Joint dysplasia in dogs: features and causes of the disease. Early detection and treatment methods for hip dysplasia in dogs Front paw dysplasia in a dog

Dysplasia in animals is an inherited disease of the musculoskeletal system, which is manifested by a violation of the correspondence between articular surfaces, resulting in the development of dislocation or arthrosis. Most often, damage to the hip joint is observed, since it bears the main load. Less commonly, animals have dysplasia of the elbow joint.

Reasons for the development of pathology:

Hereditary predisposition. In 85% of cases, a vicious gene in a breeding dog is passed on to its offspring.
Incompetently designed exercise regimen for young pets. Dog breeders overload the immature body under the age of one and a half years with excessive physical activity. As a result, skeletal tissue does not keep pace with the development of the muscular corset, which leads to a violation of the congruence of the articular surface. Most often detected in bullmastiffs, Great Danes, and St. Bernards.
Physical inactivity. A sedentary lifestyle and constant keeping of a dog in an enclosure leads to the fact that the structure of the connective tissue undergoes changes, which negatively affects the health of the joints. Excess weight puts additional stress on the supporting apparatus.
Errors in nutrition. A deficiency in the diet of vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, and essential amino acids leads to disruption of mineral metabolism in bones and connective tissue, which provokes joint damage. Excess phosphorus in the diet often leads to pathology of the musculoskeletal system.
Injuries. Often, it is mechanical damage to the hip or elbow joint that is the trigger for disruption of the physiological correspondence between the articular surfaces. Sprains while running, unsuccessful jumps, walking on ice and slippery floors indoors, and injuries from being hit by a vehicle can lead to dysplasia.

The disease most often affects working breeds of dogs.: German and East European shepherds, retrievers, Labradors, bulldogs. Molossian breed lines - bullmastiffs, St. Bernards, Great Danes are also susceptible to polygenically inherited diseases.

The first changes in the functioning of the pet’s musculoskeletal system appear no earlier than 4 months of age.

In a puppy, pathology in the hip or elbow joint can only be detected by testing. The severity of symptoms of hip dysplasia in a dog and the choice of technique treatment largely depends on the stage of the pathological process.

According to the accepted classification, disorders in the hip joint can be of 5 degrees, and disorders of the elbow - 4.

Manifestations of the disease:
Lameness of the supporting limb. Impairment of the supporting ability of the joint develops gradually; the first manifestations in puppies are not easy to notice.
A sick dog often lies on its side. It is almost impossible to see a dog lying on its stomach.
When forced to run, the rear limbs are noticeable, which is reminiscent of rabbit running.

A careful examination can reveal pronounced atrophy of the thigh muscle tissue.

Hind limb weakness due to hip dysplasia

The lack of necessary treatment over time leads to a complete loss of motor activity of the four-legged family member.

An external examination of the configuration of the diseased joint, assessment of gait and identification of features of the position of the limbs help the veterinarian to suspect dysplasia. Upon palpation, which is usually carried out under anesthesia of the animal, muscular dystrophy is detected. When abducting the limbs, the specialist will identify hip dislocation, deformation and displacement of the acetabulum.

The main method for diagnosing musculoskeletal disorders is radiographic examination.

In addition to confirming the dislocation, the specialist will detect dysplastic changes in the acetabulum, displacement of the femoral head, the level of joint asymmetry, and its effect on the function of the animal’s spinal cord. They do it in 2 projections.

Hip dysplasia First, the animal is placed on the ridge, and the hind limbs are extended parallel to each other. Then the examination is carried out in the supine position. The limbs are bent at the knee joints and brought to the body. The animal is first anesthetized and immobilized.

Treatment usually includes the use of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Phenylbutazone and Rimadyl.

Corticosteroid drugs, for example, Prednisolone, Dexamethasone, effectively reduce swelling, pain and inflammation.

The use of chondroprotectors helps reduce atrophic processes in the connective tissue of joints. In this case, the best therapeutic effect is achieved when medicinal substances are administered directly into the diseased joint.

Chondroprotectors

Of no small importance to alleviate the pet’s condition is a nutritious diet and the use of vitamin and mineral supplements and immunomodulators.

Special regularly performed exercises help reduce the degree of dysplasia.
If the effect of conservative therapy is insignificant, as well as with serious changes in the joint, a surgical solution to the problem is often recommended:
young individuals most often undergo pectineus muscle myectomy;
if the pet’s weight does not exceed 15 kg, it can undergo resection arthroplasty with removal of the femoral head; the limb is fixed using a ligament;
if the dog is young, then a pelvic osteotomy may be suggested - a complex surgical procedure during which plastic surgery is used to strengthen the cut bone;

in some cases, the surgeon resorts to acetabular osteotomy;

In a specialized clinic, a sick dog can undergo a complete joint replacement using high-tech prostheses.
Basic prevention of musculoskeletal disorders:
carrying out regular monitoring and culling of sick individuals from breeding;

competent care and proper feeding of animals;

injury prevention.

Read more in our article on dysplasia in dogs.

- Joint dysplasia in animals is an inherited disease of the musculoskeletal system, which is manifested by a violation of the correspondence between the articular surfaces, resulting in the development of dislocation or arthrosis in the joint. In veterinary practice, damage to the hip joint is most often observed, since it bears the main load. Less commonly, animals have dysplasia of the elbow joint. Among the reasons that provoke the development of pathology of the musculoskeletal system in dogs, experienced dog breeders and veterinarians note the following:
- Incompetently designed exercise regimen for young pets. Many inexperienced dog breeders overload the immature body under the age of one and a half years with excessive physical activity. Due to the puppy's hyperactivity, owners cannot always correctly dose motor activity.

This leads to the fact that the skeletal tissue does not keep pace with the development of the muscular corset, which leads to a violation of the congruence of the articular surface. Most often, owners of large breeds – bullmastiffs, Great Danes, and St. Bernards – face this problem.

- However, according to veterinary experts, hip dysplasia in four-legged friends is caused not only by unbalanced physical activity, but also physical inactivity. A sedentary lifestyle and constant keeping of a dog in an enclosure leads to the fact that the structure of the connective tissue undergoes changes, which negatively affects the health of the joints.

Excessive weight of a pet puts additional stress on the supporting apparatus, which provokes dysplasia.

- Errors in nutrition– one of the main reasons for the development of pathology in dogs of all breeds. As a rule, the disease is caused by an imbalance of nutrients during puppyhood, when the growing body consumes protein components, vitamins and minerals in an intensive mode.

A deficiency in the diet of vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, and essential amino acids leads to disruption of mineral metabolism in bones and connective tissue, which provokes joint damage. Excess phosphorus in the diet often leads to pathology of the musculoskeletal system.

Injuries. Often, it is mechanical damage to the hip or elbow joint that is the trigger for disruption of the physiological correspondence between the articular surfaces. Sprains while running, unsuccessful jumps, walking on ice and slippery floors indoors, and injuries from being hit by a vehicle can lead to the development of dysplasia.

The disease most often affects working breeds of dogs. Veterinary experts note that German and East European shepherds, retrievers, Labradors, and bulldogs are primarily susceptible to the disease. Molossian breed lines - bullmastiffs, St. Bernards, Great Danes are also susceptible to polygenically inherited diseases.

Symptoms of pathology in dogs

The owner can notice the first changes in the functioning of the pet’s musculoskeletal system no earlier than 4 months of age. In a puppy, pathology in the hip or elbow joint can only be detected through an x-ray examination.

The severity of symptoms of hip dysplasia in a dog and the choice of treatment method largely depends on the stage of the pathological process. According to the accepted classification, disorders in the hip joint can be of 5 degrees, and disorders of the elbow - 4.

Symptoms can be detected by the owner already in the mild phase of the disease (according to the classification, stage C). In phases D and E, with pathology within acceptable limits and with a significant degree of joint destruction, the clinic becomes obvious.

Lameness of the supporting limb. Impairment of the supporting ability of the joint develops gradually, so the owner may not immediately notice the symptom or not attach any importance to it, deciding that the dog landed poorly after a jump.
Decreased physical activity. The dog avoids games, exercises, jumping, and is reluctant to run. During a long walk, the animal often stops and refuses to go further.

A sick dog often lies on its side. It is almost impossible to see a dog lying on its stomach with this pathology.
When walking, a sick individual experiences wobbling of the hindquarters. The gait is uncertain.
After sleep and rest, it is difficult for the dog to get up.
When forced to run, the owner can observe the rear limbs moving out, which is reminiscent of a rabbit run.
If serious changes develop in the structure of the joint, the animal stops jumping and has difficulty climbing stairs.

The whole body of the sick dog begins to look inharmonious due to progressive atrophic phenomena in the hip area, the sternum becomes more powerful.
Upon careful examination, the owner may detect severe atrophy of the thigh muscle tissue.

The lack of necessary treatment over time leads to a complete loss of motor activity of the four-legged family member.

Watch this video about the causes and symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs:

Diagnosis of the condition

An external examination of the configuration of the diseased joint, assessment of gait and identification of features of the position of the limbs help the veterinarian to suspect the phenomenon of dysplasia. Upon palpation, which is usually carried out under anesthesia of the animal, muscular dystrophy is detected. When abducting the limbs, the veterinarian will identify hip dislocation, deformation and displacement of the acetabulum.

The main method for diagnosing musculoskeletal disorders in veterinary medicine is radiographic examination. In addition to confirming the dislocation, the specialist will also detect dysplastic changes in the acetabulum and displacement of the femoral head. The method allows us to identify the level of joint asymmetry and identify its effect on the function of the animal’s spinal cord.

Severe hip dysplasia in a dog

An X-ray is required in 2 projections. First, the animal is placed on the ridge, and the hind limbs are extended parallel to each other. Then the examination is carried out in the supine position. The limbs are bent at the knee joints and brought to the body. The animal is first anesthetized and immobilized.

The reliability of the results obtained and the choice of treatment method for joint dysplasia in dogs depends on how still the dog remains during the manipulation. Based on the analysis of x-rays, the specialist makes a conclusion about the stage of the pathological process.

Treatment of joint dysplasia in dogs

In veterinary practice, there are two approaches to the treatment of pathology - conservative and surgical. In case of minor dysplastic changes in the joint, the animal may be prescribed medications. In this case, treatment of elbow dysplasia in dogs usually includes the use of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.

For this purpose, veterinarians use Phenylbutazone and Rimadyl. Corticosteroid drugs, for example, Prednisolone, Dexamethasone, effectively reduce swelling, pain and inflammation.

Of no small importance to alleviate the pet’s condition is a nutritious diet and the use of vitamin and mineral supplements and immunomodulators. Many veterinary specialists rightly believe that special regularly performed exercises help reduce the degree of dysplasia.

If the effect of conservative therapy is insignificant, as well as with serious changes in the joint, the owner is often recommended to surgically solve the problem. At the same time, in surgical practice, there are several types of surgery as a treatment for hip dysplasia in dogs.

Special corset for dogs with hip dysplasia

Young individuals most often undergo pectineus muscle myectomy. If the pet's weight does not exceed 15 kg, it can undergo resection arthroplasty. During the operation, the femoral head is removed. Fixation of the limb occurs due to the ligament. Large breeds do not undergo this operation.

If the dog is young, a pelvic osteotomy may be suggested. This is a complex surgical procedure in which plastic surgery is used to strengthen the cut bone. In some cases, the surgeon resorts to acetabular osteotomy. In a specialized clinic, a sick dog can undergo a complete joint replacement using high-tech prostheses.

We recommend reading about what to do if a dog’s paw is broken. From the article you will learn about the causes of injuries, types of fractures, symptoms of a fracture of the front and rear paws, first aid, and surgical treatment.

Read more about how to care for a dog after a fracture.

Joint dysplasia in dogs is a common pathology, especially in working breeds. In advanced cases, the disease can result in the animal losing the ability to move independently. The main method of identifying the disease is an X-ray examination of the joint in 2 projections.

Treatment may be conservative. If there is a significant dysplastic change, the veterinarian recommends one or another method of operatively solving the problem.

Useful video

Watch this video about the diagnosis and treatment of joint dysplasia in dogs:

Hip dysplasia in dogs is a pathology of the musculoskeletal system, which is characterized by underdevelopment of the acetabulum of the hip joint. Large breeds of dogs are especially susceptible to the disease. The disease is dangerous because it provokes partial and sometimes complete destruction of joints and cartilage tissue, and threatens loss of motor functions. Diagnosis and timely treatment of dysplasia will help stop degenerative processes in the animal’s body.

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What is hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a defect in the development of the joint in the socket area. The disease was originally called subluxation of the articular head due to the increase in the gap between the socket and the head of the bone (it is not adjacent to the joint, which leads to friction and wear of the head). As a result, compaction and deformation of the joint occurs.

Causes and risk group

Most often, dysplasia is diagnosed in German shepherds, retrievers, Great Danes, bullmastiffs and St. Bernards.

The main causes of THD:

heredity;
overfeeding, unbalanced nutrition (lack of phosphorus, calcium in the diet, excess protein leads to the development of the disease);
excessive physical activity (pets under 18 months of age are prohibited from heavy exercise, especially large and heavy breeds);
lack of movement (puppies need gentle exercise for bone and muscle tissue to develop properly);
rapid growth of bone and joint tissues in the first 6 months of life;
injuries.

Symptoms

A veterinarian can detect the disease in the 12th month of a puppy’s life, but dysplasia begins to appear only at 2-2.5 years.

Signs of hip dysplasia in dogs:

lameness that occurs spontaneously (when examining the limbs, no changes in integrity are observed);
even with a small load the dog gets tired quickly;
hind legs are shaking;
the dog sways while walking;
when palpating the upper thigh area, the pet whines and tries to bite;
the hind legs are spread to the side.

Puppies with dysplasia take a frog position while resting to relieve the load on their hind limbs. Also in young individuals there is asymmetry of the body: powerful front legs, weak hind legs and a developed chest.

Symptoms of DTS may appear partially, so diagnosing the disease at home is difficult. For example, a pet may place its paws differently due to fatigue, or limp due to damage to its paw during a walk.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of diseases related to bones is carried out using x-rays. Based on the image, the veterinarian can determine not only the presence or absence of pathology, but also the degree of deformation of the joint.

X-rays are performed under general anesthesia to ensure good quality results. In some cases, arthroscopy is done. During this procedure, an incision is made into which an arthroscope is inserted to examine the joint. A mini camera shows the condition of the desired area and surrounding tissue.

The study helps the specialist determine the severity of the animal’s illness:

A – no deviations;
B – there is a predisposition to joint deformation;
C – initial form;
D – middle stage;
E – severe dysplasia.

Conservative therapy

Treatment for hip dysplasia is effective in the early stages of the disease. Therapy is based on eliminating pain, swelling, and restoring cartilage tissue.

Conservative treatment includes the use of:

1. Chondroprotectors– medications that restore joint and cartilage tissue (Glucosamine, Adequan, Chionate, Teraflex, Mucosat, Chondrolone). Medicines are prescribed in the form of intravenous drips, injections into joints, and intramuscular injections. The drugs can be taken alone or in combination.
2. Antispasmodics– eliminate pain syndrome (Analgin, No-shpa, Baralgin).
3. Anti-inflammatory drugs- Rimadyl, Nimesulide.
4. Mineral complexes based on glucosamine and chondroitins- Omega-6, Omega-3.

Veterinarians prescribe corticosteroids, which are hormonal medications that are injected under the skin (in small breeds) or directly into a joint. However, with such therapy a number of undesirable side effects are possible.

Conservative treatment is supplemented with physiotherapy. Veterinary clinics may administer electromagnetic radiation or laser therapy. These procedures are aimed at warming up the joints, but are not always effective, as they have many contraindications.

Operative technique

Conservative therapy is not always effective for hip dysplasia. In later stages of the disease, surgical intervention is necessary. The complexity and duration of the operation depends on the degree of joint deformity.

Types of surgical intervention:

Excision of the femoral head and neck is a major operation that involves a long recovery period. After excision, the joint is restored, and the pet can move independently without prostheses. Due to the narrowing of the pelvic cavity, disruption of the functioning of the abdominal organs is sometimes observed.
Osteotomy– dissection of the bone and change in the position of the articular fossa, promotes the correct location of the joint. The procedure can be performed when the disease is not aggravated.
Myectomy– excision of the pectineus muscle during the puppy’s growth. This procedure does not lead to a complete recovery, but it reduces lameness and restores motor function of the joint. The operation is performed when conservative therapy is ineffective. Myectomy is performed on puppies between 6 and 12 months of age.
Resection arthroplasty– joint resection to reduce pain. The procedure eliminates friction between the head of the joint and the socket, resulting in reduced pain. The operation is indicated for small breeds of dogs weighing up to 20 kg. Arthroplasty can be performed even on older dogs.
Endoprosthetics- prescribed at the last stage of the disease. The joint is replaced with an artificial one made of titanium alloy. After the procedure, the dog moves without pain and leads a normal life. The operation is prohibited for muscle atrophy. From a functional point of view, it is recommended to install a prosthesis in dogs weighing more than 30 kg.

Massage

Massage is a mandatory procedure that is performed in combination with conservative and surgical therapy. It relieves pain, relaxes muscles, improves blood circulation. You can also perform massage exercises at home:

warm up the muscles with confident, slow movements;
apply pressure;
Initially, it is necessary to massage the longitudinal spinal muscles on both sides, and then move to the hind limbs;
You can only work the muscles; pressing on the bones is strictly prohibited.

Care and nutrition

To quickly rehabilitate your pet after treatment, you need to provide appropriate conditions. The diet should contain vitamins, proteins, minerals, microelements, and at the same time you should monitor your pet’s weight to prevent obesity.

The dog should not be put on a strict diet, as this will lead to a worsening of the condition. You need to remove foods containing large amounts of fat from your diet.

After surgery, it is necessary to force the pet to move to ensure additional blood flow to the limbs, this will help the muscles not to atrophy. The dog should be examined systematically. Due to the weakening of the body, diseases associated with the nervous system, abdominal organs, and infection may occur.

You should walk a pet with dysplasia on the lawn, minimizing walking on asphalt. Swimming is beneficial, since the water reduces the load on the joints, and the rest of the muscle group receives the necessary load.

What is prohibited to do

In case of hip dysplasia in dogs, the following is strictly prohibited:

exclude meat products from the diet;
treat the disease with painkillers;
try to insert the bone into place on your own;
cool or warm the pelvic part;
independently administer intramuscular or intravenous drugs.

Also, physical activity and long walks, which cause strain on the hind limbs, are contraindicated for sick dogs.

Prevention

Preventive measures include proper nutrition with plenty of microelements. At an early age, puppies' food should be nutritious and healthy. They also need to avoid heavy loads, as microcracks can occur in underdeveloped limbs.

If an animal is diagnosed with dysplasia, it must be spayed or neutered so that the disease is not passed on to descendants.

Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition that occurs when your dog's hip is misaligned. This condition can lead to arthritis because the misalignment of the hips causes the bones to rub against each other. Hip dysplasia is more common in large breed dogs, and usually occurs in older dogs, although some puppies and young dogs may also have the condition. There are common signs of the disease in all dogs, as well as specific changes in your older dog's lifestyle. If you are concerned that your puppy has hip dysplasia, skip to step 1 for more information.

Steps

Presence of signs of joint dysplasia in older dogs

Watch your dog as he moves around and see if he hops “like a rabbit.” Dogs who have painful hips have shortened strides and tend to walk their hind legs further forward under their belly. This can result in "hopping bunny," which means your dog holds his back legs together and drags them like a rabbit when walking. Watch your dog, main signs: he:

The hips feel like they are on hinges when the dog walks.
Joins her hind legs together so that when she walks, her hind legs hop "like a rabbit."
Limps or has other abnormal movements.
General state.

See if your dog has difficulty getting up or lying down. Hip dysplasia pain can worsen further if your dog remains at rest. This is especially true in the morning after your dog has slept all night. Because of this, you may notice that your dog:
- Hesitates to lie down if she gets up.
- It is difficult to get up if lying down.
- Seems harsher in the morning or when the weather is cold.
Monitor your dog's activity and see if it decreases. A reduced amount of physical activity is one of the most common signs of pain caused by hip dysplasia. All dogs become slower with age, but a decrease in activity should not occur while your dog is older. Unless your dog is sick or overweight, he should maintain about the same activity levels as in his adult years. Look at:
- Lack of interest in going for a run or doing other physical activities with you.
- He lies down and does not run around in the yard.
- When he plays, he gets tired faster.
- Prefers to sit rather than stand and walk when on a leash.
Listen for noise - a clicking sound when your dog moves. The term "creaky bones" can be applied to a dog with hip dysplasia. You may have noticed a clicking sound when your dog moves. These are her bones. Listen to this noise. when:
- Your dog should get up after lying down for a while.
- Walks.
- Movements.
Check to see if your dog is ready to go up the stairs. You may notice that your dog suddenly has a harder time getting up, or is hesitant to climb stairs, even though he had no difficulty with it before. This is because hip dysplasia makes it difficult for your dog's legs to climb up stairs or walk down slopes as his back legs are stiff and he cannot control them as well as use them.
Check your dog for rashes caused by over-grooming. Inactive dogs that cannot move are afraid of getting bored. To pass the time, they tend to lick themselves more often than usual. If you notice that your dog is spending more time grooming himself, check him for rashes or hair loss, as both of these things can be caused by over-grooming. In particular, check:
- Your dog's hips.
- Your dog's sides.
- Your dog's legs.
Look for pressure calluses and sores on your dog's body. Inactive dogs often develop bedsores or calluses in areas of the body that have the most pressure and minimal padding. This problem becomes even worse if the dog constantly lies on a hard floor. Check with your dog:
- Elbows.
- Hips.
- Shoulders.
Feel your dog's back legs to see if he has lost muscle mass. If your dog stops using his back legs, it is likely that he has lost some muscle mass in his back legs. This condition is called atrophy. Feel your dog's hind legs for things like:
- The dog is able to feel its bones more easily.
- Feel the muscles less.
- Sunken hips.
See if your puppy or young dog is hesitant to jump on things. If your puppy has hip dysplasia, he will likely avoid bouncing on soft sofas, laps, etc. This is because his back legs are not as strong as his front legs, and this may prevent him from putting enough force into his back legs to help him jump on things.
- Pat the couch next to you. If your puppy wants to jump up but doesn't, or tries and then complains of pain, he may have hip dysplasia.
Monitor your young dog to see if he has a hesitant, unsteady gait. As mentioned above, puppies and young dogs that have hip dysplasia have a harder time getting around than other dogs. This can cause your dog to develop an unsteady gait, which can be described as:
- It's rocking.
- Weaving.
- It capsizes violently.
Look at how your puppy stands and if he puts more weight on his front legs. Puppies and young dogs with hip dysplasia tend to stand with their back legs slightly forward so that their front legs can support more weight. This can result in their forearms being much more developed than their hind legs. When the puppy is standing:
- Check if his hind legs are pressed slightly forward.
- Feel his forearms, they may be more muscular compared to his hind legs, which may be more bony.

Preventing hip dysplasia from progressing

Take your dog to the vet for an examination if you notice signs of hip dysplasia. Talk to your veterinarian right away and have your dog examined. There are ways to prevent hip dysplasia from getting worse, as well as nutritional supplements and medications to relieve your dog of the pain caused by hip dysplasia.
- Talk to your veterinarian about giving your dog supplements before giving him medications. Some natural supplements can help your dog regain bone strength. These supplements include omega-3s, antioxidants, and joint supplements.
- Your veterinarian may prescribe medication for your dog. Make sure you know when and how often your dog should take them.

Dysplasia is dangerous joint disease, which is not a congenital pathology in dogs, but is directly related to heredity. This disease mainly affects large breeds. Almost every puppy is predisposed to the disease, which will later grow into a heavy dog. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose the disease during puppyhood. Timely treatment will help protect your pet from serious consequences, including complete immobility.

Reasons for appearance

Recently, joint dysplasia has been spreading rapidly and taking on terrifying forms. Over the years of studying the disease, many experts have come to the conclusion that joint dysplasia is a genetically determined disease. Pathology is passed on from generation to generation.

However, there is an opinion that the disease can be acquired (as a result of injury). But this hypothesis is broken by the fact that unhealthy puppies are more often born to certain breeds. Moreover, in the same females and males.

In addition, the theory genetic predisposition It also confirms that stray and mongrel dogs are not susceptible to the disease, although domestic pets are more often injured. The disease also develops in puppies resulting from “mixed marriages” between outbred representatives and individuals of breeds predisposed to dysplasia. Therefore, one can hardly think that the disease is acquired.

The role of hereditary predisposition to the occurrence of the disease is enormous. There are factors that contribute to the development of dysplasia in dogs:

lack of essential vitamins and minerals;
early and inappropriate physical activity;
unbalanced diet;
incorrect proportion of calcium and phosphorus;
obesity;
excess protein;
diseases that lead to disruption of the development and growth of an animal.

All of the above factors have their place in the development of pathology, but their “contribution” to the occurrence of the disease is no more than 5%.

Types of disease in dogs

Symptoms and disease, as stated, develop in large breeds of dogs - Labradors, Great Danes, Shepherds, St. Bernards and others. Dysplasia is a serious pathology that leads to the destruction of the hip, elbow or knee joints. At the last stage of the disease, animals cannot move independently.

There are 5 degrees of dysplasia:

1 (A) - absence of disorders in the joint;
2 (B), 3 (C) - sometimes there are dislocations;
4 (D), 5 (E) - moderate and severe degrees, which lead to serious and severe damage to the joints.

There is dysplasia of the hip, elbow and knee joints.

Hip dysplasia (HJD)

In dogs, adverse events in the hip joint cause changes in the physiological location of the femoral head to the glenoid cavity. The main signs of animal behavior during such changes are:

The appearance of signs of hip dysplasia is determined by the severity of the disorders:

with minor changes, the symptoms of the disease usually do not appear at all or develop only in old age;
If there are significant changes in the hip joint, signs of the disease will immediately become visible even if the puppy is properly maintained.

Elbow dysplasia

If the disease is concentrated in the elbow joint, then the following symptoms are observed:

the dog limping on its front legs;
reluctance to give paw on command;
the appearance of thickenings or other fragments on the elbow joint;
withdrawal of the limb upon palpation of the neoplasm;
refusal to go down stairs.

Some symptoms of this type depend on the characteristics of the disease. For example, articular bones can thicken, causing friction, or, conversely, shrink, creating a strong gap.

Knee dysplasia

Knee changes in dogs are uncommon and usually result from injury or increased stress on the hind legs. In such situations, the position of the bones changes according to the type of subluxation. Signs of knee dysplasia:

visible deformation of the knee joints;
pain when feeling the knee;
severe lameness on the hind legs.

To prevent the disease from developing, large breed puppies should be given the right conditions and try to eliminate the possibility of injury.

Diagnostics

Joint dysplasia is diagnosed by a veterinarian after a thorough examination of the animal and an x-ray examination. The doctor palpates all the dog’s joints, assesses their mobility, and listens for friction squeaks when extending or bending the limbs. An experienced veterinarian can make a diagnosis based on these tests in most cases.

At the initial stage, the dog is indicated for an X-ray examination. The picture is taken after the administration of anesthesia, since without this it is almost impossible to secure the animal’s real estate. In the picture you can see the location of the femoral neck and glenoid cavity. The specialist determines the presence of deformation.

Rules that must be followed to obtain high-quality images:

small dogs are examined only after 1 year of life, adults - after 1.5;
each dog is filmed 2 times;
The photograph is taken with the animal lying on its back with its legs extended in parallel.

Arthroscopy - another examination, which will allow you to give an objective assessment of the condition of the joints and help determine dysplasia. This examination is endoscopic. Through a small puncture, a miniature camera is inserted into the joint area, with which the specialist can see the cartilage structure. This procedure is very expensive and is not performed in all veterinary clinics.

After all the manipulations and studies, the doctor determines the degree of dysplasia and selects treatment.

Treatment

Dysplasia in dogs is treated with medication and surgery. The choice of treatment method depends on the course of the disease, the individual characteristics of the body and the health of the dog. Treatment of elbow joint dysplasia can be carried out either conservatively or surgically. Treatment for hip dysplasia in dogs is usually surgical.

Conservative therapy

Treatment with medications includes use of different medications:

chondoprotectors - drugs for joint regeneration;
antispasmodics - to relieve pain;
anti-inflammatory - aimed at relieving tissue inflammation.

But dietary supplements with chondroitin and glucasamine are also prescribed to speed up the recovery process in the joints. Along with the use of dietary supplements and medications, the dog is prescribed a special diet for weight loss while taking vitamins and minerals.

Physiotherapeutic procedures can have a positive effect. The most popular and in demand are:

laser and magnetic therapy;
ozokerite or paraffin therapy;
massage of a sore joint.

During treatment, the animal's physical activity is not excluded, but it should be restrained - light jogging, swimming, slow walks. You need to know that conservative therapy for DTS is only a temporary improvement in the condition, in which lameness is eliminated and pain is eliminated. Unfortunately, damaged joints cannot be restored. Therefore, veterinarians recommend surgical correction.

Surgical intervention

Surgery to treat dysplasia in dogs involves changing the shape of the femoral head so that it fits the size of the glenoid cavity. The complexity of the operation depends on the degree of the disease. For minor violations, the process involves removing a small part of the cartilage. In severe cases the following operations are carried out:

Endoprosthetics is the replacement of the hip joint with a titanium prosthesis. After recovery, the animal will move normally without any discomfort.
Osteotomy is a change in the location of the articular notch and giving the physiological correct shape to the joint. If arthritis aggravated by dysplasia is present, this type of operation is not envisaged.
Removal of the head and neck of the femur - the procedure does not involve replacing the joint with an implant, but is associated with a long recovery period. After final recovery, no symptoms of the disease remain, the dog can jump and run without restrictions.

The decision on the method of surgical intervention is made by the veterinarian based on the dog’s condition and diagnosis. With dysplasia, any operation is a delicate job that can only be performed efficiently by a surgeon with deep anatomical knowledge and extensive experience. Therefore, it is very important to find a good specialist.

Disease prevention

Preventive measures to prevent and prevent the development of pathology depend on the stage at which they are needed. You need to think about the puppy’s absence of illness before purchasing it. When choosing a large breed puppy, it is important to make sure that its parents do not have a disease. Their test results for dysplasia must correspond to grade A. The breeder is required to submit such a certificate along with other documents. Although even this does not give complete confidence that the dog will not develop the disease in the future.

In puppies aged 6 months (and even older), it is very difficult to determine dysplasia. But if you are predisposed, the disease will still manifest itself someday. Therefore, it is necessary to begin preventive measures as early as possible to prevent the risk of occurrence and development of consequences. Preventive measures include adequate exercise and a balanced diet. With this approach, it is possible to stop the further development of the disease, even if the puppy has begun the process of joint changes.

But if a large breed puppy begins to be fed and subject to great physical exertion, then all this leads to an increase in the load on the joints and the development of pathology.

Any animal requires care and attention, especially if it is a large breed dog that is at risk for joint diseases. However, you need to know that dysplasia is not a death sentence. You can save your pet if you notice changes in time and begin adequate treatment.

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