HIP DYSPLASIA
People aren't the only ones to suffer from arthritis. One University professor says hip dysplasia in pets is similar to arthritis in people and is one of the most common ailments in dogs.
If your dog has problems moving around the house these days, it may be a sign of hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is a hereditary disease that causes laxity in the hip joints in many dogs. The result is a pain similar to arthritis. The disease is more common in large breeds and vets are seeing an increase in the number of cases due to poor breeding. Not all cases have a sad ending.
We can use medications in many of the cases, that's the cheapest and quite often the most effective method but there are also several surgeries that we can do -- to try to modify the hips and improve the joints so these animals have improved quality of life."
The form of treatment depends on how well the animal tolerates pain.
A lot has to do with how stoic the pet is, and how much the pet responds to pain. In some you have a high pain tolerance threshold and others have a low pain threshold. So we see all degrees."
Some common symptoms of the disease are pain, difficulty moving, lameness, difficulty getting up, difficulty in sleeping sometimes if they have to lay on their particular hip."
Some pets do have to be euthanized if they don't respond well to therapy. I suggest prospective buyers ask breeders if the animal's parents have been certified to be clear of hip dysplasia.