9 Early Warning Signs of Hip Dysplasia Most Dog Owners Miss

Hip dysplasia is a genetically inherited condition. The coxofemoral or hip joints is a ball and socket joint. In hip dysplasia the head of the femur (the ball) does not fit tightly into the hip (the socket). This loose joint can lead to development of osteoarthritis, and pain in the joints. 

As hip dysplasia is a genetic condition, we most commonly see signs in large breed younger dogs and puppies, typically under two years old. The breeds prone to hip dysplasia include French Bulldogs, German Shepherds, Labradors and Rottweilers. Other factors that can contribute to hip dysplasia include doing too much exercise at a young age, and feeding the incorrect or unbalanced diet.

As this condition affects younger dogs, it’s important to notice the signs early on in the condition, to be able to correct or manage the hip dysplasia before the secondary problems of osteoarthritis set in. Below we look at nine signs that can be seen with hip dysplasia in dogs. 

Dogs with hip dysplasia walk or run with a slightly odd gait. They may sway side to side when running, shifting their weight from one hip to the other. Dogs with hip dysplasia can be seen to lift one or more legs up when moving, even if just for a few steps at a time, known as bunny hopping.

This is their way of ‘resting’ the uncomfortable joint before putting it down to use the limb again. The changes in movement may be subtle, you may only notice the signs every now and again, or towards the end of the walk. The changes in the way they walk or move can become worse with time, or stay the same, it’s very dependent on the degree of hip dysplasia your dog has. 

Dogs with hip dysplasia often look a little underweight, particularly when looking at their back, hips and hindlimbs. This is related to the condition of the muscles. Dogs with uncomfortable joints do not want to run and play as much.

The muscles of the hips and hindlimbs then become underdeveloped due to lack of movement and weight bearing load. 

Hip dysplasia can be painful, and often the pain can come suddenly when moving. This can cause anxiety and stress in your dog, as they are anticipating pain.

Your dog may start to spend more time alone by themselves to avoid interaction with people or other dogs. Or they may growl, whine or cry if touched over their painful area, and try to move away from you.

Hip dysplasia is a disease affecting young dogs, including puppies. Puppies and young dogs are naturally inquisitive and learn through play. If playtime is short, or reduced this may be a sign of hip dysplasia, especially in large and giant breed dogs. 

Dogs with hip dysplasia can be less enthusiastic to go for walks, and either not enjoy running and jumping, or try to sit down and not move when they have had enough on a walk. 

Dogs with hip dysplasia can struggle or take a long time to get up after resting, and can be cautious or slow when sitting down.

We use commands such as sit and down a lot when training young dogs, so your puppy may not be ‘naughty’ by not listening or being slow to respond, they may actually be struggling with hip dysplasia. 

Dogs are smarter than we think, and will adapt their body position to cope with hip dysplasia. They may sleep with their legs straight out behind them, or stuck out to one side. They will find a resting position that is comfortable for them, and this may not be what you are used to seeing a resting dog lie like. 

A limping dog is painful, often dogs do not cry when in pain but display a limp when moving on the painful leg. It’s vital not to overlook a limp, even an occasional one if you see it in your dog.

Limping in the hindlimbs can have many causes, but can be related to hip dysplasia, especially if you notice the limping shifts between the hindlimbs, or gets worse with time. 

A dog who does not want to hop up onto the couch or sneak onto your bed at night, may be struggling with hip dysplasia. Other signs include not wanting to jump up and down stairs, or not wanting to get in and out of the car.

Dogs may stop when faced with jumping and refuse to move or back away. If you need to pick your dog up to place them on a higher surface because they refuse to get up by themselves, this issue needs to be investigated by a veterinarian. 

Puppies and young dogs will go to the vet regularly during their first year of life. They go regularly for vaccinations, flea and worm treatment or surgical procedures. A health check will be performed before all of these procedures. You may find your dog is unexpectedly painful when your vet examines or extends your dogs hips.

This abnormal response can be an indicator of hip dysplasia, which is why early diagnosis is best. Always ask the veterinarian to check your dog’s hips if you are in the clinic for a health check. 

Can Hip Dysplasia Be Treated?

Hip dysplasia can be treated, but with varying degrees of success depending on how severe the dysplasia is. The first step is diagnosis, usually with x-rays by a veterinarian. The veterinarian will then decide if the condition can be managed medically with physiotherapy, medications and supplements or surgically.

The dogs who need surgical intervention often have more risks of developing osteoarthritis later in life. By identifying the dysplasia early you can reduce the amount of secondary damage done in the joint, and increase the chances of good outcomes from treatment. Medical management is maintained throughout an affected dog’s life. Many dogs can return to normal exercise and play with treatment.