A common sign is the dog that has trouble rising. Dogs with severe hip dysplasia typically develop lameness by two years of age. Dogs with less severe cases may not experience arthritis and the related pain or lameness until six to ten years of age. Since the clinical signs of hip dysplasia are similar to those of other diseases, veterinarians rely on X-rays to make a final diagnosis. This requires a mild anesthetic in order to carefully position the dog on the radiographic table.
Veterinarians look for degenerative changes and abnormal shapes of the hip joint.
Treatment Depending on the severity of the dog's condition, veterinarians treat hip dysplasia with either drugs or surgery. Drug therapy doesn't reverse or cure the progression of hip dysplasia, but it does offer relief from the associated pain. Most require daily administration. Recent advances in veterinary medicine have made surgery a more successful option for treating severe cases of hip dysplasia. Surgeons can improve the joints in young dogs by making changes to the shape of the femur or pelvis.