Pets

How is hip dysplasia diagnosed in dogs?

Young large breed dogs, such as Labradors, St. Bernards, and Great Danes, are prone to developing a condition called canine hip dysplasia (CHD). So are some of the smaller breeds, such as Beagles, Bloodhounds, Brittany Spaniels, and Bloodhounds.

Coronary heart disease is a very serious disease that can cause a dog to suffer a lot of pain and even become lame. While most dog experts will admit that exactly what causes canine hip dysplasia cannot be determined, they will tell you that genetics play a role. If your dog’s parents suffered from canine hip dysplasia, your dog will likely develop it. However, there are other factors. For example, older dogs can develop this condition due to osteoarthritis. It can also be caused by overfeeding the dog with foods rich in protein and calories, and by prolonged inactivity or obesity.

Symptoms of coronary heart disease include a difficulty or stiffness when the dog stands up or goes uphill. You may also notice that it uses only its front legs when trying to get up, that it has a hind limb gait like a duck or that it is reluctant jump, climb stairs. or exercise. If your dog has hip dysplasia, he may also take very short steps due to pain in his hind legs.

Diagnosis of hip dysplasia in dogs

After your vet observes the dog walking and performs a general physical exam, he or she will perform an orthopedic evaluation to determine the best way to treat the dog. One of the things your vet will do is flex and extend the dog’s hip joint. If your dog has coronary heart disease, he will probably tolerate hip flexion, but abduction will cause the dog to be in pain. After your vet performs the physical exam and orthopedic evaluation, he will use an X-ray to confirm the diagnosis and assess the severity of the disease. For the X-ray, the dog is likely lying on its back with its legs extended.

X-rays are used to confirm the diagnosis of hip dysplasia because its symptoms can also be those of other conditions that resemble hip dysplasia in dogs. This includes lumbar-sacral spine problems, cranial cruciate ligament tear, osteochondrosis, panosteitis, degenerative myelopathy, and hypertrophic osteodystrophy.

If the diagnosis is confirmed

If X-rays confirm that your dog has coronary heart disease, treatment will depend on several factors, including finances. This is because surgery may be an option, but it will be expensive. In fact, if the problem is really serious, the recommended surgery could be a total hip replacement.

If you detect hip dysplasia early on, the recommended treatment will likely be anti-inflammatory drugs or pain relievers to help the dog’s pain combined with changes in his exercise and diet. Medications are usually given for only a short time to help the dog stay active while you make lifestyle changes. These changes often include weight control and good exercise management. In other words, you will need to restrict the dog’s exercise and keep its weight at the recommended level.

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