Success with a TPO surgery is predicated on early detection. In one study, TPO surgery at 12 months of age was seven times more likely to result in postoperative DJD than surgery performed at 6 months. The cause of hip dysplasia is multifactorial and still under investigation. A dog diagnosed with hip dysplasia may be virtually asymptomatic with insignificant pain, depending on a variety of factors. The clinical symptoms do not always correlate with radiographic signs.
Early detection can be very advantageous to successful breeding programs and treatment regimens.