The presence of hip dysplasia can have a severe impact on the quality of life, level of performance, and reproductive potential of an athletic or working dog. Unfortunately, canine hip dysplasia is a common orthopedic disease, especially in larger breeds of dogs. Systematic screening for this disorder combined with responsible breeding has lowered, but not eradicated, the occurrence of hip dysplasia. Etiology Canine hip dysplasia is an inherited and developmental condition that involves a lack of conformity between the femoral head and acetabulum.
Affected dogs have hips that are structurally and functionally disease free at birth.
As these puppies mature, they develop laxity in the coxofemoral joints. The consequences of subluxation are abnormal loading in weight bearing and remodeling of cartilage and bone. Abnormal hip joint laxity has been demonstrated in puppies as young as a few weeks of age. The degree of joint laxity appears to have a hereditary basis, in that the progeny of dogs without hip dysplasia have less laxity than those from dysplastic parents. However, not all puppies with high laxity will develop degenerative changes in the hip joints.