When it comes to hip dysplasia, veterinarians and animal health experts are not quite sure what really causes the disease. The main root of the problem is still under research and scrutiny, although there are some definite reasons why hip dysplasia occurs in canines. One of these causes is genetics.
Genetics play a very crucial role in the development of both animals and humans. The condition of the parent determines the type of offspring it will produce. In a certain study, when dogs suffering from hip dysplasia are bred to produce puppies, it was found out that their offspring have high chances of acquiring the disease. While some don’t show the disease at all, they were deemed carriers nonetheless. This means that their puppies could have hip dysplasia because of their heritage.
The other known cause of hip dysplasia in dogs is improper nutrition. Pet owners who fail to feed their dogs with the food that is a match to their body requirements tend to become obese. Obesity causes the legs to deform.
This is true with both animals and humans. With all of the extra body weight to support, the hip’s ball and socket joints tend to grow apart, causing hip dysplasia. This condition may also give rise to a very similar disease, which is canine arthritis. Proper feeding is very important, especially with dogs of the larger breeds.
If your pet has lowered calcium and protein levels, hip dysplasia may also occur. Calcium, as you know, is the main component of the bones. Without calcium, the bones will get weaker and become prone to deformation and breakage. When the hip bones get distorted, hip dysplasia may possibly occur.
The same is true in the case of protein. Protein is the building blocks of muscles. Strong and firm muscles can keep the hip joints intact. If they become loose and saggy, the hip joints get affected. This then becomes the reason why hip dysplasia develops in some dogs.
Dogs suffering from hip dysplasia caused by protein and calcium deficiencies can easily be treated by giving them the required daily allowances of these nutrients. By feeding your pet with a high protein and calcium foods, you are actually helping combat the disease. There are also dog supplements that you can use to further strengthen its defenses against the disease.
On the other hand, some dogs acquire hip dysplasia due to too much exercise. There are dog breeds that are built for certain jobs, such as sled running. Some dogs, especially the mixed breeds, have muscles or bones that are not as strong, and their masters force them to do manual labor. Such dogs are more prone to developing hip dysplasia because of the intense exercise load and the strains that their legs have to go through every day.
These are some of the causes of canine hip dysplasia. Be sure that you keep your dog away from these factors, whenever possible, to reduce its risks of acquiring the disease. Hip dysplasia is a very painful disease. It can also be challenging to treat because surgery is still the best solution to it. If you don’t want your dog to suffer from this condition, proper care should be provided.
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