FAQs/HipDys.htm

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.