Canine Hip Dysplasia in Dog

Do you own a big dog, a German shepherd perhaps? Is he still young yet gets tired on walks? The cause may be a congenital cardiac problem. But, if you go to an expert German shepherd breeder, for example, he will probably raise a disagreeing eyebrow and simply say, "No, that's hip dysplasia." It is a hereditary and/or congenital malformation, a drama for any breeder. A correct diagnosis can only be given with the help of an X-ray, which the veterinarian will get after applying light anesthesia.

In no case should you use a dog with dysplasia for breeding. Canine Hip dysplasia is present in different degrees. In the lightest, the muscles compensate the malformation of the joint. Anabolics (yes, the same pills athletes use to temporarily increase their muscle size) can help treat this.

If the defect is serious, you'll have to operate on him. In some case, it might be necessary to remove the joint. Don't think, however, that in these cases all hope is lost for the dog. Now you can find prosthetic implants for these joints. As you can imagine, the operation is costly and only done in specialized clinics.