Hip dysplasia can affect dogs of all ages. However, symptoms do not usually appear until the middle or last years of the dog’s life. The disease has been detected in puppies up to five months of age. Our Siberian husky was a very healthy puppy and did not develop the disease until he was 9 years old. He lived to be 13 years old. Husky puppies eventually grow into a large breed of dog. Unfortunately, this disease is common in larger dog breeds.

The first signs of hip deterioration are pain and discomfort during and after exercise. Unfortunately, the condition will get worse over time. Simple daily activities like getting up and walking will become extremely painful. A dog with this disease must be operated on or it could eventually end up unable to walk. The signs and symptoms are similar to those of arthritis.

Dogs affected by the disease often walk or run with an impaired gait. They can also resist any type of movement that requires full extension of their hind legs. Dogs with this disease often run with a “bunny jump.” Getting up slowly first thing in the morning is also a sign of hip dysplasia. Stiffness is very common. Having trouble getting up was one of the first signs that our husky was having trouble with his hind legs. Its hind legs almost seemed paralyzed when it got up. It took me a bit of walking to loosen them up.

Climbing the stairs is also often a difficult task for a dog whose hips are deteriorating. Some dogs that have milder cases of the condition will be able to overcome the stiffness with a little warming up while walking. Limping is also common and a dog may become less willing to participate in normal daily activities.

Many owners think that this is a direct effect of aging. Most people are surprised when they discover that there is a treatment available. Unfortunately, as the condition progresses, most dogs will lose muscle tone and need help getting up.

There are several different surgical procedures that can be used to treat the disease. The type of surgery required would depend on the dog’s age, body size, and the severity of the hip joint degeneration. Triple pelvic osteotomy (OPT) is a procedure that is generally used in young dogs. Most are puppies under 10 months of age who have not really developed significant joint damage. Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis is a less invasive surgery. This procedure should be done before 20 weeks of age, preferably 16 weeks, and before any signs of arthritis are evident. Total hip replacement is generally only used for dogs suffering from chronic hip dysplasia. While this is an expensive surgery, most dogs will return to a near-normal level of activity without pain.