The normal hip joint and what happens when development goes awry<\/h3>\n
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To fully understand the impact hip dysplasia has on affected dogs\u2019 mobility and comfort, it helps to know a little anatomy and physiology.<\/p>\n
You may remember from biology or anatomy class that the hip (aka coxofemoral) joint is a ball-and-socket joint. The \u201cball\u201d is the head of the femur, or main bone of the thigh, and the \u201csocket\u201d is a cup, known as the acetabulum, located on the pelvis.<\/p>\n
In a normal, healthy joint \u2014 like the hips in the X-ray \u2014 the bones are shaped to match each other, with the ball fitting snugly into the socket. Joint cartilage covers the entire head of the femur and lines the acetabulum so that the bones glide smoothly and freely during movement. A strong ligament attaches the head of the femur directly to the socket and holds the two bones together. The entire joint is surrounded by the joint capsule, a tough connective tissue that keeps synovial fluid within the joint. All of these parts work together to enable normal gaits and movements.<\/p>\n
As a normal, healthy puppy grows, both the ball and socket must grow at equal rates to maintain their snug fit. But in puppies affected by hip dysplasia, uniform growth in the joint structures doesn\u2019t happen and results in joint looseness (laxity). The femoral head and the acetabulum move abnormally in relation to each other: the ball moves too much in its socket or the socket may be too shallow for the ball to fit normally. The abnormal movement leads to stress and strain on the joint that in turn lead to inflammation, damage to joint tissues, arthritis and pain.<\/p>\n
What causes hip dysplasia?<\/h3>\n
According to the Pet Health Network<\/a>, hip dysplasia is a genetic condition with a complicated inheritance controlled by many genes. Expression of these genes can be influenced by environmental factors such as growth rate, diet, exercise, pelvic muscle mass and hormones. Rapid weight gain and extra body weight can contribute to and worsen the development of CHD. What this means is that, if you have a large breed puppy, you\u2019ll want to keep him or her at a normal, lean weight during growth and avoid overfeeding that encourages dogs to grow \u201cbig\u201d and fast.<\/p>\n Signs and symptoms of hip dysplasia are very similar to those of arthritis. They will also vary depending on the extent of joint changes. Here are symptoms and signs you should watch for:<\/p>\n Some of these signs may be seen in puppies as young as 5 or 6 months old, but may not be noticed until the dog is 1 to 2 years old. In some cases, however, your dog may not show signs or symptoms until he or she reaches middle age or later.<\/p>\n Because hip dysplasia can be inherited, dogs of at-risk breeds should be evaluated before they\u2019re bred. Currently, hip X-rays taken while the dog is under general anesthesia or deeply sedated is the preferred method for diagnosing hip dysplasia. Any licensed veterinarian can take and submit X-rays to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)<\/a> for evaluation provided that the instructions for correct X-ray positioning and identification are followed. Following the submission of a dog\u2019s single hip X-ray, three board-certified veterinary radiologists evaluate nine anatomic bony structures for dysplasia. An application and service fee must also be submitted at the time of X-ray submission.<\/p>\nSigns and symptoms to watch for<\/h3>\n
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Specialized X-rays are key to diagnosis<\/h3>\n