Hip Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia Screenings

Hip dysplasia occurs when the hip joint in a young dog becomes unstable. Over time, this instability can cause abnormal wear of the hip cartilage and can cause arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Your pet may be suffering from hip dysplasia is they seem reluctant to exercise, have difficulty climbing stairs or limp after periods of either inactivity or exercise. This condition is more prevalent in large dogs, but smaller breeds may also be affected especially if they’re overweight.

We can x-ray your dog’s hips for dysplasia at 2 years of age. We send these x-rays to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals where they are evaluated and graded. A general anesthetic is required for this so we can appropriately position your pet’s hips and to reduce stress during this process.

We can also use a method called the PennHIP method to evaluate hip dysplasia in dogs. This can be done much earlier than OFA at 16 weeks of age and is a great option if you’re a breeder selecting a young candidate.

Please call us if you’d like to discuss your dog’s likelihood of developing hip dysplasia and to schedule a screening.