How to Manage and Treat Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Co-authored by Elisabeth Weiss

Last Updated: November 10, 2021 References

Hip dysplasia is an inherited condition where the bone of the hip rubs against other bones. This causes a dog pain and limits mobility. If you have a young dog who is beginning to show signs of hip dysplasia, or an old dog who already has the condition, there are ways that you can both manage and treat this problem. It can be managed through lifestyle changes, such as upping a dog's exercise routine. You can also talk to your vet about medication. If necessary, surgery can be an option as well.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Changing Your Dog's Lifestyle

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Talk to your vet about exercise. Determining the exact amount of exercise your dog needs will depend on its age, breed, and weight. Overexercising a dog with hip dysplasia can worsen the condition, so have a conversation with your vet about a safe level of exercise for your dog. When your dog gets overtired, the muscles can become fatigued and will stop supporting the joints as well as they could.^{[1]
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- In general, stay within your dog’s limit; your dog should not be lagging behind on walks or runs. Your vet may suggest starting small. They may want you to exercise your dog for about 20 minutes a day, and then work your way up.
- Try to take your dog on plenty of uphill walks, like up a ramp.^{[2]
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  Elisabeth Weiss
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  Expert Interview. 4 November 2021.}
- Long distance exercise is not recommended for a dog with hip dysplasia. You should stick to short walks and runs.
- While exercise can be challenging for a dog with hip dysplasia, it's important that you maintain a regular exercise routine. A lack of exercise can cause your dog to gain weight, and obesity can make hip dysplasia worse.
2
Control your dog’s weight to manage this condition. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight can help to limit the amount of pain caused by hip dysplasia. Overweight or obese animals have more bulk to move around; this places a greater strain on the joints, which in turn can increase inflammation and pain. ^{[3]
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- If your dog is at a healthy weight, stick to the diet and exercise program that's keeping your dog healthy. However, as your dog ages you may have to adjust its diet if hip dysplasia gets worse. Your dog may become less active with time.
- If your dog is overweight, you will have to decrease food and increase exercise. Discuss a healthy weight loss program with your vet.
3
Make your environment dog friendly. You want to make sure a dog with hip dysplasia can easily navigate your living space. You don't want your dog to have to jump to get to places in your home.^{[4]
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- Ramps and steps should be placed throughout the house. If your dog is allowed on the couch, place a ramp or staircase near the couch. If you take your dog on a car ride, use a portable ramp or staircase to help your dog climb in the car.
- If there are slippery floors in your home, traction is important. Slippery surfaces can increase the risk for hip dysplasia. Lay down carpet on tile, wood floors, and linoleum.^{[5]
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4
Provide warm and comfortable sleeping areas. A dog with hip dysplasia will need extra comfort when sleeping. Warmer bedding can help soothe sore joints. Make sure there are plenty of comfortable places for your dog to sleep.^{[6]
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- Make sure your dog has soft bedding and a mattress. A heated dog bed can also be helpful, especially if you live in a colder climate.
- If you use heating pads, exercise caution. Heating pads could potentially burn your dog. Always wrap a heating pad in a blanket and never leave it on overnight or when you're not at home.
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Method 2

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Seeking Medication and Veterinary Care

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Ask your vet about oral supplements. Oral supplements are often used to manage the symptoms of hip dysplasia in your dog. Talk to your vet about incorporating regular supplements into your dog's diet. Supplements can help encourage the development of cartilage and other soft tissues which can reduce pain and inflammation.^{[7]
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- Nutritional supplements like glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and omega-3 fatty acids are often used to treat hip dysplasia in dogs.
2
Try anti-inflammatory drugs. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) can be used to treat the symptoms of hip dysplasia. Your vet will recommend a treatment regimen for your dog based on its age, current health, and the state of its hip dysplasia.^{[8]
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- Most of these drugs have little side effects, but make sure to talk things over carefully with your vet before beginning to treat your dog with drugs.
- Your vet may want to try to manage the pain naturally before trying to treat it with drugs.
3
Sign your dog up for physical therapy. In particular, controlled swimming can help to keep your dog’s muscles strong without causing it pain. Swimming also helps to support your dog’s joints. However, do not attempt physical therapy without the help of a vet. A vet may recommend a hydrotherapy pool.^{[9]
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- In addition to hydrotherapy, a physical therapist may massage your dog to help alleviate pain associated with hip dysplasia.^{[10]
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  Elisabeth Weiss
  Professional Dog Trainer
  
  Expert Interview. 4 November 2021.}
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Exploring Surgical Options

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Talk to your vet about hip replacement surgery. For a dog whose pain and hip dysplasia cannot be controlled through other means, it may be necessary for your dog to have its hip replaced. The surgery can have a long recovery period, and can be expensive, but may be worth it if your dog's pain is becoming unmanageable.^{[11]
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- This is a very challenging, but hugely successful surgery that can greatly improve your dog’s quality of life. However, it comes at a very high cost. Hip replacement is usually used after other, cheaper options have been exhausted.
- Recovery time is long for hip replacement. Your dog will not be back to normal functioning for four to six weeks after the surgery.
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Consider femoral head and neck excision for your dog. This surgery is more often recommended for dogs under 44 pounds (20 kg). The surgery involves removing the top of the femur so that there is no bone present to cause pain. This also increases your dog's overall mobility.^{[12]
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- The surgery may not be successful under certain circumstances. In obese animals, the surgery is not recommended. Your vet may want your dog to lose weight before they perform the surgery.
This surgery is usually used in dogs between 6 and 12 months of age. During surgery, your dog's pelvic bones will be broken and repositioned. This surgery is very successful, and can prevent many symptoms of hip dysplasia from developing. However, it can be very expensive.

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Does walking help hip dysplasia?

Elisabeth Weiss
Professional Dog Trainer
Elisabeth Weiss is a Professional Dog Trainer and owner of Dog Relations NYC, a dog training service in New York, New York. Elisabeth relies on science-based, force-free, and reward-based techniques. Elisabeth offers behavior training, puppy manners, body awareness and injury prevention, diet, exercise and dog nutrition services. Her work has been featured in New York Magazine and on the Dog Save the People podcast. She also trained all the dogs in the movie "Heart of a Dog" by Laurie Anderson that features Elisabeth's journey with Laurie Anderson's and Lou Reed's dog Lolabelle and how her passion for playing the keyboards played a significant role in improving her quality of life after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Elisabeth Weiss

Professional Dog Trainer

Expert Answer

Definitely! Walking uphill can be especially helpful, along with sitting and standing exercises.

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How do you fix hip dysplasia without surgery?

Elisabeth Weiss
Professional Dog Trainer
Elisabeth Weiss is a Professional Dog Trainer and owner of Dog Relations NYC, a dog training service in New York, New York. Elisabeth relies on science-based, force-free, and reward-based techniques. Elisabeth offers behavior training, puppy manners, body awareness and injury prevention, diet, exercise and dog nutrition services. Her work has been featured in New York Magazine and on the Dog Save the People podcast. She also trained all the dogs in the movie "Heart of a Dog" by Laurie Anderson that features Elisabeth's journey with Laurie Anderson's and Lou Reed's dog Lolabelle and how her passion for playing the keyboards played a significant role in improving her quality of life after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Elisabeth Weiss

Professional Dog Trainer

Expert Answer

Help your dog develop good muscle tone in both their hind legs and abs. That way, the looseness of the hip joint is somewhat reduced and it doesn't slip out.

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There are a number of strategies that are sensible in dogs prone to hip dysplasia. Whilst they will not change the anatomy of poor hips, they could decrease pain from the joints and potentially slow up deterioration.

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Hip dysplasia is a distressing condition, and all the more so because it affects young dogs. Unless you can afford hip replacement surgery, management is all about control rather than cure.

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