Dog Hip Dysplasia Services in Coral Springs, FL
Does Your Dog Have Hip Dysplasia?
Canine hip dysplasia is the most common inherited orthopedic disease that leads to hip arthritis causing pain, stiffness, and weakness. It begins in puppies as they grow and worsens over time. Dog hip dysplasia affects large breed dogs more severely than smaller breed dogs. It affects many breeds with the most common being:
- Labrador Retrievers
- Golden Retrievers
- German Shepherds
- Bulldogs
- Saint Bernards
- Old English Sheepdogs.
The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint. Hip laxity is to the degree of looseness of the ball in the hip socket. Dogs with looser hips are at a higher risk of developing hip dysplasia than dogs with tighter hips. To diagnose hip dysplasia, your dog would need to have x-rays of his or her hips. The PennHIP procedure has been proven the most accurate and precise method to measure hip laxity and therefore diagnose dog hip dysplasia. This hip dysplasia dog treatment is the only procedure that can identify hip dysplasia as early as 16 weeks of age. By being able to diagnose hip dysplasia in young puppies, veterinarians are able to intervene early in a dog’s life and advise pet owners on lifestyle adjustments and treatments to minimize pain and progression of the disease.
Any dog can benefit from PennHIP testing. For pet dogs at risk of developing hip arthritis, early diagnosis and treatment can help lessen the severity of dog hip dysplasia. For working dogs and service dogs, identifying a dog with healthy hips can extend the working life of the dog. For breeding dogs, early detection of at-risk hips can allow the breeder to make more informed decisions as to which dogs to keep in breeding programs.