Introduction
Hello, I’m Dr. Mike. Today, we’re going to talk about hip dysplasia in dogs. We’re going to learn what hip dysplasia is, how to diagnose hip dysplasia, and current treatment options available. To cover this topic, we’re going to visit with Dr. Anthony Cambridge, who is board certified in veterinary surgery.
What is Hip Dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia essentially is a deformity of the hip joint. It can lead on to degeneration of the joint, arthritis, inflammation, and pain. So hip dysplasia may be diagnosed by a simple physical exam. We can detect laxity, looseness of the hip, by palpation. X-rays, radiographs, are commonly used to confirm the presence of hip dysplasia.
Phases
Treatment options are really determined by the stage or phase of the dysplastic hip. In young puppies, we can often see a phase of pain that may last for a matter of a short number of months, and during that time period they can respond very well to anti-inflammatories and often they go on to have many years of disease free time before the second phase of hip dysplasia kicks in.
Medical Treatment Options
Medical options revolve around the use of drugs. Non-steroidal, dietary supplements, nutraceuticals such as chondroitin and glucosamine, injectable agents that are supportive of the joints such as adequan, and we may consider and perhaps just as important, weight loss or diet restriction, which can have a tremendously positive benefit in medical management or non-surgical management of hip dysplasia. We have many surgical options for managing hip dysplasia. Total hip replacement, probably the gold standard, femoral head excision, a secondary option, less commonly considered but a possible option is hip deinnervation, where we remove sensation from the hip.
Surgical Treatment Options
There are preventative surgeries that we can also consider, such as TPO, that’s triple pelvic osteotomy, or juvenile pubic symphysiodesis, or JPS, performed on very young puppies to prevent hip dysplasia hip developing.
Conclusion
Dr. Cambridge gave us an overview of hip dysplasia, and current treatment options. I would like to discuss a few key points. Medical options include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, referred to as NSAIDs. These can help relieve pain on a daily basis. There are many supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin, that may help restore cartilage and reduce pain. Adequan injectable is a polysulfated glycosaminoglycan that may help reduce the wearing of cartilage. Cortisone may be very effective in relieving pain, however, there are many potential side effects. Dietary therapy may help by reducing weight. Also, there are some diets that have supplements in them to help in management of arthritis. Surgical options include total hip replacement, which may restore your pet to normal function and comfort. When considering surgical options, the total hip replacement is usually the treatment of choice. As always, it is best to discuss with your veterinarian the ideal treatment plan for your pet. I hope this information is helpful, and thanks for watching.
