysplasia is a very common disease among dogs. If this disease is neglected, it will cause the dog to begin to limp and experience constant pain.

Sometimes such an animal even has to be euthanized. Unfortunately, the first symptoms of this disease appear in a puppy after a year of life, so dog breeders do not have a recipe for choosing a puppy about whom we can say with complete confidence that he will not have hip dysplasia in the future.

An attentive owner will immediately determine that something wrong is happening to his pet. Change in gait and impairment appearance dogs indicates the development of pathology.

The following signs may indicate defects:

Limping, swaying while walking.
Incorrect paw placement when running (pushing off the surface with both legs at once).
Stiffness of movements.
Incorrect posture when lying down - the hind legs are turned in different directions.
Body asymmetry. The dog transfers the bulk of its body weight to the front part of the body, while the pelvis becomes narrow as the muscles atrophy hind legs.
Swelling of the joints.
Pain when touching the paws.

Any of these signs should be a reason to contact your veterinarian. Timely help for your dog will help slow down or completely stop the development of the disease. Dysplasia detected at an early age, when bones are still developing, is cured much faster.

Diagnostics

Before starting treatment, a complete diagnosis of the body’s condition is performed. In this case, five degrees of development of pathology are revealed:

there are no deviations in the development of the joint;
there is a predisposition to pathology;
mild degree of dysplastic osteoarthritis;
dysplasia disease moderate severity;
severe form of dysplasia.

To detect inflammation, blood and urine are taken for analysis. The preferred method for diagnosing hip dysplasia is an X-ray of the hip under general anesthetic.

Without anesthesia, the animal can keep its muscles tense, which interferes with determining the clinical picture. It is advisable to prescribe this procedure to individuals over the age of one year and before it visit a cardiologist and take a blood test to exclude serious consequences from anesthesia.

Visible signs and noticeable joint laxity may also indicate hip dysplasia. During the examination, the doctor pays attention to correct positioning limbs, absence of body movements atypical for a healthy individual.

To assess the condition of the joints, the specialist will flex the joint, observe the dog's reaction, and note the presence of atypical cracking and crunching sounds. Any pet suspected of having hip dysplasia should be examined by a specialist as soon as possible.

Joint dysplasia is diagnosed by a veterinarian after a thorough examination of the animal and an x-ray examination. The doctor palpates all the dog’s joints, assesses their mobility, and listens for friction squeaks when extending or bending the limbs. An experienced veterinarian can make a diagnosis based on these tests in most cases.

On initial stage The dog is indicated for an X-ray examination. The picture is taken after the administration of anesthesia, since without this it is almost impossible to secure the animal’s real estate. In the picture you can see the location of the femoral neck and glenoid cavity. The specialist determines the presence of deformation.

Rules that must be followed to obtain high-quality images:

small dogs are examined only after 1 year of life, adults - after 1.5;
each dog is filmed 2 times;
The photograph is taken with the animal lying on its back with its legs extended in parallel.

When diagnosing hip dysplasia, a veterinarian should pay special attention to a visual examination of the dog, and first of all determine the degree of joint laxity in the hips, which is an early indicator of the disease.

In adult dogs, the degree of muscle loss in the thighs and widening of the shoulder muscles (due to compensatory mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy) should be assessed.

The main diagnostic test is the hypermobility test (Ortolani test). To carry it out, general anesthesia is often used, since the doctor performing it must actively rotate the dog’s hip joint, and this can cause severe pain.

Radiographic examination, when diagnosing hip dysplasia in dogs, is simple an indispensable tool diagnostics It allows you to clearly see how far the degeneration and asymmetry of the joints have spread. Allows you to determine the degree of influence of this asymmetry on the dog’s spinal cord.

Dysplasia is diagnosed by a veterinarian after a thorough examination of the dog and an x-ray examination. The doctor palpates the dog’s joints, evaluates their mobility, and listens for creaks or friction when bending and straightening the paws. In most cases, an experienced specialist can make a primary diagnosis based on these signs.

The dog is prescribed an x-ray examination. The picture can be taken only after the administration of anesthesia, since it is impossible to ensure the animal’s immobility without this. An x-ray will allow the doctor to examine the location of the articular socket and femoral neck and determine the presence of deformities.

To obtain high-quality images, you must comply following rules:

Small dogs are examined only after 1 year, large dogs - after 1.5 years.
Each animal is filmed twice.
The picture is taken in a supine position, with legs extended parallel.

The simplest diagnostic methods are observation by a veterinarian of the animal’s behavior while running and walking, as well as palpation. The latter makes it possible to identify thickenings or defects in the joint area. If any are detected, the next step will be fluoroscopy.

X-rays of large breed puppies must be done exclusively under anesthesia. Otherwise, the animal will spin around and the picture will turn out blurry and illegible. In order to make sure that anesthesia will not cause significant harm to the puppy’s health, you first need to undergo an examination with a cardiologist and take a test for the biochemical composition of the blood.

First of all, the veterinarian will evaluate the correctness and ease of the dog’s movements. Then palpation is an attempt to detect the deformation by touch.

The doctor will bend and straighten the joint several times to assess the reaction (is there pain, crunching, friction, etc.).

Pictures for dysplasia are quite informative, but x-rays are taken only under anesthesia. This is necessary so that it is possible to assess the position of a joint that is not supported by muscles (an awake dog tenses and twists, even if it fully trusts the owner and the doctor).

To avoid the unpleasant consequences of anesthesia, it is recommended to first take a blood test for biochemistry and visit a cardiologist.

There is an opinion in scientific circles that diagnosis of the disease must be carried out when the dog is one year old, and in the case of representatives large breeds and even at the age of one and a half years. Usually this point of view is argued by the fact that it is at the above age levels that the joints are fully formed, which makes it possible to make a diagnosis.

This approach is suitable for breeding dogs, that is, simply determining the presence of a disease without further goals.

However, if a small puppy is unable to walk at the age of six months, it cannot be left in this position for another 6 months. The disease can be diagnosed as early as 4 months after the puppy is born.

This will allow you to begin to take certain measures to prevent osteoarthritis, as well as to improve your pet’s quality of life. In any case, it’s definitely not worth wasting precious time that could be spent usefully.

The diagnosis itself is carried out not on the basis of clinical signs of the disease, but relying on the results of radiography. Quite unusual is the fact that the filming itself is carried out while the animal is under anesthesia. There are reasons for this, however. Tension of the animal's limbs during filming can show a false state of affairs, which will usually appear better than it actually is.

Treatment

Depends on the clinical signs found in the pet, the discomfort caused to it, body weight, age and the presence of other concomitant diseases. Dysplasia is treated conservatively (medically, with the use of physiotherapy) and surgically (operation).

This disease is incurable, all therapy is aimed at reducing unpleasant sensations, discomfort in the dog, and stopping the development of the pathology.

Conservative treatment method

There are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are very effective, with minimal side effects. The choice of drug is made on an individual basis, and different drugs may be tried before the most effective drug is found.

NSAIDs can relieve inflammation and pain, but their use not only does not stop, but continues to develop dysplasia. The dog will feel better and the lameness will go away, but using the drugs for 5-28 days may have a negative effect on the stomach.

Even when the medicine enters through the blood, it is carried throughout the body and reaches the mucous membrane. gastrointestinal tract, which suffers at the same time. In case of stomach upsets and vomiting, the drug should be stopped or a blocker (ranitidine) should be prescribed.

NSAIDs cannot be used if there are abnormalities in the animal’s kidneys or liver, which can be detected by a complete urine and blood test. These drugs in small doses, agreed with the veterinarian, may not have side effects and negative influence on articular cartilage, then their use to relieve symptoms is advisable.

The most commonly prescribed drugs are: ketofen, movalis, quadrisol. They are administered orally, no more than once a day, the dosage is determined by the doctor, in accordance with age and weight category.

The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is possible in the period after surgery. They relieve inflammation and swelling, but when used for more than three days, lead to divergence of the seams, which leads to their healing by secondary intention. NSAIDs reduce the production of collagen, which allows tissue to grow together.

Most dogs with hip dysplasia need veterinarian-approved supplements of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and omega-3 fatty acids, which help improve joint health and strengthen cartilage.

In addition, injections of glycosaminoglycan are necessary, which triggers the regenerative process in the joints. In some cases, doctors recommend the use homeopathic remedies.

High-quality treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs is facilitated by moderate daily exercise that does not require high activity. They support the patient’s mobility and strengthen the organs. Experts tend to believe that physical activity is very effective in improving the quality of life of an affected dog and should be an integral part of any treatment.

Because excess weight puts undue stress on the hip joints, weight loss measures are highly recommended if you are overweight. To determine the need for weight loss, it is enough to feel the dog in the ribs. If there is no excess, then they can be easily felt, and in dogs with short hair they are clearly visible while walking.

When losing weight, the pressure on the pelvis will decrease, which can lead to an improvement in the condition and the abolition of injections with anti-inflammatory drugs.

Physiotherapy is indicated for sick individuals. The affected joint is heated using paraffin, or the sore spot is exposed to electromagnetic radiation. This type of therapy gives good results, especially in combination with other treatment methods.

Sick dogs or those with a predisposition to pathology should limit their physical activity during the growth stage so as not to provoke the development of dysplastic osteoarthritis. If after walking the dog is weak on its legs or limps, then the load on the limbs was excessive and should be reduced next time.

At home, the individual must move on a rough surface so as not to further deform the femur. The dog’s home should be warm and dry, otherwise the pain may worsen and lameness may intensify. It is better not to walk sick dogs on paved areas, but to give preference to lawns. Swimming is beneficial for sick dogs, as it does not load the joints, but strengthens the periarticular muscles.

Surgery

An alternative to conservative therapy is surgery. There are several surgical procedures developed to treat hip dysplasia pet. There are several main ones:

Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis is often used for therapy and prevention of the development of pathology in dogs. During this operation, some growth zones of the pubic bones are excised, which helps slow down the growth of bone tissue and close the head of the femoral neck with the acetabulum.

The operation is indicated for young puppies under 16 weeks of age. It allows you to relieve lameness for up to several years, and is indicated when medications are ineffective;

Resection arthroplasty is aimed at reducing pain in the patient at the contact of the glenoid cavity and the head of the femoral neck. To do this, they are resected. The procedure is indicated for individuals whose weight is less than 22 kg, but even larger dogs have had good results.

This operation is performed when other surgical treatment methods cannot be used, and in the absence of a positive result from drug therapy. Specialists tend to carry out this procedure not only for severe pain, but also for severe lameness;

triple pelvic osteotomy involves artificially breaking the pubic, ischial and ilium bones, followed by application of an implant to the ilium and fixation of the ischium with a wire suture.

Dysplasia in dogs is treated with medication and surgery. The choice of treatment method depends on the course of the disease, individual characteristics the dog's body and health. Treatment of elbow joint dysplasia can be carried out either conservatively or surgically. Treatment for hip dysplasia in dogs is usually surgical.

Conservative therapy

Treatment with medications includes the use of drugs with different effects:

chondoprotectors - drugs for joint regeneration;
antispasmodics - to relieve pain;
anti-inflammatory - aimed at relieving tissue inflammation.

But dietary supplements with chondroitin and glucasamine are also prescribed to speed up the recovery process in the joints. Along with the use of dietary supplements and medications, the dog is prescribed a special diet for weight loss while taking vitamins and minerals.

Physiotherapeutic procedures can have a positive effect. The most popular and in demand are:

laser and magnetic therapy;
ozokerite or paraffin therapy;
massage of a sore joint.

During treatment, the animal's physical activity is not excluded, but it should be restrained - light jogging, swimming, slow walks. You need to know that conservative therapy for DTS is only a temporary improvement in the condition, in which lameness is eliminated and pain is eliminated.

Unfortunately, damaged joints cannot be restored. Therefore, veterinarians recommend surgical correction.

Surgical intervention

Hip dysplasia in dogs can be treated either conservatively or with surgery. Treatment options often depend on the dog's age, size, weight, degree, and type of dysplasia (early or older). When choosing conservative therapy or surgical intervention, the severity of joint hypermobility is taken into account.

Treatment of dysplasia in dogs should begin as early as possible. There are 2 main types of therapy: surgical and drug. And only the veterinarian should decide how to treat the patient. The degree of damage, the age of the animal, and its weight are taken into account.

With conservative treatment, the veterinarian prescribes chondroprotectors (accelerating the restoration of cartilage tissue), antispasmodics (to reduce pain), anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins and nutritional supplements that accelerate tissue restoration. It is imperative to review the diet and, if necessary, put the dog on a diet so that he loses excess weight.

Physiotherapy helps relieve pain, relieves inflammation, and helps restore cartilage tissue faster. It is good to massage (only a professional should do this so as not to harm the dog). Both swimming and very careful slow running are good as physical therapy. However, active running and any jumping should be immediately prohibited.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely cure a disease such as hip dysplasia. But it is quite possible to stop its development and make the dog’s life full, long and painless. This can be done with medication or surgery.

Disease detection test

There is a so-called test that helps identify dysplasia. The test results are obtained based on a veterinarian's examination (includes palpation of the limbs) and an x-ray. Be sure to ask the test results of the parents of your future puppy - do not forget that most often dysplasia is hereditary.

Dysplasia can be diagnosed not only by x-rays. There is also the so-called Ortolani test. This is a special way of palpation. Moreover, this test is used not only for dogs, but also for newborn children. By this test The degree of dysplasia in different dogs can vary significantly:

Grade A. No dysplasia.
Grade B. Minor deviations from the norm.
Grade C. Mild dysplasia.
Grade D. Moderate dysplasia.
Grade E. Severe dysplasia.

This method cannot detect elbow dysplasia.

Remember that test results are not always reliable! Often, puppies that were diagnosed with elbow or hip dysplasia at 2 months grew into healthy dogs. X-rays can only be trusted when the dog's bones are fully formed, that is, after the first year of life.

Surgical treatment

Most often, this treatment method is used in advanced stages of elbow dysplasia or hip joint. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to guarantee the successful outcome of the operation and its effectiveness. Today, there are many types of surgical interventions for joint diseases in dogs. Let's look at the main ones.

Dysplasia is a disease that dog owners are increasingly faced with. This problem can turn into a real tragedy if the owner does not take time to treat his four-legged friend. How to recognize the disease and how to treat it?

What is hip dysplasia in dogs

Hip dysplasia is a disease that destroys the joint. It inevitably leads to disruption of the dog’s musculoskeletal system.

There are 5 degrees and classifications (according to FCI) of dysplasia in dogs: at 1 (A - normal) there are no symptoms and the disease itself, at 2 (B - borderline condition) and 3 (C - mild form) the animal experiences dislocations, at 4 ( D – moderate) and 5 (E – severe) there are serious disturbances in the functioning of the hip joint.

In recent decades, the number of dogs suffering from dysplasia has increased. Animals of large and giant breeds are mainly susceptible to the disease. In small dogs, THD is very rare. The main danger of this disease is that without treatment, and sometimes even with it, the animal will not be able to move independently.

Causes of hip dysplasia in dogs and risk groups

Most often, dysplasia occurs in the following dog breeds: shepherd dogs (more in German than in Eastern European dogs), moloss dogs (great Danes, St. Bernards, bullmastiffs, etc.), and retrievers.

Here are the main reasons for the development of THD:

heredity (often breeding involves dogs that have not been tested for the presence of this disease, and this leads to the manifestation of THD in the offspring);
an unbalanced diet and overfeeding (a deficiency of calcium and phosphorus in the diet, as well as excess protein and excess weight will aggravate the development of the disease);
excessive loads (heavy loads are contraindicated for puppies during the growth period up to 18 months, especially for heavy and large breeds);
lack of movement (puppies and young dogs need to exercise a lot so that their muscle and bone tissue develops correctly, but do not forget that all exercise up to 18 months should be gentle);
injuries (in some cases, dislocations or injuries of the hip joint can trigger the development of the disease).

Symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs

What are the signs of hip dysplasia in dogs? If you notice that your pet has begun to limp (especially after exercise), it is difficult to get up and gets tired quickly - this is a reason to visit the veterinarian. The animal experiences pain in the damaged joint, so it lies down more and protects its paws. Often puppies with dysplasia lie in the “frog” position.

Another symptom of THD is “rabbit” running (while running, the dog leans on both hind limbs at once). As a rule, symptoms of dysplasia begin to appear in puppies from six months of age, but an accurate diagnosis can only be made after 12 months.

Diagnosis and treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs

Diagnosis of hip dysplasia is carried out only by radiographic examination of the damaged area. Using the images, the veterinarian will determine the degree of development of the disease and offer treatment options.

How to treat dysplasia in dogs? The success of treatment for THD depends on the degree of development of the disease. There are two ways to combat the disease: conservative and surgical.

At the first stage, oral administration or injection of chondroprotectors (injection of the drug into the joint) and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.

Surgical method includes several different measures (depending on the severity of the disease): removal of the femoral head, triple osteotomy, installation of an endoprosthesis (recommended in the last stages of dysplasia).

Any method of treatment is accompanied by auxiliary measures: massage, ozokerite, warming, physiotherapy, swimming, etc.

Main preventive measure

– correct selection work. Breeders are required to check all sires for dysplasia, however, this measure does not always give the desired result. A large breed puppy should be raised correctly. Proper nutrition, regular walks, maintaining normal weight, adequate physical activity for age - good prevention DTBS.

Continuing our column, in which we consider the most common diseases of dogs, talk about their prevention and give advice and recommendations regarding the treatment of such diseases of our four-legged friends, today we will talk about dysplasia in dogs.

Let's look at what this disease is, discuss its clinical symptoms, and talk about prevention and treatment. After all, who, if not us - the owners of our Spartaks, Buranov and Hilds - should take care of the health of our pets?!

What dog breeds are prone to dysplasia?

To treat dysplasia, depending on the condition of the articular tissue and the individual condition of the animal’s body, conservative and surgical treatment is used.

Conservative methods

Pathology of the hip joint can be treated with medication in the early stages of development. This technique is aimed at restoring cartilage tissue, relieving swelling and pain.

Conservative treatment is based on the use of:

Chondoprotectors - drugs aimed at restoring cartilage and joint tissues (Adequan, Glucosamine, Artra, Teraflex, Chionate, Chondrolone, Mucosat, Pentosan). The drugs are prescribed in the form of intravenous drips, intramuscular injections, and injections into the joint. Medicines are prescribed in combination or separately.
Antispasmodics that relieve pain - No-shpa, Baralgin, Analgin.
Anti-inflammatory drugs - Nimesulide, Rimadyl.
Mineral complexes based on chondroitins and glucosamine - Omega-3, Omega-6 complexes.
Along with medicines The dog is prescribed physiotherapeutic procedures.

The most effective are:

Paraffin therapy.
Ozokerite.
Magnetic therapy.
Laser therapy.
Massage.

Operative technique

Conservative treatment may not always give the desired result in the treatment of hip dysplasia (HJD). When the disease has reached its final stages, surgical intervention is necessary. The duration and complexity of the operation depends on the condition of the joint. Sometimes it is enough to just remove a small cartilage growth inside the joint.

If the joint is severely deformed, the following types of operations are used:

Excision of the femoral neck and head. The operation is quite traumatic, and the recovery period after it can be long. After excision, the joint is completely restored, and the animal can move freely without the use of any prostheses.
Osteotomy - cutting the bone and adjusting the location of the articular fossa. The joint is in the correct position. Surgery is possible in uncomplicated forms of the disease.
Myectomy - excision of the pectineus muscle during the puppy's growth period. Practice shows that this technique does not provide a complete cure, but it can significantly reduce lameness and restore the motor function of the joint. The indication for this type of surgical intervention is the ineffectiveness of conservative treatment with drugs. Myectomy has the greatest effect when the dog is between 6 and 12 months old.
Resection arthroplasty is the resection of a joint to reduce pain. This operation reduces the contact of the joint head with the glenoid cavity. After the operation, when moving, the friction of the head against the socket stops, and the dog stops experiencing pain. This type of surgical intervention is used for small breeds of dogs weighing up to 20 kilograms. Resection arthroplasty is performed at any age of the animal.
Endoprosthetics. Used at the last stage of dysplasia. The dog's joint is replaced with an artificial one made of titanium alloy. Prosthetics are used when other surgical methods have failed or do not make sense. After completing the rehabilitation course, the dog continues to move without pain syndrome and lead a normal life. Muscle atrophy is a contraindication for endoprosthetics, so if there are indications for installing a prosthesis, it should be done as soon as possible. From an economic and functional point of view, installation of a prosthesis is recommended for dogs weighing more than 30 kilograms.

Preventive measures taken for animals predisposed to the disease do not allow them to completely get rid of it. Therefore, their main goal is to minimize the negative impact on the body. Prevention of dysplasia includes:

minimizing loads, allowing you to maintain motor function for as long as possible;
adjusting the diet, completely eliminating growth stimulants and reducing the amount of meat in the animal’s diet;
Constantly monitoring the puppy’s weight and using all possible measures to maintain it at normal levels.

Conservative treatment, especially for hind limb dysplasia in dogs, rarely leads to improvement. And these improvements are temporary - the pain stops, the lameness goes away for a while.

But the problem remains. Imagine trying to put a cap on a pen, but they don't fit together.

No matter how hard you try, nothing will work out - either the handle will break or the cap will crack. Therefore, there is only one solution - to surgically correct the shape so that the head of the bone matches the socket of the joint as closely as possible.

They operate in an open and closed manner, and the decision on the methods and degree of exposure is made by the doctor, individually in each case. Sometimes it is only necessary to slightly cut off the cartilage, and sometimes it is necessary to install a prosthesis or secure the “loose” area with a screw.

Surgeries for dysplasia are a jewelery job that requires enormous experience and colossal knowledge of anatomy, so try to find the most competent specialist available to you.

It is immediately worth noting that therapy for abnormalities in the structure of joints in animals does not give a 100% result. This is such an insidious disease - dysplasia in dogs. Its treatment is carried out using chondroprotective drugs, which are administered by injection into the vein or joints of the animal. Under no circumstances should you perform the procedure yourself. This should only be done by a doctor.

The optimal measure for dysplasia is surgery.

After surgery, cold compresses are applied to the operated area. This measure relieves swelling and reduces pain. Cold should be applied every seven hours for an interval of no more than ten minutes.

The animal should be fixed in a comfortable position and movements should not be allowed after the operation for up to one month. During this period, it is necessary to lightly stretch the limbs to avoid atrophy. During the postoperative period, you should not feed the dog. A light diet is recommended, as an increase in body weight will have a detrimental effect on the operated limbs.

Drug treatment

Drug treatment in the postoperative period consists of prescribing painkillers, anti-inflammatory therapy.
To prevent the development of infection, it is allowed prescribing antibiotics.
It is recommended to use treatment regimens that slow down the development of arthritis and have a protective effect on the cartilage of the joint.

Based on the x-ray, the veterinarian determines the presence or absence of dysplasia and describes the condition of the dog’s joint.

The degree of damage by the disease determines how to treat dysplasia in a dog.

Severe forms of dysplasia require surgical intervention.

During the operation, the doctor will perform one of the following manipulations:

will reduce stress and minimize pain for the dog during activity by severing the pectineus muscle within the joint.
will remove the head of the bone, and secure the limb itself with a special ligament.
will cut both the bone itself and the acetabulum in order to unfold it for tight contact with the joint.
will remove a wedge-shaped piece of bone, followed by fixation of the bone with a special plate.
will replace the joint with a prosthesis.

Treatment of joints in dogs, with mild to moderate stages of the disease, allows you to soften negative impact dysplasia on the condition of the animal. But you need to approach drug treatment very responsibly and follow all the veterinarian’s recommendations, which include:

therapy, which includes taking special medications and performing procedures. Medications are aimed at restoring joints and cartilage, relieving pain when moving, preventing inflammation, and strengthening bones.

It can be treated in two main ways: conservative and surgical. What treatment to prescribe is always decided individually and depends on the degree of damage to the articular tissues, the age and weight of the animal, its well-being, etc.

Conservative method

This type of therapy involves taking medications, physiotherapy, and homeopathy. The animal is given chondroprotectors, intra-articular injections are given, the diseased joint is exposed to laser and electromagnetic radiation, it is heated, and special therapeutic exercises are prescribed, for example, swimming can usually be very useful.

Nutritional supplements (chondroprotectors): GAG, chondroitin, glucosamine. They can be used for life, they reduce inflammation in the diseased joint and prevent further tissue destruction.
Anti-inflammatory drugs: Deramax, Rimadyl, Ketoprofen, etc. These drugs are intended for the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs. They effectively relieve inflammation and have an analgesic effect. Human medications are contraindicated for animals: Ibuprofen, etc.
Corticosteroids. These drugs are prescribed to older dogs when other medications have not brought improvement.

If a dog is overweight, then it should be reduced as much as possible, since by reducing pressure on the painful joint, inflammation also decreases, and this in turn promotes recovery.

The most effective procedures are considered to be paraffin therapy, ozokerite, magnetic and laser therapy. A massage of the sore joint will give a good therapeutic effect (it should be performed by a professional). Treatment of hip dysplasia must necessarily include moderate physical activity: swimming, light running, etc. But you cannot force dogs to jump and run fast.

It is impossible to completely cure severe dysplasia using gentle methods. If medications and procedures do not give the expected effect, and the pet’s condition only worsens, the optimal solution to the problem will be surgery, before which it will be necessary to take another x-ray.

During the operation, the doctor will be able to adjust the shape of the hip bone so that its head matches the size and shape of the glenoid fossa.

The last stages of THD (4 and 5) are treated surgically. These methods are not cheap, but they are more effective. In some cases, surgery is the only way the dog can walk.

Surgical method

Resection arthroplasty. During the operation, the surgeon removes the head of the femur.

Dr. Efimov proposed modifying this procedure: a muscle layer is made between the neck of the femoral bone and the glenoid cavity (a small piece of the buttock muscle is used). Subsequently, a plate similar to cartilage forms in this place, thanks to which the limb begins to move freely and painlessly.

This procedure is indicated for animals whose weight does not exceed 25 kg. It can be done at any age.

Triple pelvic osteotomy. This procedure is performed only on young animals up to one year old, less often - up to two.

During the operation, the acetabulum is isolated and rotated to an angle at which the head of the femoral bone will receive a larger area of support and will not fall out of the joint. The fragment is fixed with a metal structure.

This procedure is quite expensive and traumatic, but if all recommendations are followed, it gives an excellent effect.

Installation of endoprosthesis. During the operation, the neck and head of the femur bone are removed and replaced with implants. After the recovery period is over, the dogs begin to move painlessly. This method is very effective for treating large animals (at least 20 kg), but its cost is quite high.

Conservative treatment of canine hip dysplasia

Conservative therapy includes drug treatment and physical therapy as an additional treatment for the disease. One option for physiotherapy involves the use of hydrotherapy, which is beneficial for dogs with hip dysplasia.

An important aspect of treatment should be the constant monitoring of the animal’s weight. If a dog is overweight, then it should be reduced as much as possible, since by reducing pressure on the painful joint, inflammation also decreases, and this in turn promotes recovery.

Veterinarian, as part of complex therapy for hip dysplasia in a dog, should draw up an individual plan for reducing its weight. This is easily achieved by developing a low-calorie diet, but vitamins and minerals must be present in it in to the fullest and do not infringe on the needs of the animal.

In puppies, special diets designed for the rapid growth of large dogs may also reduce the severity of hip dysplasia. Supplements like these help puppies' bones and muscles grow with the required speed, and this is important for the physiologically correct development of the musculoskeletal system.

Painkillers (analgesics) and anti-inflammatory drugs are used widely and everywhere. Their use is justified, depending on the pain of the process and the degree of development of inflammation.

In each individual case, their combination and dosage are different. However, appointments of this kind can only be made by a veterinary specialist. Only he has the right to safely prescribe analgesics, antibiotics and steroids, taking into account the dog’s condition and possible chronic diseases.

This especially applies to animals with gastrointestinal problems.

Nutritional supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, green mussel powder, Omega-3 fatty acids and some others deserve special attention in the complex treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs. Their use is quite important, but only in combination with other means. They help strengthen bone tissue and promote regeneration of the surface of damaged joints.

Massage and physiotherapy are also important. Exercises that are gentle on the dog’s muscle tone are recommended. Such exercises include walking, jogging and especially swimming (including hydrotherapy). However, you should avoid excessively active physical activity that puts additional pressure on the joint: jumping, frisbee, intense running, etc.

For arthrosis and degenerative arthritis, glycosaminoglycan polysulfides, for example, pentosan polysulfate, can be prescribed. Drugs in this group are natural components of articular cartilage and increase the production of joint fluid in the joint cavity.

Prevention

To avoid passing on hip dysplasia to offspring, necessary measures accepted by breeders. Thus, individuals with pathological changes are excluded from breeding.

In addition, X-rays can be performed under light anesthesia in dogs as young as one year of age to evaluate general condition and the presence of abnormalities in the joints.

Thanks to selective breeding, breeders can have a healthy puppy, but science shows that diet early in life also has a big impact on joint health.

However, positive results can also be achieved with a special diet, even in already sick dogs. Therefore, at the stage of development of the body, a balanced supply of vitamins and proteins is necessary for health.

In addition, your puppy's food must contain adjusted levels of phosphorus and calcium. Depending on specific requirements, the recommended content of calcium in dry food is from 0.9 to 1.6 percent, and phosphorus from approximately 1.3 to 1.9. These indicators should be reduced with age, and nutrition again adapted to the specific individual.

Prevention of canine dysplasia provides for certain norms of load on the joints of both healthy and predisposed animals. If there are signs of severe fatigue, the dog should be protected from stress and its condition monitored.

Dogs who are overweight need to lose weight to reduce pressure on their joints. It is important to reduce the energy content of the feed, but make sure that there is no shortage of it.

Also, when calculating the diet, you should take into account the individual’s activity level, since less active dogs are prone to obesity. Losing weight may not eliminate the disease, but it will reduce joint pain and associated symptoms.

Special ingredients in dog food can have a positive effect on joints. The addition of antioxidants, particularly vitamin E and C, as well as unsaturated fatty acids, can reduce joint inflammation. Nettle extract as a natural medicinal plant also has a positive effect on joints due to its anti-inflammatory nature.

All of the above components must enter the individual’s body along with food. If you are unable to create a balanced diet tailored to the needs of the dog’s body on your own, you can contact your veterinarian for its implementation.

Preventive actions to prevent and prevent the development of pathology depend on the stage at which they are needed. You need to think about the absence of illness in a puppy before purchasing it.

When choosing a large breed puppy, it is important to make sure that its parents do not have a disease. Their dysplasia test results must correspond to grade A.

The breeder is required to submit such a certificate along with other documents. Although even this does not give complete confidence that the dog will not develop the disease in the future.

Prevention is easy.

Do not stress your baby, do not force him to run and jump a lot. And also, do not lock him at home, limiting his freedom. Secure the floor in the house so that the baby does not stretch out on the floor like a frog.
Watch your diet. Enrich everyone essential vitamins and minerals, but remember that overfeeding with protein foods and increased supply of calcium and phosphorus can harm the growing body.
Don't chase the animal, don't make it jump a lot. And we are talking not only about puppies, but also about adult dogs.
Before adopting a puppy, make sure that both parents have been tested for canine dysplasia and received a negative result. The breeder must have an official document in his hands, which must contain the mark “A” (there are no pathological changes in the cartilage tissue). This, of course, is not a guarantee that the dog will not have dysplasia in the future, but still the risk of developing pathology is much lower.

A guarantee of the absence of hip dysplasia (HD) in dogs is selection and genetic prevention. To obtain healthy offspring, it is necessary to breed healthy parents. Dog trainers and breeders should be especially interested in addressing the problem to maintain the health of the breeds being bred.

However, parents can be carriers of the disease at the genetic level, so it is not always possible to exclude the possibility of its manifestation in the offspring.

Owners of dog breeds predisposed to hip dysplasia (HJD) should especially carefully monitor the normalization of the animal’s diet in order to prevent obesity. Excess weight in a dog is an increased load on the joints, therefore, a provoking factor in the development of dysplasia.

Owners should remember: under no circumstances should they give their dog drugs to accelerate growth or increase body weight.

Such additives can provoke the development of dysplasia. This is especially true for those most susceptible this disease dogs. Breeders should carefully study the mother's pedigree and, if there is a pathology in the anamnesis, they should think carefully before making a decision.

It is impossible to prevent the development of dysplasia in advance. The disease will definitely make itself felt if the dog has a predisposition to it.

correct conduct of breeding work (all producers must be examined for the presence or absence of dysplasia)
do not give animals heavy loads (especially during intensive growth of puppies);
do not force pets to run long distances;
feed the dog healthy food, do not overfeed, monitor the pet’s weight.

Dysplasia is a serious disease that should not be left to chance. Without treatment, an animal with this disease will certainly become disabled and experience severe pain. Before purchasing a puppy, be sure to ask whether its parents have been examined for dysplasia, and raise the baby correctly.

Nutrition for dysplasia

Some dog owners, having become familiar with the mechanism of action of dysplasia, try to reduce the calorie content of their pet’s food by reducing the amount of protein and increasing the amount of carbohydrates. By doing this, they are trying to reduce the growth rate of their pet, hoping that this will at least stop the dysplasia.

This approach only guarantees the emergence of new problems. Owners of animals with a natural predisposition to dysplasia and overweight should be concerned. The dog's body must be in good condition, consuming the right amount. useful substances and vitamins, as well as expend energy reserves.

megan92 2 weeks ago

Tell me, how does anyone deal with joint pain? My knees hurt terribly ((I take painkillers, but I understand that I’m fighting the effect, not the cause... They don’t help at all!

Daria 2 weeks ago

I struggled with my painful joints for several years until I read this article by some Chinese doctor. And I forgot about “incurable” joints a long time ago. That's how things are

megan92 13 days ago

Daria 12 days ago

megan92, that’s what I wrote in my first comment) Well, I’ll duplicate it, it’s not difficult for me, catch it - link to professor's article.

Sonya 10 days ago

Isn't this a scam? Why do they sell on the Internet?

Yulek26 10 days ago

Sonya, what country do you live in?.. They sell it on the Internet because stores and pharmacies charge a brutal markup. In addition, payment is only after receipt, that is, they first looked, checked and only then paid. And now everything is sold on the Internet - from clothes to TVs, furniture and cars

Editor's response 10 days ago

Sonya, hello. This drug for the treatment of joints is indeed not sold through the pharmacy chain in order to avoid inflated prices. Currently you can only order from Official website. Be healthy!

Dysplasia in dogs is a disease that results in the destruction of the animal’s hip joints. Large breed dogs are susceptible to this disease: Labradors, Shepherds, St. Bernards, Retrievers and others.

Causes of dysplasia in dogs

The disease is often genetic in large breed dogs. With careful culling of sick animals from further development of the genotype, only healthy animals are born.
Dysplasia can also develop due to poor nutrition. Scientists have already proven that an unbalanced ratio of phosphorus and calcium in a dog’s diet, poor quality, and also, conversely, too much meat in the diet can serve as an impetus for the development of dysplasia.
Also, in the case of large breeds, you should always carefully monitor the dog's weight. The development of dysplasia will only worsen excess weight.

Symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs

Most often, dysplasia is diagnosed in dogs aged 12-18 months. This is also due to rapid weight gain. And these loads lead to the fact that dogs’ joints begin to deteriorate. This leads to lameness of the animal, which can already appear at the age of two years.

The most striking symptoms of the development of dysplasia are:

it is difficult for the dog to get up after lying down and climb the stairs;
when walking, the dog sways unevenly or limps;
she winces or whines when you touch her thigh.

Even if the dog is not limping, this does not exclude the possibility of developing dysplasia. Simply incorrect positioning and development of the joints has not yet led to lameness. Thus, in a puppy, the first alarming signs of the development of the disease are that it often lies with its hind legs spread out in different directions, as well as rapid fatigue during long walking and the so-called “rabbit” run, in which the dog pushes off with both hind legs while running. .

At the moment, no treatment for hip dysplasia in dogs is 100% effective. There is only various means therapies and drugs that stop the progression of the disease. It is possible to completely rid a dog of dysplasia only surgically by implanting expensive prostheses.

There are chondoprotective drugs that are injected into the joint or vein of the animal. And only a doctor can do this.
Physiotherapy is also prescribed for joint dysplasia: warming the joints with ozokerite or paraffin, exposing the joints to laser and electromagnetic radiation.
If an animal experiences severe pain, it is prescribed the painkiller Rimadyl, but it does not stop the development of the disease and does not exclude other therapy.
Also, as a form of prevention and therapeutic nutrition, veterinarians recommend feeding dogs containing chondroetin and glucosamine.

Also, owners of large breed dogs should remember the predisposition of their pets and not overload them physically. That is, do not run long distances behind a bicycle, do not “harness” children to sleds in winter.

Dysplasia in dogs is pathological changes in joint tissues that can be detected in any dog, however, statistics indicate that representatives of large and giant breeds suffer from this disease more often. Although the disease is not congenital, experts are confident that hereditary factors play an important role in its development. How does dysplasia manifest itself, and what therapeutic methods does modern veterinary medicine offer?

This disease is quite serious, as it is accompanied by damage and further destruction of the elbow and hip joint. As pathological processes progress, the dog cannot even walk. Common causes of the disease include the following:

heredity - parents with dysplasia give birth to offspring who will also suffer from this disease, therefore individuals who do not have this disease are selected for breeding;
improper, poor nutrition - dysplasia can quickly develop against the background of a deficiency or excess of calcium in the animal’s body;
excess weight is one of the reasons that accelerates pathological processes;
insufficient (inactivity) or excessive (hyperactivity) physical activity - this factor is especially dangerous for puppies of giant dogs and large breeds;
injury to the limbs - dislocation or can lead to the appearance of a disease, but this does not happen so often; a rare type of dysplasia of the knee joint may occur.

According to the classification, there are several degrees of the disease:

I (A) – there are no abnormalities in the articular tissues;
II (B) and III (C) – cases of dislocations occur;
IV (D) - moderate degree of the disease and V (E) - severe degree - the pathology leads to structural changes in the joints, a destructive process occurs in the tissues.

The disease can affect two types of joints, hence the types - hip and elbow dysplasia.

Be sure to read about .

Symptoms of dysplasia in dogs

Often, the diagnosis of “dysplasia” is made to young dogs from one to one and a half years old. This occurs due to intense growth and weight gain, which, in turn, places enormous stress on the joints. Initially, the pet begins to limp and this can happen by the age of two years. Clinical symptoms depend on the type of damage and its degree:

Pathology of the elbow joints. IN in this case the animal begins to limp in the forelimbs, most often the lesion affects both joints. The pet feels pain when bending its paws, does not give its paw when commanded, and whines if its paws are touched. Formation of compactions in the affected area is possible. In case of severe pain, the puppy carefully, slowly goes down the steps or refuses to move, as this causes him severe pain. Dissection of the articular tissue may occur, and then a new fragment may appear on the joint. If the damage is significant, the joints may become flat, causing them to rub against each other. And sometimes the pathology leads to the fact that the joint, losing its fastening, begins to dangle.
Pathology of the hip joint. The disease can be asymptomatic for a long time. In severe forms of the disease, puppies begin to wobble when walking, find it difficult to climb stairs, or refuse to do so. Since lameness occurs with significant changes in the joints, it is advisable for owners to pay attention to more early signs diseases. You may begin to worry if the puppy often lies down with its hind legs in different directions. In addition, the disease leads to rapid fatigue of the animal during long walks, and the movement of “rabbit running” is also observed, that is, when the dog, while running, tries to push off with both hind limbs at the same time.

In some cases, dysplasia is diagnosed at an earlier age - at 4-5 months, when the animal’s hind legs are not strong enough. In this case, emergency treatment is required without waiting until one year of age. Otherwise, there is a high risk of developing another serious pathology – osteoarthritis.

Diagnosis of the disease

Detection of pathological changes in conditions veterinary clinic carried out using an X-ray machine. One-year-old and one-and-a-half-year-old dogs are examined by a specialist and palpated the sore limb. Special tests are also used, for example, Ortolani.

Video about dysplasia in dogs

Unfortunately, in modern veterinary medicine there are no ways to completely rid a dog of this pathology. But timely complex treatment can slow down its development and improve the quality of life of a sick animal.

If your pet is diagnosed with dysplasia, you will have to make every effort to ensure that he lives longer without pain and difficulties. It is necessary to use various kinds of drugs, including those with an analgesic effect. To relieve pain, veterinarians often prescribe Quadrisol-5, eliminate inflammatory process– Phenylbutazone, and to stop the destruction processes – Stride. The drug Rimadyl helps eliminate or reduce lameness, but the animal must take it throughout its life. Experts often prescribe homeopathic remedies, for example, Traumeel.

Therapy also includes taking medication, adjusting your diet and physical activity regimen. However, it is worth considering that traditional therapy is not able to cure the disease, it only eliminates the symptoms.

For complications and advanced pathological processes, veterinarians decide to use surgical techniques. However, this does not happen often, since there are no guarantees of a positive result, and doctors do not reassure the owners. The type of operation is determined after a complete diagnosis; these may include the following measures:

Myectomy of the pectineus muscle. It is not a complex surgical procedure, during which the pectineus muscle located in the hip joint is dissected. This reduces mobility pain and pressure on the affected joint. Such manipulation is prescribed only to young animals in order to stabilize their condition.
Resection of the femoral head. This operation is also called resection arthroplasty. It involves the removal of the head of the hip bone, and the limb is secured using a special ligament. After such an intervention motor function persists only in small pets whose weight does not exceed 15 kg. Therefore, its implementation in representatives of large and giant breeds will not give the expected result.
Triple pelvic osteotomy method. Counts complex operation, which not every specialist can do. During this procedure, the bone that has the socket is cut, then it is turned so that it is in closer contact with the hip joint. An additional plate is used to secure the bone. This method is used to treat only young animals.
Interacetabular osteotomy method. The technique involves removing the wedge-shaped part of the neck. As a result, its end fits more tightly into the articular notch, and fixation is carried out using a plate.
Joint endoprosthetics (replacement). The operation is carried out in clinics with special equipment, instruments and prostheses. The operation consists of completely removing the diseased joint and replacing it with a new one. This surgical intervention gives good results and in most cases the dog begins to live a full life.

A pet suffering from joint dysplasia must take medications or nutritional supplements that contain chondroitin and glucosamine. They are also recommended to be given to puppies to prevent disease, especially to representatives of large breeds. Naturally, this is not a complete treatment, but only a deterrent to reduce the negative impact of the pathology.

Pets who are prone to this disease or have already been diagnosed with this disease should limit physical activity. Long runs and active games with jumping can lead to intensive development pathology and deterioration of the condition. But you shouldn’t completely exclude activity; it’s important to have moderation in everything.

The disease requires special care for the pet, and it depends only on the owner how high-quality and long the dog’s life will be without pain and suffering.

And some of them may be congenital.

Not only mongrels, but also purebred animals suffer from various “diseases,” so it is important to know what diseases a particular breed is predisposed to. Today we will tell you about hip dysplasia.

Let's talk about how dangerous this disease is, whether it is inherited, and whether it can be cured.

general information

Let's start with what dysplasia is in order to further understand what we are talking about and how serious it is. Hip dysplasia is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, which is expressed in the underdevelopment of the acetabulum of the hip joint.

Such a definition does not mean anything to those who do not have a medical education, so let’s figure out what exactly the problem is. The fact is that the femur at the end, which is attached to the pelvis, has a rounded process.

This process fits into the corresponding cavity in the pelvis so that the bone does not come out of the cavity during movement. With dysplasia, not only the socket is deformed, but also the “tip” of the pelvic bone itself, as a result of which the “puzzle does not fold,” that is, the bone does not stay in the socket and falls out of it when moving.

Causes and risk group

The disease cannot be called simple, as it turns any purebred dog into a disabled person in the literal sense of the word. The animal cannot compete, participate in hunting or actively engage in leisure activities. In this regard, it is worth understanding why dysplasia appears and whether it is associated with certain breeds.

Unfortunately, there are breeds for which underdevelopment of the hip joint is the norm.

These breeds include the following:

chow-chow;

As you may have noticed, the disease mainly manifests itself in large breeds, which are characterized by the presence of considerable body weight that is supported by the limbs.

However, it cannot be said that dysplasia is a hereditary disease or manifests itself in certain breeds.

There are many reasons why underdevelopment appears, namely:

It is also worth mentioning that the disease can be inherited, so a healthy puppy that eats properly and gets enough exercise can still suffer from this problem.

Did you know? Scientists have proven that although dysplasia is inherited, ecology plays a significant role. Moreover, all puppies are born with healthy joints, regardless of heredity, and the initial chance of developing the disease does not exceed 40%.

Signs

Next, we’ll look at how dysplasia manifests itself in dogs and at what age it can be detected. A specialist can diagnose the disease as early as 12 months of a puppy’s life, but dysplasia only appears at the age of 2-2.5 years.

A sick dog has the following symptoms:

Important! Puppies with dysplasia can adopt a frog position on their belly when resting to get as much weight off of their hindquarters as possible.

In this case, only a few symptoms may appear, which makes it quite difficult to identify the disease at first at home. Due to fatigue, an animal may place its paws differently, or begin to limp due to damage to a limb during a walk.

Therefore, only those owners who know firsthand about the disease can immediately identify it in an animal.

Diagnostics

Since this is a bone-related disease, diagnosis is carried out using X-rays. Based on the image, the specialist diagnoses not only the presence or absence of dysplasia, but can also indicate the degree of deformation of the joint.

Diagnosis is carried out exclusively under general anesthesia so that the images are good quality. In rare cases, your veterinarian may request an arthroscopy to confirm the diagnosis.

Arctroscopy is surgery, during which a small incision is made, after which an arthroscope is inserted into it to examine the joint. The mini-camera shows the condition of the joint, as well as the surrounding tissues.

Did you know? Puppies may react inappropriately to your smile because showing their teeth is perceived by them as a sign of aggression.

However, it is worth clarifying that such operations are carried out very rarely, as they require modern equipment and a considerable amount of money from the dog owner.
Hip dysplasia in dogs differs not only in symptoms, but also in severity, so after examination, the doctor may classify the problem into one of the following categories:

A - no deviations were detected;
B - there is a predisposition to joint degradation;
C - initial stage;
D - moderate dysplasia;
E - severe form.

Next, based on the diagnosis, appropriate treatment is prescribed, which should relieve the pet of the problem or improve its condition.

How to help your pet: treatment

The disease is not incurable, so you need to figure out what ways there are to rid your animal of this problem. Let's discuss the main treatment options.

It’s worth saying right away that drug treatment for hip dysplasia in dogs will never give 100% results, since each individual body reacts differently to drugs, and it is impossible to correct bones with medications.
From this we can conclude that drug treatment makes sense when the animal has been diagnosed with a mild form of the disease. Let's start with the fact that special drugs are used for treatment - chondroprotectors, which are used in the complex treatment of joint diseases.

At the same time, your veterinarian may prescribe homeopathic medications that are suitable specifically for your breed. Anti-inflammatory drugs are mandatory.

Since the disease is difficult to tolerate due to the presence of pain, a specialist prescribes painkillers. Physiotherapy is used for treatment, namely: laser and electromagnetic radiation, as well as warming up the joint using various means.

Separately, it is worth mentioning food additives. To strengthen bone tissue, as well as speed up its regeneration, the drugs Glucosamine and Chondroitin are prescribed. All medications are prescribed exclusively by a veterinarian.

If you don’t like something, then consult another specialist, but under no circumstances start treating with what you are offered at the pharmacy. The problem is that you will be recommended a medicine that, as they say, will “get your dog back on his feet,” but it’s not that simple.
The drug is symptomatic, that is, it does not cure, but simply removes the symptoms. Your animal will stop limping and become happier, but the problem will not go away.

As a result of regular use of the drug (and there is no other way), the animal’s joint will degrade more and more every day, and dysplasia will intensify. Needless to say how it will all end.

Surgical intervention

Surgery is the only option for those animals that have been diagnosed with a severe form of the disease, as drug treatment can only suppress symptoms.

There are several operations that can restore normal mobility to an animal:

excisional arthroplasty;
triple osteotomy;
total joint replacement.

Excisional arthroplasty. The operation involves removing the head of the femur, which eliminates friction on the pelvis and, accordingly, destruction bone tissue are suppressed.

Such an operation is performed only when moderate or severe dysplasia is diagnosed, since in a mild form surgical intervention will not be justified.
After the operation, a long rehabilitation follows, since the femur is supported only by muscles and tendons, however, after surgery, the animal forever forgets about this problem, and after the end rehabilitation period may not deny himself physical activity.

Important! The operation does not involve placing implants into the dog's body.

Triple osteotomy. The idea is that the surgeon shapes the socket so that it is in safe contact with the head of the femur. In order to prevent destruction of the pelvic bones, the specialist implants a special plate.

It should be said right away that such an operation is performed only if the animal has a mild form in which there is no secondary osteoarthritis (cartilage dysfunction in the joint).

Such an operation can disrupt the functioning of organs abdominal cavity due to the narrowing of the pelvic cavity, which is worth thinking about before undergoing surgery.

Total endoprosthetics. The name itself suggests that prosthetics will be implanted. The upper part of the femur along with the rounded process, as well as the acetabulum, is subject to prosthetics, which provides a solution to all problems. The prostheses are made from an alloy of titanium and polymer so that the “inserts” are reliable and sufficiently mobile.
However, it is worth noting that not every animal is suitable for such surgery, since the dog’s body can react unpredictably to such large implants.

Important! Operations are performed only on young animals.

Nutrition and care

We should not forget that a sick animal must be provided with appropriate conditions in order to achieve recovery or speedy rehabilitation after surgery.

The animal needs a large amount of proteins, vitamins, minerals and trace elements, but it is necessary to control the dog’s weight in order to prevent obesity, which will negatively affect the sore joint.

It is important to remember that you cannot put your dog on a strict diet, as you will only worsen his condition. A sick animal needs a sufficient amount of calories, and the food itself must be natural and healthy.

Important! Eliminate foods that contain predominantly fat from your diet.

Care. Dysplasia does not put an end to the animal’s motor activity, so you need to force your pet to move so that its muscles do not atrophy, and the additional blood flow improves the nutrition of the limbs.

Examine the animal daily in order to detect any disease or abnormality in time. Since the dog’s body is weakened by the existing problem, there is a risk of other diseases associated with the abdominal organs, nervous system or with infection.

Remember that to maintain mental health pet, you need to communicate with it regularly, as well as go for short walks. An animal experiences the same emotions as we do, so think about it.

What not to do

Prevention

A balanced diet, which includes large quantity microelements. It is especially important that the puppy has enough healthy and nutritious food at an early age.
Lack of stress at an early age. Any heavy load on underdeveloped limbs causes the appearance of microcracks, which eventually develop into disease.
Selection work. It is important to understand that if your dog is diagnosed with dysplasia, it is better to castrate or sterilize him so that the genes are not passed on to descendants who will suffer from this disease.

Did you know? Dogs have no sense of time, so they navigate according to their own biological clock. This means that the animal will never remember the time of feeding or walking, but hunger and natural need will work “like clockwork.”

Now you know what this disease is and for what reason it appears in dogs. Dysplasia in puppies is treated much faster than in adult animals, so it is important to pay attention to the symptoms. Remember that a sick pet needs your warmth and care much more than any medications or surgeries.

Dysplasia is an insidious disease that is passed on from generation to generation. There are versions that the cause of its development may be injury, poor diet or insufficient exercise, however genetic predisposition undoubtedly plays a leading role. The passion for large breeds of dogs did a disservice: not wanting to lose profits, breeders were not very conscientious about culling and sterilizing animals with pathologies.

As a result, the situation can now be called catastrophic - joint dysplasia is being detected more and more often, not only in dogs after 1.5 years, but also in puppies up to 6 months.

Description of the disease

Dysplasia is a disease that causes deformation and destruction of articular and then bone tissue of the musculoskeletal system. An improperly formed joint or one damaged as a result of injury, when the gap between the head and the acetabulum is too large, with constant friction literally “eats” the cartilage tissue, causing severe pain. Then the process affects the bone, ultimately depriving the dog of the ability to fully move and lead an active lifestyle.

This is interesting! Most often, this disease affects the hip joints. It is they who bear the heaviest load when running and jumping, when the pet is forced to push its weight as much as possible in order to perform the movement.

Somewhat less often, one or all are affected elbow joints, which causes lameness in the front legs. The dog refuses to follow some commands, for example, “Give me a paw”, “Down” when running up stairs, and does not allow you to touch the affected area. The disease can also be noticed by inflammation at the bend and the appearance of thickenings.

The knees are the least likely to suffer, but this does not make the problem any less significant. Dysplasia on hind legs often appears after a fall, blow, or any injury to the knees, due to which the paw could twist or dislocate. An amateur will not be able to straighten the joint on his own to avoid consequences; he will need the help of specialists. But this does not guarantee complete recovery. Pain and lameness may reappear at any time.

The worn cartilage tissue should prevent contact and damage to the bone. When the bone decomposes, the joints change, not only disfiguring the paws, but also hindering movement.

If the disease begins to attack the puppy’s unformed, growing body, pathologies will become noticeable quickly, affecting not only the joints, but the entire musculoskeletal system. But usually violations are detected by 1.5 years, when the dog gains muscle mass, becomes heavier, and, accordingly, the load on the paws increases.

Important! The earlier the disease is detected, the easier it is to save the animal, adjust treatment regimens and prevent exacerbations. If the “history” includes “relatives” suffering from dysplasia, it is best to obtain certificates from the puppy’s parents that they have successfully passed the test for the disease.

If you suspect a genetic disorder, it is worth doing an X-ray examination of the joints, which can easily detect dysplasia even in the initial stage.

Which dogs are at risk?

Symptoms of dysplasia in a dog

At first, the puppy is not very willing to take part in the fun without which just yesterday he could not imagine life; he gets tired and lies down, indicating that he wants to go home; during walks, he begins to be afraid to go down or up the stairs. He has occasional lameness, which may go away with rest. Experienced dog breeders begin to sound the alarm already at this stage, rushing to the veterinarians.

If your pet develops almost constant lameness, he begins to waddle, as if staggering, and when running he places his paws unusually, trying to push off the ground with both hind legs, for example, you should rush to a specialist immediately. Even those who first got a four-legged friend will notice these symptoms.

It hurts the dog to move, run, and often lies down, stretching and twisting its paws. At this time, the seals in the joint area are already clearly visible; the pet does not allow you to touch them in order to examine them. In children with early development The disease becomes very noticeable asymmetry, unusual for the breed. If the hip or knee joints are affected, the puppy transfers the load to the front legs, so that they appear more massive and better developed.

Important! Having noticed some of these manifestations of the insidious disease, you need to show the animal to a veterinarian and undergo an examination with it. This will help determine what type of dysplasia is present, and how and what you can do to help the dog lead a normal life.

In this case, the muscles in the back of the body atrophy. Not only by examining, but even by stroking the dog, you can detect seals in the joint area. Soreness causes the dog to shy away from attempts to pet it, and can also cause aggression.

Diagnostic methods

Not only a good animal treatment specialist, but also for an experienced dog breeder, it will not be difficult for a breeder of large dog breeds to diagnose dysplasia during examination. The very fact that the pet does not like it when a little pressure is applied to its paw at the bend should alert you. In addition, the affected area, which is inflamed or compacted and has already grown tissue, can be easily felt.

When bending the paw, a characteristic sound is heard: a click, a crunch, and sometimes you can feel the friction of the head of the joint on the bone. These are the very first signs that may not mean a disease, but indicate its imminent onset, a predisposition to dysplasia.

The veterinarian will need to take an x-ray of the sore area to see how far the disease has progressed. To do this, dogs are almost always given an injection, which will numb them and make them unable to move (anesthesia, anesthesia). After all, it is impossible to force a puppy or a teenage dog to lie still when there are so many unfamiliar people and objects around, and the situation looks threatening.

The owner needs to be prepared for this procedure in order to reassure his friend, to show that he is safe, and that the one he trusts is not going to leave him alone. A leash and a muzzle are mandatory conditions for visiting the clinic; some animals react very aggressively to the white coats of doctors after the first vaccinations, so you should not forget about basic safety measures amid all the worries.

The dog is subjected to a rather painful procedure that requires anesthesia in order to see how damaged the tissues are from the inside. It is called arthroscopy: a miniature camera, an endoscope, is inserted into the joint through a puncture. This way you can get a very objective picture of dysplasia damage. Equipment for such a procedure is available only in large clinics, so it is not performed everywhere.

The letter “A” in the diagnosis will mean complete well-being, that is, the tissues are not affected.

“B” in the verdict means a predisposition to pathological changes, and this means increased attention to the pet, constant examinations, adherence to the prescribed lifestyle and diet to stop the process.

Important! The cost of the service is high, but the results will not raise the slightest doubt.

If the veterinarian writes the letter “C”, dysplasia has already taken over, the joints are affected, but the process can be taken under control.

“D” - the disease is progressing, the dog needs to be treated to alleviate its condition, restore the ability to move normally, and then constantly engage in prevention so that a relapse does not occur.

The letter “E” means severe damage to the joint tissue; we can only talk about supportive treatment.

The serious condition of the dog is most often caused either by poor health, or by the complete reluctance of the owners to take care of the pet, which they are obliged to take care of. An undetected disease, refusal of veterinarian help, an incorrectly chosen diet, lack of proper care and conditions for normal growth and development contribute to a very rapid, aggressive course of a genetically determined disease.

Treatment of joint dysplasia in dogs

Many dog owners are frightened by the fact that it is impossible to cure dysplasia. They abandon a puppy that has been diagnosed with a disease, sometimes simply throwing it out onto the street and dooming it to vagrancy and quick death.

But even pathology noticed at an early age can and should be treated. If you ignore the lameness, soreness of the paws, the puppy’s frequent mood swings and his not too active behavior, by 6 months he may simply be semi-paralyzed, any movement will cause him pain. And with increased weight gain (the animal remains large, actively grows, eats with appetite and cannot burn calories), it faces death from obesity and related problems.

Both young and adult dogs are usually treated conservatively. Therapy is carried out only by veterinarians, selecting medications, physiotherapy, developing the necessary nutritional and training complexes. Often a course of injections with drugs that relieve inflammation and pain (chondroprotectors) is required.

For any degree of dysplasia good effect shows physiotherapy and gentle training with clearly regulated load. You should not allow your dog to stop moving completely, this will have an even more detrimental effect on his health. Jogging next to the owner, short runs on level ground, playing ball, bathing and swimming will help in normal muscle development and stop osteoarthritis.

Important! Veterinarians will definitely tell you what and in what quantity supplements should be included in the diet. There are many vitamins that can have a positive effect on the condition of bone tissue.

Besides conservative treatment, surgery is also offered, but an artificial joint is very expensive, and not every dog owner can afford such an expensive operation. In addition, this method is applicable only in cases where the animal is already fully formed; this method is not suitable for young dogs.

Dysplasia – chronic illness, no medicine, no operation can completely heal a pet. Therefore, everything possible should be done to prevent the disease from developing. If it is detected, it is worth following all the recommendations of doctors, achieving long-term and stable remission.