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HD / HIP DYSPLASIA:
HD is a serious condition and possibly a hereditary illness in which the hip joint becomes unstable. Normally the top of the thigh bone will fit perfectly into the hip socket, but something can go wrong while the dog is growing up, and that can lead to hip instability that will cause pain when the dog moves. The reason is normally a combination of several factors such as size and race, growth rate, diet, exercise and inheritance.
The symptoms in young dogs can be reluctancy in jumping, unwillingness to walk on stairs and using both hind legs together ( kind of jumping ) when running - instead on putting one leg in front of the other. Reduced endurance when running or a sudden paralysis in one or both hind legs.
In older dogs you might see a limp that will gradually worsen, difficulty when getting up, stiff movements of the hind legs, unwillingness to walk on stairs, progressive muscular atrophy of the hind parts so that the dog looks thin from behind. Because the dog tends to put more weight on the forelegs, the muscles of the forepart will
therefore be more developed.
Your vet can make the diagnosis by watching the dog walk, examine it for possible pain in the hip joint when bending and stretching the legs and checking to see if there is normal mobility in the hip joint. To determine the exact diagnosis it's necessary to hip x-ray the dog. If it's a very quiet dog that can be done without anaesthetisation, but it is kinder to the dog, and you will get a better x-ray, if it is anaesthetised. The x-ray is done with the dog lying on its back with the hind legs stretched out parallel. On the x-ray the vet can see how the thigh bone fits into the hip socket.
From the USA a new x-ray method has been introduced. It's called Penn Hip and that method is able to give a more thorough "picture" of the development of a dog's hip. If your vet is certified to use the Penn Hip method, you can choose which examination you would prefer for your dog.
If the symptoms are noticed in a very young dog there are ways of stabilising the hip joints so much that the symptoms may disappear when the dog is fully grown. (That is the reason hip x-rays are done only on fully grown dogs. ) For the young dog the phase with pain will be treated with painkillers and a lot of rest. It's also possible that you have to change the diet and exercise of your dog.
In a fully grown dog HD is treated with painkillers and possibly special bone strengthening injections as well as a supplement to the food. If that turns out not to be enough to remove the pain, there are several types of operations that can help the dog to a tolerable life.
It seems that there are several theories as to what causes HD. Some will ague that it's solely hereditary, but it's more likely that it's a combination of environment and hereditary. It is important though to make it quite clear that a dog / bitch with HD is never to be used for breeding.
Valuation of HD:
A: No sign of HD
B: No HD, but the shape of the hip is a borderline between HD free and a mild HD
C: A mild degree of HD
D: A medium degree of HD
E: A severe degree of HD
Elbow Dysplasia:
ED is a developmental abnormality in the elbow joint that can affect large breed dogs. The disease has been diagnosed in dogs ranging from three and a half months to three years, with six months being the most frequently reported age of diagnosis.
Elbow Dysplasia is caused by a failure of the bones involving the elbows of one or both forelegs to unite and move properly, or by bone fragments within the joint.
Signs of the disease vary from slight lameness to refusal to bear weight on the affected limb.
Diagnosis of the condition is by x-ray. Surgical removal of the bone fragments will relieve the pain and discomfort, but since the process is degenerative, it may not be halted.
Elbow Dysplasia is thought to be inherited and thus prevention is the most important way to deal with the disease. Therefore concerned breeders do not mate dysplastic dogs.
Thank's to Mette og Imran from kennel Librrani fore the Article. |
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HIP Whit HD |
