Cracar Siberians & Whippets

Canine Hip Dysplasia

In plain English, think of the hip joint as a ball which fits into a socket shaped somewhat like a half circle, therefore holding the whole thing together, somewhat like a clamp, and forming the "hip" which, when moved, provides a smooth rotation of the hip.  When a dog develops hip dysplasia, the head of the thighbone (ball) does not fit properly into the socket due either to a malformed ball and/or socket causing the joint to be "loose".  In a dysplastic dog when the hip joint is moved the looseness causes the ball to pop in and out, sometimes even knocking off bits of the socket or breaking cartilage.  Obviously as the dog gets older, depending on the severity of the dysplasia, the pain becomes increasingly worse.  Painful arthritis can also form in the joints.  Here is a view of what "normal" hips should look like and what hips with "dysplasia" look like;

Anyone can say my dog doesn't have hip dysplasia as mild forms may not be visible as the dog moves until they get older.  The only accurate way to diagnose hip dysplasia is through an x-ray performed by a qualified veterinarian who is familiar with doing these types of x-rays.  The veterinarian will lay the dog flat on their backs and then pull the dog's rear legs out straight and turn them slightly inward at which time the x-ray will be taken.  While some veterinarians will only perform this procedure with the dog either anesthized or deeply sedated, some experienced vets can and will x-ray without anesthesia.  Many breeders prefer the method without anesthesia because there are less risks for side effects.  

If the breeder chooses to "certify" their dog these x-rays along with the proper paperwork is then sent in to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) where they are evaluated  by a panel of veterinarians and given a rating of "excellent", "good" or "fair".  They will then issue a certificate with the certification number,  dogs name, registration number  and other information.  Responsible and ethical breeders will not breed a dog with a rating any less than "good" or "excellent", and no dog should be bred which fails.  OFA will only evaluate, grade and certify x-rays from dogs who are a minimum of two years old.   Prior to that age breeders may have a preliminary hip x-ray done before any animals are used for breeding.  OFA will evaluate these x-rays but will not certify them and another x-ray must be submitted after the age of two for certification. 

Should your dog develop hip dysplasia there are options depending on the severity of the dysplasia, unfortunately there is no cure.  Depending on the severity of the dysplasia, surgery is an option but quite expensive.  Medication will help if the dysplasia is not too severe.   Dogs with a mild case can live a relatively normal life not showing outward symptoms until they get much older as the hip joint degenerates with age and arthritis sets in. Some dogs are so severely afflicted that by the time they are a few years old they will require constant medication to be comfortable and their activity level may be limited.

Breeders have come a long way in their goal to totally eradicate hip dysplasia.  By breeding only certified dogs to certified dogs the incidence of this crippling disease is almost non-existent today.  However, don't let your guard down, breeders should continue to x-ray and the puppy buyer should request this information when looking at a puppy.  If the breeder cannot show you, and be willing to provide you with a copy of the OFA hip certification, go elsewhere.