Canine Hip Dysplasia Hip dysplasia is a disorder in the development of the hip joint in dogs. In general the ball and socket are mismatched and the ball is not well seated in the socket. The head of the femur (ball) becomes flattened, and its seating remains shallow, so that the joint fails to engage properly. Complications include boney outgrowths around the joint, and eventual severe arthritis. The normal ‘ball and socket’ arrangement thus becomes ineffective and fails to articulate effectively, leading to lameness. There is a characteristic bunny hopping gait and some hip pain, especially on rising. Treatment may be medical and palliative for mild cases, with surgical procedures for moderate to severe cases. There is a high degree of inheritance in a number of dog breeds. Treatment Options The diagnosis of hip dysplasia is achieved primarily through palpation and radiography. The treatment for hip dysplasia is dependent on the age and size of the dog and the severity of clinical signs. The three most widely accepted surgical treatments for hip dysplasia are Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO), Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO) and Total Hip Replacement (THR). Femoral Head and Neck Ostectomy Femoral head and neck ostectomy (FHO) is indicated for hip dysplasia and hip fractures in small dogs and cats. The head and neck of the femur is removed and scar tissues form in the absent joint "space" acting as an artificial joint. Dogs are pain free afterwards and learns to walk, run, and jumping again with a slighlty abnormal but pain free gait. Most commonly, smaller dogs are the best candidates for this surgery. Obese or very large dogs will still experience some pain, as the muscles cannot totally compensate. Please visit our page on Post-op Care after FHNO surgery for more information Triple Pelvic Osteotomy Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO) has been used to treat young dogs with an absence of arthritis. TPO is a surgical procedure to rotate the acetabular portion of the pelvis so that there is increased coverage of the femoral head. Increasing coverage promotes improved articulation and, in the ideal situation, joint degeneration is halted. However, if degeneration is already present within the hip, cartilage breakdown is likely to continue, even with improved articulation. This is why checking your dog at 6-8 months regardless of symptoms is often recommended. The best candidate for TPO is a young dog (7-10 mths) with moderate laxity that has no damage to the dorsal acetabular rim or early evidence of degeneration of radiographs. Please visit our page on post-op care after TPO surgery for more information Total Hip Replacement (THR) is the optimal treatment for medium to large breed dogs both young and old with hip dysplasia. |
Canine Hip Dysplasia
Young dog with dysplastic hips but without arthritis
Dysplastic hip with arthritic changes
Triple Pelvic Osteotomy
Femoral Head and Neck Ostectomy
Total Hip Replacement
