Introduction
It is important to recognize the signs of hip dysplasia, a common degenerative joint disease in dogs. This is because improved knowledge of how the disease forms and recent medical advances allow for much better treatment options. But recognizing the signs of this disease may be difficult, because its arthritis-like symptoms mirror the problems caused by other conditions.
Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
Since hip dysplasia affects the rear limbs, this is the area where dog owners should look for signs of the disease to surface. The pain in the back limbs could cause the dog to shift its weight to the front limbs. Affected dogs may also seem to bunny-hop when they run, which is also caused by the pain located in the back legs.
Sometimes the signs may be a bit more subtle. In more moderate cases, the dog may seem fine except in the morning or after a nap. They may appear stiff at those points of the day. As the dog begins to walk around and loosen up, the stiffness may disappear, but it still might be an indicator that hip dysplasia is present.
If the disease progresses, the symptoms may become more evident. General lameness may occur, and the dog may refuse to run or jump. The back legs may begin to lose muscle mass. Obesity can also exacerbate the problems of a dog with hip dysplasia.
Owners should be aware of the symptoms of this disease and not simply write them off to a natural decline caused by their dog aging. Proper treatment can greatly reduce the discomfort caused by hip dysplasia and allow the dog to remain active and happy.