The symptoms of hip dysplasia are very similar to that of osteoarthritis. Younger dogs will experience severe pain in their lower extremities, more particularly on the hip part. This will usually show after intense running and climbing up and down a flight of stairs.
Dogs that exhibit pain while walking, or even as they go through their normal activities should be taken to the veterinarian for proper diagnosis. While it is simpler to assume that the condition is dog arthritis, the treatment procedure for hip dysplasia is entirely different from that of any type of arthritis.
As such, dogs suffering from this disease tend to sulk in one corner of the house or inside the kennel because it can’t withstand the pain of moving around. You know that your dog is suffering from a certain disease if it refuses to interact with you like it has done before.
What’s really bad about this health concern is that it has it own development stage. Most pet owners don’t know that their dog is suffering from hip dysplasia until it’s too late. If left ignored, it is very possible for your dog to be limping for the rest of its life. Worse, it may be unable to walk. Canine hip dysplasia may develop during the puppy’s forming ages and won’t show up as a health concern until the dog reaches its middle years.
Dogs with hip dysplasia tend to limp or have irregular walking movements. They refuse to flex their hind legs simply because it is very painful for them. If you try to raise the leg yourself, your pet will cry in pain and will refuse to be touched on that part again. It is even possible for some dogs to hop instead of run, all because they are protecting that painful part of their legs.
Pain and stiffness in the legs is a common thing to dogs with hip dysplasia. If you tend to take your dog out for its daily exercise in the morning, and it doesn't want to go because of its condition, you are better off taking your dog to the vet for proper diagnosis and treatment. For some dogs, the stiffness and pain can be rubbed off by small, controlled movements and minor exercises. However, other dogs will continue to limp because the ache is getting worse.
Hip dysplasia may worsen over time, especially if it is not treated accordingly. One of the signs of worsening hip dysplasia is lost muscle tones. Eventually, your dog will also require assistance when getting up, walking down, or running up slopes. Some pet owners mistakenly associate this difficulty with old age. However, some dogs can still be treated for this disease despite the fact that it is already in its later stages.
Whenever any one of these symptoms shows, it is advised that you give your dog the necessary care and support it needs. The aids usually given to dogs with arthritis are applicable to pets with hip dysplasia. You might need to install ramps in the house to help your dog move around up until its disease is treated fully.
Next article: Canine Hip Dysplasia Prevention