Hip dysplasia happens when the ball-and-socket joint of the hip doesn’t fit together properly. The thigh bone has a rounded end, like a ball that’s supposed to fit into the hip socket. The femoral head should glide smoothly into the hip socket, allowing for free movement and rotation. But in dogs with hip dysplasia, the bones grind against each other, causing pain and damage over time. It’s one of the most common orthopedic issues in dogs, affecting around 15% of the canine population. That’s nearly 1 in 6 dogs.
Unfortunately, large breeds like the German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, and Saint Bernards are hit the hardest. In the early stages, your furry friend might show no signs of discomfort. Over time, the joint deteriorates, and the cartilage wears away, leading to arthritis, bone spurs, and muscle loss. Movement becomes stiff and painful.
The condition is often hereditary, meaning it’s passed down from parents to pups. The worst part is that most dog owners don’t realize what’s coming until it’s too late. The good news is that you don’t have to wait for your big furball to start limping. I’ll walk you through joint care for large breeds and show you how to prevent hip and elbow dysplasia.
How to Prevent Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Hip and elbow dysplasia are similar in nature, the only difference being that they show up in different places. Hip dysplasia messes with the hip joint, while elbow dysplasia messes with the front legs. Elbow dysplasia results from abnormal growth of the radius and ulna, the two bones that extend from the elbow to the paw. When these bones don’t grow at the same rate, they create uneven pressure in the elbow joint, leading to fractures, loose bone fragments, and cartilage damage.
Some cases involve the failure of the anconeal process to properly attach. Once the elbow joint is damaged, loose bone fragments float around, the cartilage wears away and inflammation starts. Over time, this leads to arthritis, chronic pain, and a loss of mobility. This constant wear and tear doesn’t just damage the hip joint. It often leads to degenerative joint diseases like osteoarthritis.
The body tries to fix the problem by producing extra bone material, a process known as osteophyte formation. Unfortunately, this makes things worse. Instead of smoothing out the joint, these bony growths create even more unevenness, leading to stiffness, reduced range of motion, and greater discomfort. In severe cases, the joint becomes so misshapen that it locks up, forcing the dog to rely more on other limbs.
Once osteoarthritis sets in, it’s a progressive, lifelong condition. That’s why you should focus on preventing hip and elbow dysplasia from onset. Something worth noting is that hip and elbow dysplasia isn’t just bad luck. It’s in the genes. For instance, up to around 50 percent of Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, Old English Sheepdogs, Rottweilers, Retrievers, and German Shepherds suffer from this condition. In these breeds, symptoms appear shockingly early, sometimes in puppies as young as four to six months old. Apart from genetics, these are the other causes of hip and elbow dysplasia.
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Injury: The soft tissues surrounding the joint act like stabilizers, holding the ball-and-socket joint in place. When these muscles, ligaments, and tendons are damaged due to injuries like a bad fall, excessive strain, or overexertion at a young age, the hip becomes misaligned.
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Lifestyle: Puppies are still developing, and their joints are delicate. Too much movement forces their soft, developing bones and ligaments to bear more stress than they can handle. This causes joint instability, micro-injuries, and long-term damage.
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Nutrition: As the hip joint deteriorates, the body launches an inflammatory response, sending immune cells to the area. Pro-inflammatory foods like highly processed kibble, excessive grains, and foods high in omega-6 fatty acids fuel chronic inflammation. This makes arthritis symptoms more severe. On top of that, most of these foods have sugars and high calories, resulting in weight gain. Note that a 10% increase in body weight causes an increase in joint stress by up to 30%. This puts more stress on the dog’s joints.
So, how do you know whether your dog is already suffering from dysplasia? Check out for the following symptoms. Note that the signs vary depending on the degree of the joint looseness and the level of inflammation.
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The hips and hind legs become weak, and the dog sways when walking or standing, almost like the gait of a bunny hopping.
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Head bob, where the dog will try to get off weight from the ailing elbow by raising its head higher on the bad footfall.
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The discomfort during movements will make the dog reduce its activity level. A good sign is when your furry friend who loves playing starts refusing to play, is hesitant to rise after lying down or avoids stairs.
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The dog holds its elbow out from its body, turning the paw inward
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A faint clicking sound as the dog walks. That’s the sound of the joint grating as the dog moves.
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As the condition progresses, you’ll notice changes in their muscle mass. If it’s hip dysplasia, the thighs start to shrink because the hind legs aren’t being used properly, while the shoulder muscles bulk up from overcompensating. The opposite happens for elbow dysplasia.
How to Prevent Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Although the condition is hereditary and some breeds are predisposed to the condition right from birth, the good news is that it’s possible to prevent it, or manage it using the following tips.
Adopt the Puppy From a Reputable Breeder
The best way to prevent dysplasia is to avoid adopting a puppy whose lineage has a history of the condition. So, consider the breeder. Some backyard breeders and puppy mills are simply careless and will breed two parents who have these issues. That means there’s a high risk of the puppy inheriting the condition, regardless of the dominant genes. The incidence is a little lower if one of the parents has dysplasia problems and much lower if no parent has such a problem.
A reputable breeder will screen their breeding dogs for joint health using the Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program and Orthopedic Foundation for Animals testing. If a dog’s hips or elbows don’t pass? They’re not bred, period. To be on the safe side, check the puppy’s history to the third or fourth generation. That way, you’ll make sure there aren’t carriers of the gene in the puppy’s bloodline.
You can confirm this by requesting the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program certification. That means you should be extra careful when buying puppies from animal shelters as they usually don’t have pedigree documents.
Don’t Over-Exercise Your Dog
Exercises are actually good. They will help lower your pup’s blood pressure and build up his muscles. The dog’s bones also adapt to the demands of the exercises, and the body builds more bone. This makes the bones denser and healthier. Exercise is also a great way for the dog to burn excess calories and lose weight, which in turn means less strain on the joints.
However, be careful not to push the exercise to the limits, especially for puppies. Rigorous exercises like jumping, running, and playing fetch games put excessive pressure on the joints, increasing the risk of dysplasia. Keep the exercises moderate, like walks. If the dog starts to limp, just give him a break. It doesn’t pay to push him so hard.
Another effective exercise is swimming. The water buoyancy reduces the effects of gravity on the dog’s body. For instance, when ¾ of the dog’s body is submerged in the water, the effect of gravity is reduced by 75%. This means most of the dog’s weight is off the joints. However, keep in mind that some breeds, like the Newfoundlands, are natural swimmers, and this exercise is straightforward for them.
On the other hand, dogs like the English and American Bulldogs are brachycephalic, meaning their skulls are short, their faces are smooshy, and the air passage is narrow. This causes breathing problems. At the same time, their short snouts and short legs make it hard for them to stay afloat. So, for such breeds, make sure you use a dog life jacket to increase buoyancy and reduce chances of fatigue. Alternatively, consider hydrotherapy.
Keep the Diet Healthy
Diet directly contributes to hip and elbow dysplasia in two ways: the nutritional value of the food and the proportion. Puppies of large dog breeds usually have higher growth rates than their smaller counterparts. This fast growth puts stress on their developing bones, skeletal and joints. Of course, this increases the risks of hip and elbow dysplasia. The solution is to control bone development by controlling the calcium and phosphorus levels in the food, as well as the amount of food the dog takes per day.
Calcium and Phosphorus Levels
First off, there's a misconception. Many dog owners believe puppies for giant breeds require high calcium and phosphorus to boost the development of their massive bones. In a real sense, these puppies don't control the levels of calcium their bodies absorb. Keep in mind that calcium works as a growth accelerator for bones. That means the puppy's bones will develop at an abnormally fast rate, causing joint issues.
The other issue is that high calcium levels limit the absorption of phosphorus. This results in fragile bones. So, the secret is to feed your puppy with the right calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, which is about 1.1:1 to 1.4:1. Other than that, keep the calcium levels at around 3 grams per 1000 kcal. Alternatively, stick to puppy food specifically formulated for large-breed dogs.
Proportion
Another major cause of hip and elbow dysplasia is excessive body weight. It's straightforward: more weight = more pressure on the joints. In fact, studies conducted on Labrador Retrievers showed that large breeds fed with 25 percent less food had way less risks of joint problems than their littermates. Now, most large breed puppies reach their full-grown standing height after around one year and take one more year to fill out.
That means the first year is the most important, and you should feed your pup around three times a day. After one year, I recommend you reduce the feeding times to twice a day. Also, consider the calorie intake. Studies show that dogs feeding on calorie-restricted diets show symptoms of joint problems at the age of 12 years instead of the average age of six. So, how many calories should the dog eat per day? Use this simple formula:
Calorie = 1.6 [70 x (dog’s weight in pounds ÷ 2.2)0.75]
Alternatively, use Pet Nutrition Alliance's online calorie calculator. Remember to consider the dog's activity level. If your companion is already showing signs of dysplasia and is not engaging in rigorous exercises, you want to keep the calorie level at a minimum.
Supplements
Thankfully, there are supplements that can help improve joint health and reduce the risk of dysplasia. Look for joint supplements rich in Omega-3 fatty acids as they help reduce inflammation. But a quick warning: nutraceuticals and joint supplements aren't controlled by the FDA. That means companies are free to formulate joint supplements without strict manufacturing requirements and testing. So, I recommend you consult your vet if you want to take the supplement.
Avoid Spaying and Neutering
Many dog owners believe that spaying or neutering improves the health of their furry friends. On the contrary, spaying and neutering immature dogs causes a delay in the closure of growth plates. As a result, these bones end up longer compared to those of intact dogs. In fact, research shows that puppies spayed or neutered under the age of 5.5 months have around 70% increased chances of hip dysplasia.
On the other hand, spaying or neutering your furry friend after some plates have closed and others haven't yet closed results in proportion abnormalities. Another thing is that spaying and neutering affect your pup's hormonal balance, such as loss of testosterone, progesterone, and oestradiol. This hormonal change causes a slowdown in metabolism rate by around 30% and an increase in appetite by around 25%.
That means the rate of converting calories to energy has reduced, yet the appetite has drastically increased - a perfect combination for weight gain. In fact, the American Veterinary Medical Association journal shows that neutered or spayed dogs are about three times more likely to be overweight compared to their intact counterparts.
Consider Your Environment
Puppies are delicate. Simple things like the hide legs slipping out from under the dog might damage the tendons and joints. In most cases, you won't notice the damage until hip or elbow dysplasia comes to bite when the dog gets older. So, make sure the puppy isn't walking on slippery grounds, jumping down from furniture, or running downstairs. Supervise your kids. Don't let them mishandle the pup or drop him down.
Final Thoughts
Large breed dogs have muscular bodies and intimidating bodies that make us feel safe and secure. But underneath those looks lies delicate joints predisposed to hip and elbow dysplasia. Thankfully, you can prevent the condition by making sure the puppy's history is free from dysplasia. When exercising your pup, keep everything gentle, avoiding things like jumping.
Then, make sure the diet is healthy and contains the right proportion of calcium and phosphorus. This prevents abnormal bone growth. Then remember to keep the daily portions in check, so your furry friend doesn't gain excessive weight. Finally, make sure the dog remains intact to avoid hormonal imbalances.