Coxofemoral dysplasia or canine hip dysplasia is a disease that hinders the mobility of dogs of different breeds. It affects the dog's hind legs and, among other symptoms, can cause pain and stiffness in the animal's limbs. In other words: discomfort is the least that the dysplastic dog will face. So that you can identify the symptoms and learn more about the treatment and,even about the prevention of this disease, we have put together a lot of information about hip dysplasia here below. take a look!

Coxofemoral dysplasia in dogs: what is it?

Coxofemoral dysplasia is a disease, usually genetic, characterized by a non-harmonious development of the bones, muscles and tendons of the dog's hind legs. Because of this, the animal with dysplasia has the femur and pelvis in constant friction while walking or running - the movement is not cushioned by the joints and tendons.

Depending on the stage of life at which it is diagnosed, the dog with hip dysplasia may develop other diseases, such as arthritis, or become paraplegic, losing the function of the hind legs. Hip dysplasia in dogs can be diagnosed both early in the animal's life, between 4 and 10 months, but it can also be identified or manifest only during adulthood,close to the transition to old age.

What causes canine hip dysplasia?

The main causative aspect of dysplasia in puppies is genetic, so it is recommended that males and females who have already had the condition do not breed to reduce the chances of their puppies also being predisposed to it. The condition is most common in large and giant breed puppies, but small and medium-sized dogs are not 100% free from becoming dysplastic.

Even if heredity is the main cause of the disease, there are other factors that can also cause your dog to develop hip dysplasia. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to these points in your friend's daily life:

1. food: In addition to the direct influence that the diet has on the health of the animal, in the case of large dogs, it is important that it is sufficient to nourish and assist in the correct development of the whole body - especially in the puppy phase, when bones and joints are developing. Their growth should also not be accelerated with rations rich in calories and proteins: this can be the cause of the disease.cause of the malformation of the animal's back region;

2. canine obesity: among other consequences, the excess weight of the dog can also cause hip dysplasia. This happens because the fat animal ends up wearing out the joints more in the common movements of everyday life, that is: it can develop a dysplastic condition whether or not it has a genetic predisposition;

3. sedentary lifestyle: Just like humans, dogs also need to exercise as a way to keep their health up to date and strengthen bones, muscles and joints. A sedentary animal also tends to put on a lot of weight, which means that it combines two possible causes of hip dysplasia in the same case. Check with your veterinarian the need for exercise that your pet's breed has;

4. way of sitting: some animals can develop dysplasia because of the way they sit. If, instead of balancing their weight on both sides of the hip, they strain one side too much, they can end up with wear and tear on the joints there;

5. too long on smooth floors: if your dog spends most of their time indoors, you should ideally have floors that are not too slippery, like some types of porcelain tiles are. Without the friction between their paws and the floor, they may need to make more effort when walking and thus wear out their joints in the long run.

What are the symptoms of canine hip dysplasia?

Your pet's pain and discomfort when doing simple everyday activities are the first signs that they may have hip dysplasia, but they are not the only ones and may also indicate other health conditions in your pet. Therefore, it is also necessary that you pay attention to the other symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs - it is common for the affected animal to manifest more than one hip dysplasia.theirs:

• Decrease in step speed;

• Hesitation when doing activities such as climbing stairs, beds, sofas, running and jumping;

• Limitation of movement;

• Atrophy of the back muscles;

• Development of the shoulder muscles;

• Loss of steadiness of the hind legs - the dog becomes unbalanced and falls on its own;

• Change in the way he walks (he starts to limp and walk "rolling over");

• Heels turned inwards;

• Crashes when walking;

• Lack of symmetry when sitting or sitting with the paws more open.

How to diagnose and treat hip dysplasia in puppies?

As soon as you notice any of these symptoms on a regular basis in your dog, you need to arrange a visit to the vet. Depending on the case and the level of development of the dysplasia, it will be diagnosed easily, but it is common for them to order imaging tests such as x-rays or MRI scans and physical examinations to confirm and find out more details about the condition specificallyin your animal.

In some cases, treatment with medication, physiotherapy, dietary supplementation, weight loss diet and even restriction of physical activity is sufficient to improve the dog's quality of life.

Even so, when the dysplasia is already very advanced, surgery becomes an option. Your vet may come up with a few different types of surgical processes ranging from replacing the animal's hip with a prosthesis to cutting or removing the affected bones, but it's always worth talking to find out what the best option is in their case.