American Bulldog - What You Need To Know About Canine Hip Dysplacia

By Author: Ricardo Limbardo
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What is Canine Hip Dysplacia?

Canine Hip Dysplacia is a disease that affects a dog's hip. Also known as CHD, Canine Hip Dysplacia is a very serious disease that can hurt your dog severely. Aside from the weakening of your dog's hip, CHD can also cause weakness or problems to the rear legs of your dog. Worst of all, it can eventually lead to the total deterioration of the hips. There are no dog breeds that are at greater risk of CHD. Dog Hip Dysplacia can affect dogs of all breeds, sizes, and ages. However, it is also believed that larger dogs are at greater danger of this disease than smaller ones. However, given all these rather frightening facts about CHD, the most distressing information of all is that Hip Dysplacia is a congenital disease, which means that a dog who is born with Hip Dysplacia has to suffer it, with no way to prevent it. But Canine Hip Dysplacia being a congenital hip disease does not mean that it is inherited. In some cases, Dog Hip Dysplacia can be passed on from a dog's parents, but in some cases, it can be a completely isolated case. Because it is a congenital disease and cannot be prevented, ...
... the next best thing is to treat it.

What are the symptoms of Canine Hip Dysplacia?

Hip Dysplacia in dogs can be an extremely painful condition. Your dog, if it is suffering from Canine Hip Dysplacia, will experience pain in its rear legs. And since the hip is weakened and the rear legs suffering, most dogs with Canine Hip Dysplacia tend to move both of their rear legs as they walk. Because of the pain and the weakening of the hips, the most obvious sign of Canine Hip Dysplacia is a difficulty to get up, and a descending quality to the pelvic region. This can be detected even as the dog is walking. If you detect this particular sign, your first instinct will be to touch it to inspect it. When your dog reacts to your touch as if it is in pain, then that is already your second clue. Aside from those top symptoms, the pain that your dog feels can also cause several other effects to it. Your dog may undergo behavior changes, such as not showing interest in its usual play or jump activities. Its inability to do strenuous activities, even during exercise, also gives Hip Dysplacia away. An awkward stance while your dog is walking can also be observed, since as much as possible, your dog will try not to put on so much weight on its rear legs.

How to Treat Hip Dysplacia in Dogs

If you see any of the symptoms described above, try to get your dog diagnosed as soon as possible. The only way to do this is through x-ray. Once you get your dog diagnosed, you will be able to consider the available treatment options. The earlier you start treatment, the better. Although Canine Hip Dysplacia is a congenital hip disease, this does not mean that it cannot be treated. The treatment process is not an immediate one. Treatment of Hip Dysplacia can take some time. So, before you consider the long-term treatments, first, ask your veterinarian for a pain reliever so the pain that your pet feels will be lessened. Also, don't just settle on any pain reliever, as your dog may experience adverse side effects due to the drug. Make sure to consult your veterinarian which pain reliever will be the safest and most effective for your dog. After pain relievers are settled, you can already start discussing long-term treatments with your vet. Severe cases usually require a surgery to solve the problem entirely. This can, however, leave not only skin-deep physical marks on your dog, but it can also hinder your dog's ability to jump and run around again. It's a good thing, then, that nowadays, some treatments to Hip Dysplacia can now be availed of. The most effective treatment to Dog Hip Dysplacia nowadays is glucosamine. Glucosamine can restore the cartillage in the damaged hip. There are several medications based on glucosamine, so work with your vet in finding the best one for your dog. Before giving glucosamine to your dog, make sure to be informed about the proper way to administer it, and the recommended dosage as well. If you do this correctly, you can help your dog get rid of Canine Hip Dysplasia for good.

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