What is Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)?
I’m sure that most of you have heard of dogs with hip dysplasia, so what is it? Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is a developmental condition where the hip joint doesn’t form properly resulting in laxity of the hip. Over time, this can cause pain, bone spurs, deterioration of the cartilage, formation of scar tissue, and arthritis. Most commonly this condition affects large breed dogs, specifically German Shepherds, Labradors Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, and Saint Bernards to name a few.
Signs of Hip Dysplasia
So what are the signs of a dog with hip dysplasia? Your dog might show signs of lameness (limping), reluctance in getting up or jumping, shifting their weight to the front limbs, atrophy of the hind limb muscles, pain, and stiffness. These signs generally show up in young dogs with significant hip laxity or older dogs that have degenerative changes of the hip.
Treatment Options
There are several options for treatment such as surgeries and medications that help manage the symptoms, however not all dogs require surgery. Your vet will determine the severity of CHD to decide if surgery is appropriate. As an owner of a dog with CHD, there are a few things that you can do. You can maintain a healthy diet and weight with your dog, utilize joint supplements and possibly pain medications, and start a regular exercise routine.
On the other hand, physical therapy for dogs with hip dysplasia is a conservative treatment approach that is very beneficial. While canine physical therapy has many benefits, it won’t make a joint that is mis-shapen fit together. A certified canine rehabilitation therapist can improve your dog’s ability to get around. They help increase their strength, decrease pain and stiffness, and analyze their gait. Physical therapy can also help prevent compensatory issues that might occur due to improper use of their hind legs.
A canine physical therapist will perform hands-on therapy techniques to your dog’s hips and muscles to improve their mobility. They will also prescribe a customized exercise program to improve the stability of the hip joint. This will strengthen the muscles around the hip and hind end. They may even recommend home environment modifications to make it easier for your dog to get around. A certified canine rehabilitation therapist can help improve your dog’s quality of life so that your companion can live pain-free!
~Canine PT and Me team