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Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)What is Hip Dysplasia?The term "dysplasia" means an alteration in size, shape or organization. The definition of hip dysplasia is an alteration in size, shape, or organization of the hip joint. The hip joint is essentially a typical ball and socket arrangement. When a hip joint is dysplastic, there are alterations in the perfect ball and socket symmetry (the fit is improper, there is flattening of the ball portion, or there is shallowing of the socket portion). The resulting imperfection can lead to joint malfunction which may lead to arthritic changes. The body tries to stabilize the joint by building bony bridges creating osteoarthritis. Causes of CHDCHD is a inherited trait that is influenced by several genes. It is not caused by environmental factors, but environment can influence the expression of the disease. It is more common in large, rapidly growing dogs. Preventing CHDThe first thing you can do to prevent your dog from getting hip dysplasia is to buy your puppy from a breeder who has all breeding stock x-rayed and checked for CHD. Dogs that have been found to be free of hip dysplasia are registered with the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation For Animals, Inc.). Buying a puppy whose parents are registered with the OFA is your first defense against CHD. The OFA recommends the following guidelines to decrease the incidence of CHD in a breeding program:
Some environmental factors which can worsen, but not cause, CHD are: Rough play, jumping, climbing stairs or slippery floors. Excess weight gain or rapid growth and excess calcium supplementation can also worsen the disease. You should keep your puppies lean, avoid any type of forced exercise or very rough play and provide surfaces that allow for good traction. You should wait until your puppy is at least 7 months old to do any forced running on asphalt (or other hard surfaces). For more information on the prevention and screening of Canine Hip Dysplasia, check out this site: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
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