Does your golden retriever puppy wobble when she walks? Does your 7 year old shepherd struggle to stand?  She may have “bad hips”. Medically termed hip dysplasia, we observe this condition of excessive hip joint laxity more frequently in large breed dogs such as Goldens, German shepherds, Labradors, Mastiffs, Saint Bernards, Rottweilers, and Akitas. A strongly inherited trait and a frequent cause of arthritis, hip dysplasia can also develop in smaller breeds such as Cocker spaniels and Corgis. 

            Many dogs won’t show symptoms until the hips are painful, usually after years of damage. Young dogs with this condition may display signs of joint laxity such as a wobbly gait, hopping, and narrow placement of their rear feet.  I once saw a litter of 10 week old Bernese Mountain Dog puppies hopping around the yard like a bunch of bunnies. During examination of puppies and young adult dogs, veterinarians try to identify affected individuals before arthritis has developed. That way treatment can begin prior to progressive joint degeneration. Left untreated, older dogs exhibit signs of joint pain, recognized when a dog doesn’t want to run and play, limps, rises slowly, or has trouble climbing stairs or jumping.  Reduced muscling of the rear legs is also detected at this stage.

            Treatment of hip dysplasia revolves around keeping the dog as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. Maintaining an ideal body weight and promoting low impact exercises, such as swimming, help to improve muscling and reduce joint strain. Medical and surgical treatment options, including total hip replacement, extend the amount of time that the joints are pain free. Many owners find themselves and their dogs taking glucosamine, a nutritional supplement that can aid in treating and preventing joint inflammation. An owner of a German shepherd with “bad hips” recently reported back that after starting treatment he is “acting like a puppy again”. Hearing about that just made my day. If you have a high risk breeds, I recommend that you have them evaluated for hip dysplasia as a puppy. The earlier you know the more treatment options you have.