What Is Hip Dysplasia?
Causes of Canine Hip Dysplasia
Some combination of *hereditary, nutritional and environmental factors leads to looseness, or laxity, of one or both hip joints in affected animals, which makes the joints unstable and accelerates the progressive degeneration of bone and cartilage. Puppies that are predisposed to developing hip dysplasia can be born with hips that look normal but really aren’t and eventually begin to deteriorate. Conformational hip abnormalities in young dogs typically can be seen on X-rays (radiographs) within the first few weeks of life. By 6 months or so, affected youngsters usually start showing gait abnormalities and rear end lameness. Mature dogs that develop hip dysplasia later in life tend not to have structural deformities of their pelvic and thigh bone junctions from birth. Instead, their hip joints degenerate progressively as they age – which essentially is degenerative joint disease (DJD), or osteoarthritis, of the hip.
Preventing Hip Dysplasia
According to current research, the best way to prevent hip dysplasia is to screen dogs and remove them from the breeding population if they have radiographic evidence of dysplastic hips. This is still somewhat controversial even among reputable breeders, because dogs with excellent hips can produce dysplastic puppies, and dysplastic parents can produce puppies with excellent hips. However, since there is a genetic component to this condition, most cautious breeders will not knowingly use dysplastic dogs in their breeding programs, nor will they repeat breedings of a male and a female that previously produced dysplastic offspring. Another preventative measure is to avoid feeding young, rapidly growing large and giant breed puppies a diet that is extremely high in fat, calories or protein. Dietary overstimulation has been shown to contribute to growth-related bone, joint and cartilage abnormalities in rapidly growing large youngsters, including osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD), hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD) and hip dysplasia. Dogs of all ages and any breed or mixed breed should have their weight managed to prevent obesity, which can put excessive stress and abnormal pressure on the hips and on other joints. Young dogs should not be exercised heavily, especially not during the first year of their lives. They should be prevented from leaping into the air (such as chasing a Frisbee) and landing full force on their hind legs. They should not be allowed to stand up on their rear legs and jump on people or peer over a fence. Puppies should be kept from jumping off furniture or out of the back of Utes or out of high 4WDs.
Although there is no compulsory testing in Australia for Weimaraners, responsible Breeders will only use X-rayed and scored parents for their litters. As stated above, this will help to reduce the occurence of Hip Dysplasia in any offspring. A simple Vet check will not pick up any abnormalities. Dogs must be X-rayed (like the above photo) which are then are sent off to be scored by a professional.
The cost to X-ray and score is between $300-$500.
Dogs can be X-rayed and scored once they reach 12 months of age. This procedure is only required to be done once during their lifetime.
When you put into perspective the hundreds, often thousands of dollars spent on Show entry fees & travel, Advertising, Stud Fees, importing dogs / bitches or semen, the cost is minimal in the overall picture to help ensure healthy puppies.
Each Purebred Breed has a 'Breed Average' which is a collection of scores taken over many years.
The Breed Average will vary from Breed to Breed.
* Studies carried out at the University of Sydney show that 30% of HD is contributed to by genetics and 70% by environment (diet, excessive exercise in young dogs and dogs being overweight) Breeders can control the 30% by only breeding with hip scored parents. Although it doesn't seem much, it can be the difference between a happy healthy puppy and one who has a much lesser quality of life.
The X-Ray at the top of the page illustates the gradings given to hips. Excellent HD-A through to Fair HD-E.
HD can be an extremely painful and debilitating condition. In severe cases dogs can undergo a hip replacement but prevention is certainly better than cure.
Contact Details
Amanda WilliamsonSpringhurst, VIC, Australia
Phone : +61418711392
Email : [email protected]