Treatment of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs By Kelly Marshall

Canine hip dysplasia in dogs is a very common degenerative disease, having said that it does not always affect all dogs. However there can also be many misconceptions regarding this disease, some that are known and some that are not.

A young dog who has an abnormal development of the hip joint will suffer eventually from hip dysplasia, this does not necessarily mean that it will be bilateral, affect both the left and right side. It happens because of the laxity of the muscles, connective tissue and ligaments that would normally support the joint.

The majority of dysplastic dogs are born with normal hips, although in some due to genetic and other factors, the tissues surrounding the joint can develop abnormally as the puppy starts to grow. The changes that this causes are that the bones actually move instead of being held in place.

This will cause the joint capsule and ligament between the two bones to stretch; this adds further instability to the joint. Once this happens the surface of the two bones will lose contact with each other. The separation of these two bones within the joint is known as subluxation, the results of these problems, are what are associated with this disease.

A lot of dogs who suffer from this disease are primarily the large and giant breeds, although it can be found in medium sized breeds and very rarely in the smaller breeds. The breeds who have a higher incidence of hip dysplasia are, Golden Retrievers, Labrador, German shepherd, Saint Bernards, Great Danes and Rottweillers.

Treatment for hip dysplasia can vary between several surgical procedures, although this also depends on the age and severity of joint degeneration. A lot also depends on the dog’s age and health before any surgery.

Triple Pelvic Osteotomy; (TPO) is normally a procedure that is used for young dogs under 10 months of age, these will have had radiographs which shows severe hip laxity, at this young age they will not have developed damage to the joints. This is major surgery and expensive but is very successful.

A total replacement of the hip is often advised for a dog that has degenerative joint disease due to chronic hip dysplasia. This type of surgery involves removing the existing joint and replacing it with prosthesis. The dog must be skeletally mature and weighing at least 20 pounds, there is no maximum size limit, if both hips have to be replaced then usually a three month rest period is advised between the surgeries.

Medically hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis has been improved over the years with the introduction of new supplements and drugs. Hip dysplasia is primarily an inherited disease therefore no products on the market can prevent the development. If you start by giving your dog a proper diet, exercise, supplements and pain relief, this may help to decrease the progression of the joint disease.

Weight management and exercise for your dog from an early age can help to prevent many diseases, although sometimes as mentioned hip dysplasia can be genetic. Those of you who are thinking of acquiring a puppy can always ask the breeder about hip dysplasia of the chosen breed.

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Older Dogs Need Special Care By Jeff Nenadic

The older dogs have a lifespan of around eight to sixteen years. Some of the breeds have less age expectancy, while some of them have a longer life span. It is time to take some preventive actions when you know that your dog is grown old. These steps are needed to keep the dog healthy, happy and active. Keep a regular appointment with the veterinary doctor, this means that they are kept healthy and the owners know if there are any health issues. The veterinary doctors know different types of breed and they can also advice you on how to keep a tab on the health of the old dogs.

The older dog also needs to keep a tab on the weight. In case the dog is overweight, they develop joint problems, arthritis, diabetes and liver or kidney malfunctions. Treat your dog for less amount of sugar, salt. You can buy the dog cookies which are manufactured especially older and fat dogs. In case your dog is growing old, you can fewer amounts of treats, and more amount of healthy and low calorie food. Sometimes, it is little difficult to stop them staring at food when you eat, but it is for their good. You can feed your pet once or twice a day in smaller quantity. In case you find children feeding the dog, explain them why they should not feed the dogs.

In case the dog food is dry, you can add water or pre soak the food in hot water. Brush the dog teeth daily to ensure that they do not have any dental issues. Daily brushing with the toothpaste manufactured especially for the dogs helps prevent any dental problems. Make sure that you brush the teeth starting from the time when your dog is young, so that they get used to it. Have your dogs teeth checked up regularly and periodically.

Make sure that, irrespective of the age, fresh and cool water is available for your dog. Some of the older dogs cannot go to the water. In such a kind of situation make sure that you give them the water at regular intervals. You can place water bowls at different place in the house, so that they do not have to go far away for a drink.

The older dogs also suffer from arthritis like humans. Keep a tab on your dogs food and weight and feed them with a specially formulated food. Have regular visits to the vet, so that he can advice you about how to keep your pet healthy and keep it more comfortable even if it is growing old. There are some supplements available for the dog, but before you try any one of them consult the vet.

There are multiple varieties of orthopedic dog beds available. Some of them are manufactured of memory foam. These beds give the dog the extra heat and the extra comfort to the aging body. Make sure that the dog is very healthy and is taken good care of.

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