Hip Displaysia February 14, 2008

HIP DISPLAYSIA is usually noticed in puppies and adolescents, but not always. The dog will limp, bunny hop, or refuse to put weight on one or more legs. If your youngster walks and acts like an old arthritic dog, get him to the vet for x-rays right away. Typically, displaysia appears shortly before or after a growth spurt. The hip joint itself is not properly aligned, with the cup portion where the thighbone fits (acetabulum) being shallow, and changes in the shape of the femoral head (the ball at the end of the thighbone). So the joint is loose and this causes arthritic problems, where bone grinds on bone, or the joint itself easily dislocates.  

Displaysia is a genetic disorder, and a dog without the genes for this will not develop it. That is why most breeders insist on , and you should insist on from your breeder at least on of two tests: an OFA certification and a PENNhip test. This will tell you whether or not your puppy has a genetic chance of developing a dysplastic hip joint.  If your dog isn’t from a breeder, you can still get the tests done, and it is a good idea if you can. http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/dehipdysp.html is the place for more depth of information. My boy’s breeder wants me to be sure Kenai gets these tests when he is old enough, and I will absolutely do it!

Not all dogs with the genetic predisposition will develop displaysia. There are also environmental factors, the greatest of which is diet related. The ratio of calcium and phosphorous your Dane absorbs is a huge factor, not only with dysplasia but will nearly all the growth disorders. Very quick growth and weight gain will greatly increase the risk. That is why you should NEVER try to force growth on a Dane–slow and steady is the safest way to go! They will reach their full size with a balanced diet, even though they may take longer to get there. You cannot make them bigger than their genes say they will become! Dysplasia is one reason I spent so much time looking for a diet developed for Danes with a careful ratio of minerals (see feeding page). 

As for treatment, there are several methods to talk about with your vet. Surgery and medicines are available, and yes, cost can become an issue. Big dogs have big bills. Veterinary teaching schools are a fantastic place to find vets who are skilled and knowledgeable about the newest and best treatments, and surgeries there usually cost less. So if you are referred there by your vet, GO. Dysplasia left untreated causes damage that will become almost irreversible at some point, and you will likely wind up saying goodbye to your friend far sooner that you have to.

The treatments are different for growing puppies and adolescent dogs than for older dogs. A surgery called “pectineal myotomy” has been the standard treatment in the past, but now veterinary research has shown that it is not particularly effective. The combination of medicines (Adaquan) and a surgery to reconstruct the joint called “triple pelvic osteotomy” is now the preferred method.  

For older dogs who aren’t growing anymore, the preferred treatment is steroidal and non steroidal medicines. They can have side effects, some of them serious, so be sure to ask about that. If medicine isn’t enough to keep the dog mobile and relatively comfortable, then a total hip replacement can be done. But again, that involves a fair amount of money and recuperation.

Home care can include a soft thick bed, which I highly recommend for all Danes, with gentle heat or cold compresses, and pain relieving rubs if the dog won’t lick them off. For my boys, they had a futon or old twin sized mattress with a heated mattress pad. It was easy to shove under my own bed during the day. I could just take off and launder the standard bedsheets and blankets, and the warmth made getting up after a nap a lot less painful. I also used a homeopathic ointment on the joints themselves, which worked wonders without smelling bad or burning. (comment below and give me an email address or something if you want to know what it was).  

Because of the pain to your friend, the costs of veterinary care, and the sorrow of seeing your pet suffer, prevention is the very best idea of them all. So be thoughtful about your large or giant dog’s diet–do your research and choose carefully. And be aware that Danes will get arthritic in their old age anyway, so provide the best bed you can for them from day 1.