| Although this disease appears in humans and other | | | | There are several ways of treating this disease. If it |
| animals, it is more associated with dogs. When | | | | is an easy case then drugs may control the pain and |
| determining canine hip dysplasia, typical symptoms | | | | improve the dogs 's quality of life. Some medications |
| are pain and lameness to one or both hind legs. It is a | | | | are effective, and sometimes, a vet will have to |
| genetically inherited defect although there are | | | | change medication in order to achieve better results. |
| environmental factors that can lead to this condition | | | | There are specific instructions of when and how to |
| such as overweight, lack or too much of exercise or | | | | administer these medications. It is a must to follow |
| an injury at a young age. It occurs mostly in large | | | | the vet's instructions. Also, monitoring calorie intake |
| breed dogs, although there some breeds which are | | | | and reducing weight can be beneficial if the dog is |
| more prone to it. Interestingly it may also attack | | | | overweight, as this will put less stress on his/her rear |
| cats, but its symptoms in cats are less severe than in | | | | leg/s. An orthopedic quality dog bed is a must, since |
| dogs. This disease often leads to arthritis, which is | | | | it distributes the body weight more evenly and |
| known by different names like degenerative joint | | | | prevents extra pressure on pain points. The |
| disease, arthrosis and osteoarthritis. | | | | importance of an orthopedic dog bed is invaluable. |
| This disease causes cartilage that lines the hip joint to | | | | In more severe cases, a surgical procedure will be |
| degenerate and become permanently damaged. The | | | | necessary. There are several types of surgeries. |
| damaged cartilage loses its elasticity and thickness, | | | | Usually the head of the femur is removed, and |
| which in turn affects absorption of pressure applied | | | | whatever is left from it grows a false joint, which in |
| to this joint during movement. Over time, enzymes | | | | many cases allows the dog to function almost |
| and debris accumulate in the joint and destroy | | | | normally. Generally with this type of surgery, the pain |
| cartilage-forming molecules. | | | | is reduced significantly. Other surgery that can be |
| Dogs that suffer from this disease usually walk with | | | | preformed is Total Hip Replacement, in which the |
| bunny-like hops, since it is so hard for them to make | | | | femur head is removed replaced by titanium. This |
| natural movements. A vet can determine diagnosis | | | | allows a natural and smooth movement of the joints. |
| after taking x-rays. | | | | |