Canine Hip Dysplasia

Canine hip dysplasia is a major problem that a lot of dogs develop once they get older. This condition is one that is caused by an abnormal formation of the dog's hip socket that can actually cause arthritis so bad that the dog can no longer walk. This is the most extreme case, however. This crippling condition is a genetic factor that can be influenced by environmental factors. This condition can be found in just about any kind of dog breed, but is most common in the larger dog breeds.

Hip dysplasia is one of the most widespread conditions of dogs, making it one of the most commonly studied conditions of veterinarians. This is the main cause of arthritis in dogs and usually warrants seeking dog arthritis treatment.

The hip socket should be tightly fitting in a normal dog. In a dog with hip dysplasia, the fit is looser. Also, the bones are misshapen a little bit, which can cause tear and wearing more and more as the dog walks. This can cause great discomfort and pain for the dog, if left untreated. A dog's joints will become inflamed and it will cause further damage to the cartilage.

Another bad thing about this condition is that it could easily lead to other bad conditions. One such condition that this arthritis could lead to is osteoarthritis. This means that some of the bone is cut out, and this will lead to even further damage of the bones, joints, and cartilages.

Dogs try to fix the problem of canine hip dysplasia themselves. They try to fix it by reducing the amount of movement the leg will have by walking on it less. If they start to walk on it less it will just weaken the dog to the point where it will not be able to move that hip at all.

More things that can cause this condition besides genetic factors and being a large breed are having an injury at an early age, overexerting the hips, repetitive motion, or being overweight. If this condition is suspected in a dog, it should be looked at and treated right away. This is a condition that you do not want to leave untreated because it will only worsen and put the dog in more pain. Once noticed, take the dog to the vet right away and get the condition checked out.