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Question 2: My dog was recently
diagnosed with hip dysplasia. What exactly is hip
dysplasia and what are my treatment options?
Answer:
Hip dysplasia is the malformation and degeneration of the
coxofemoral or hip joint(s). The coxofemoral joint is a
ball-and-socket type of connection between the head of the
femur (ball) and the acetabulum (socket). Hip dysplasia
is a developmental defect that is affected by a number of
genetic and environmental factors. Diagnosis is based on
the pet's history, physical examination findings, and
radiographs. See the x-rays below for examples of both
normal and dysplastic dog hips. Treatment options include management of the
degenerative joint disease (for an in depth discussion, see
the Client Handouts page,
Degenerative Joint Disease and Your Pet) and surgery.
Surgical options include: 1.) triple pelvic osteotomy - the
head of the femur and the acetabulum are realigned via a
series of surgical incisions through the pelvis, 2.) total hip
replacement - an artificial hip joint is implanted to replace
the head of the femur and the acetabulum, and 3.) excision
arthroplasty - the head and neck of the femur are removed (see
x-rays 3 and 4 below).
Each surgical procedure has its own risks and benefits.
Not every patient is a good candidate for every surgical
procedure so proper patient selection is critical. Be
sure to discuss with your veterinarian which treatment option
is best for you and your pet. Please remember, pets
known to have hip dysplasia should never be bred.
The following radiographs (x-rays) were taken with the dog in
the standard position known as VD or ventrodorsal. The
dog is laying on its back and its head is at the top of the
radiograph. The dog's left side is on the
right side of the radiograph and the dog's right
side is on the left side of the radiograph.
A dog with severe bilateral hip dysplasia. The same dog as in the previous image after undergoing excisional arthroplasty on the left hip. Note the thin musculature of the hind limbs. The same dog as in the previous two images several months after surgery on the left hip. The hind limb muscles have significantly increased in size.
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