Canine Hip Dysplasia is seen as a mystery for most of those in the veterinarian field. Since the early seventies, many dogs have been affected by hip dysplasia.
At the beginning of the seventies, hundreds of dogs suffering from the disease were euthanized so that they would no longer have to suffer. It was a very practical choice back in the seventies because we didn’t know what affected the dog’s diagnosis of the disorder, and therefore we didn’t have a way to help them feel better.
Hip dysplasia can lead the dog to be severely crippled if it is not seen to. In the past, euthanasia was the only offer once a dog was diagnosed with the disease, but many vets strived for some way to correct the genetic disorder.
Here are some of the Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs and Puppies:
- Swaying, “bunny hopping” gait.
- Loss of thigh muscle mass.
- Lameness in the hind end.
- Grating in the joint during movement.
- Difficulty or reluctance rising, jumping, running, or climbing stairs.
- Decreased range of motion.
- Decreased activity.
During the later seventies and early eighties, the facts discovered that any dog with hip dysplasia didn’t have to be euthanized. Instead, the dogs could lead a pretty normal life if the diagnosis was made as a puppy.
As a puppy, the canine would need some corrective procedures so that the dog would not suffer as an adult. Many vets began researching the type of surgery that would be needed to correct the problem in a younger dog. Unfortunately, many found that restoring the dog while still young could create hip dysplasia by harming the tendons.
Vets have offered surgery on many dog breeds that are subject to hip dysplasia. They have removed the dog’s tail or shortened it to keep hip dysplasia from happening in some cases. Changing the weight placed on the hips has been thought that the hips will not hurt as much or end up in an uncomfortable position.
At the moment, it is uncertain if hip dysplasia in dogs is genetic. Many believe it is genetic because certain breeds are more affected by the disorder than others. A common species is the English Sheep Dog. English Sheep Dogs tend to develop or are born with hip dysplasia. A Swedish study done on 11,036 dogs resulted in information that hip dysplasia is not necessarily genetic. The study was completed on German Shepherds over ten years. They tried selective breeding to reduce the occurrence of hip dysplasia.
In other words, they breed dogs that didn’t show the traits of the disorder in their bones were bred, yet their offspring still had the disease. This led the Swedish to believe that it is not influenced by genetics. Other findings with the pelvic inlet showed that the rate of bone maturation could cause hip dysplasia.
The Greyhound is the only canine grouping that is not affected by hip dysplasia. They tend to have a slower bone maturation than the other dogs. A study was done by breeding a Greyhound and German Shepherd. The first generation was found to have no hip dysplasia. The study also concluded that diet greatly influenced bone maturation and how the bone would form.
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