Hip Dysplasia

Image of dog standing.

Hip dysplasia is a congenital disease that, in its more severe form, can eventually cause lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. It is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It can be found in many animals and, rarely, humans, but is common in many dog breeds, particularly the larger breeds.

In the normal anatomy of the hip joint, the thigh bone (femur) joins the hip in the hip joint, specifically the caput ossis femoris. The almost spherical end of the femur articulates with the hip bone acetabulum, a partly cartilaginous mold into which the caput neatly fits. It is important that the weight of the body is carried on the bony part of the acetabulum, not on the cartilage part, because otherwise the caput can glide out of the acetabulum, which is very painful. Such a condition also may lead to maladaptation of the respective bones and poor articulation of the joint. In dogs, the problem almost always appears by the time the dog is 18 months old. The defect can be anywhere from mild to severely crippling. It can cause severe osteoarthritis eventually.

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday

8:30am

6:00pm

Tuesday

8:30am

6:00pm

Wednesday

8:30am

6:00pm

Thursday

8:30am

6:00pm

Friday

8:30am

6:00pm

Saturday

8:30am

2:00pm

Sunday

Closed

Closed

Monday
8:30am 6:00pm
Tuesday
8:30am 6:00pm
Wednesday
8:30am 6:00pm
Thursday
8:30am 6:00pm
Friday
8:30am 6:00pm
Saturday
8:30am 2:00pm
Sunday
Closed Closed

Location

Find us on the map