Hip joint dysplasia: everything you need to know
Hip dysplasia (HD) is a developmental orthopedic disorder affecting dogs, all ages, all kinds, all sex. It results from an abnormal formation of the hip joint, causing instability, pain, and eventually degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis.
Understanding early diagnosis, proper prevention strategies, treatment options, and the impact of early neutering is crucial for managing and reducing the occurrence of this debilitating condition.
Anatomy of the hip joint
The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint that connects the femur (thigh bone) to the pelvis. The femoral head (the "ball") should fit snugly into the acetabulum (the "socket") to allow smooth motion.
Bony landmarks and muscles involved:
✔️Acetabulum (hip socket) – The concave structure in the pelvis where the femoral head articulates.
✔️Femoral head & neck – The round portion of the femur that fits into the acetabulum.
✔️Dorsal acetabular rim – The upper edge of the socket responsible for joint stability.
✔️Joint capsule & ligaments – Soft tissue structures holding the joint together.
✔️Gluteal muscles (gluteus medius, gluteus profundus, gluteus superficialis) – Provide support and stabilization to the hip.
✔️Iliopsoas muscle – Crucial in hip flexion.
✔️Biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus – Muscles that contribute to movement and joint protection.
How hip dysplasia develops?
Hip dysplasia occurs due to laxity in the hip joint during early development. Instead of fitting snugly, the femoral head moves excessively, leading to: ✔️ Increased joint wear & tear. ✔️ Cartilage erosion. ✔️ Bone remodeling and osteoarthritis.
How can we avoid HD?
The short answer is sweating blood. Generally speaking, dogs with hip dysplasia are more likely (99.999%) to produce offspring that are also affected by the disease. The severity of hip dysplasia can vary even between litters as it is influenced by several genetic factors. A dog with mild hip dysplasia may produce puppies with more severe symptoms, or vice versa.
Why breeding is so important?
Breeders have a key role to play in managing and reducing the incidence of hip dysplasia through careful breeding work, where a "mehhhh, this hip isn't so bad" attitude is out of the question. ONLY by selecting breeding pairs with healthy hip joints can the risk of passing the disease on to future generations be minimised. Even your puppy may suffer from this sneaky disease because his great-great-great grandmother or grandfather carried the disease. Actually,hip dysplaisa can be transmitted in 40 generations, so to minimize the risk and the later pain, anxiety, costs, if you buy a puppy, only hip dysplasia checked and free parentage would be acceptable. Screening programmes such as hip scoring or genetic testing can be used to assess the hip health of potential breeding dogs and if you want an expensive purebred pedigree dog, I warmly recommend that you only buy from a proven dysplasia-free parentage, because spending a lot more money at the vet and then in rehab...not a very reassuring feeling.
Pay attention to the followings to detect early signs (and ofc. if you buy / adopt a puppy, should be screened!):
- Difficulty or reluctance to stand up
- Stiffness or lameness in the hind limbs, especially after exercise or rest
- Bunny hopping or using both hind legs simultaneously while running
- Decreased activity level and avoidance of physical activities
- Pain or tenderness when touching or manipulating the hip
- Inability to get up on the sofa/bed
- Unable to jump into the car
- You hear a crunching noise around the hip
- Sloppy sit- avoid to lay down in sphinx pose, they tilt their hip
These mostlyappear in adult dogs, but Puppies can show some similar behaviours, like bunny hopping, sloppy sit and strange positions when sitting.
Genetics & Environmental factors
Genetics play a major role, but lifestyle factors, such as rapid growth, obesity, improper exercise, and early neutering, also contribute.
The role of exercise in hip development
The acetabulum and femoral head shape each other during puppyhood. A study by Leppänen (2000) demonstrated that moderate, controlled exercise helps the acetabulum develop properly, reducing the risk of HD.
What to do? ✔️ Encourage controlled movement (e.g., leash walks, swimming), puppy foundation classes, puppy fitness classes are highly recommended. ❌ Avoid excessive jumping, sprinting, or slippery surfaces.
Early diagnosis: when should Puppies be screened?
Hip dysplasia is detectable from 16 weeks old! Screening methods include:
Palpation tests (performed by an orthopedic specialist):
Ortolani test – Detects joint laxity.
Barden’s test – Measures hip displacement.
Imaging Techniques (also made by an orthopedic vet - correct angulation and perfectly situated hip -femur - knee is key to have a relevant x-ray):
X-rays (radiographs) – Show joint congruency.
How to read an X-ray for hip dysplasia
A healthy hip should have: ✔️ A deep, well-formed acetabulum covering most of the femoral head. ✔️ Symmetric hip sockets. ✔️ No signs of joint remodeling.
A dysplastic hip shows: ❌ Shallow acetabulum. ❌ Flattened femoral head. ❌ Joint space widening. ❌ Osteoarthritic changes (bone spurs, thickened femoral necks).
The role of neutering in hip dysplasia
Early neutering before 12 months of age significantly increases HD risk.
🔬 Study: Hart et al. (2014) found that Labrador Retrievers neutered before 6 months were twice as likely to develop HD (PLoS ONE).
🔬 Additional studies supporting this:
Saloniemi et al. (2000) – Showed that delayed neutering reduced HD prevalence in German Shepherds.
Spain et al. (2004) – Found that early neutering disrupts growth plate closure, altering hip conformation.
✔️ Ideal neutering time?
Small breeds – After 16-18 months.
Large breeds – Between 24-30 months.
Individualized approach is the key! Always consult about the neutering with your orthopedic vet (!), they have the best understanding, knowledge, and better picture of your dog current maturity and future risks. Follow my advice and thank me later!
Treatment options
Conservative management (Non-Surgical)
✔️ Weight control – Keeping dogs lean reduces joint stress. ✔️ Joint supplements ✔️ Physiotherapy & rehabilitation ✔️ Controlled exercise – Low-impact activities like swimming, slow incline walking. ✔️ Pain management – NSAIDs, laser therapy, acupuncture.
Surgical treatments
1. Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO) – For young dogs (<10 months) with no arthritis
2. Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO) – Removes the femoral head, useful in small dogs
3. Total Hip Replacement (THR) – Best option for severe cases.
What Happens if hip dysplasia is left untreated?
❌ Progressive pain & limping. ❌ Chronic osteoarthritis. ❌ Muscle atrophy. ❌ Limited mobility & reduced quality of life.
Key Takeaways
✔️ Genetics matter, but so do environment & lifestyle. ✔️ Early screening is critical for intervention. ✔️ Balanced exercise in puppies helps joint formation. ✔️ Avoid overfeeding & early neutering! ✔️ Physiotherapy and surgery improve long-term outcomes.
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References
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Saloniemi H, Juga J, Mäki K. Delayed neutering reduces hip dysplasia prevalence in German Shepherds. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica. 2000;41(3):127-135. doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-41-127.