Hip Dysplasia

• Assists in pain relief
• Improves quality of life
• Relieves tension build up
• Significantly Relieve Soreness
• Decrease pain
• Help strengthen muscles
• Helps- the compensating limb tension and corrects muscle balance
• Assist in mobility
• Helps flexibility
• Helps improve the dogs disposition
• Enable to dog to enjoy normal exercise
• Lymphatic drainage helps reduce inflammation around the coxofemoral joint

What is Hip Dysplasia?

Hip Dysplasia is abnormal function and improper growth and development of the coxofemoral, or hip, joint. Hip Dysplasia basically means that the ball and socket of your dogs hip joint don`t fit together as snugly as they are supposed to which lead to varying degrees of the condition. Dogs with Hip Dysplasia are able to lead happy lives if the condition is well managed. It is worth while considering massage therapy for your Hip Dysplastic dog as it can significantly and dramatically improve their mobility and quality of life and offers results that can quite often be seen after just a couple of massage sessions.

More about Hip Dysplasia

In a normal hip, the femur is connected to the hip joint with the head of the femur sitting in the acetabulum, or the socket of the hip joint. In dogs with hip dysplasia the head of the femur does not articulate correctly with the acetabulum resulting in hip joint laxity, so the femur does not sit as deeply or is held as tightly as it should be, so rather than a snug fit, the ball and socket joint is lax as the teres ligament becomes overstretched so the ball and socket g rind against one another. As the joint attempts to re-establish stability new bone is laid down along with osteophytes which coupled with the degeneration of cartilage often produces secondary osteoarthritis. If the head of the femur is misshapen abnormal wear and tear of the joint occurs.

When these happen the body tries to compensate by laying down new cartilage which is a long slow process and the joint becomes inflamed from the bones rubbing together. Hip dysplasia is a polygenetic, developmental disease and is more common in large and fast growing breeds. Some puppies may be born with hip dysplasia and it recommended that dogs are hip scored by a vet before breading even if they show no signs of the dysplasia. Hip Dysplasia may also develop over the years and although genetics is the main cause, it is also believed that the environment, diet, body size and weight, exercise, activity levels and bedding also contribute to its onset.

The Pain Cycle involved in hip dysplasia is:

Exercise

Greater musculature is needed in dogs with hip dysplasia to help hold the joint in place, weakness of the deep gluteal, middle gluteal and quadricep and hamstrings may worsen the condition. A good balance of exercise and rest is necessary and as with osteoarthritis, small gentle walks little and often is better than long hard walks that can overtax your dog.

Symptoms

• Reduced exercise tolerance
• Reluctance to jump
• Bunnyhop gait when walking or running, often seen with tarsus together
• Limping
• Crying out in pain
• Problems going up and down stairs
• Difficulty in rising
• Early morning stiffness
• Wobbly, swaggering gait as legs cross over when walking
• Lameness after exercise
• Well developed front end and chest and underdeveloped back legs as front legs and neck compensate for pain in the hip area

Treatment

• Veterinarian diagnosis via examination and x-ray
• Glucosamine supplement
• Weight reduction if overweight
• Clinical Massage Therapy by a professional gaining veterinary consent
• Swimming - but sensible swimming your hydrotherapist should not be swimming your hip dysplastic dog against jets for 20 minutes!
• Instead opt for sensible interval training for your dog or try an underwater treadmill
• Acupuncture
• Muscle Building
• Steady exercise
• Exercise reduction if over exercised
• Ester C 
• Buffered vitamin C
• Come along on a Canine Massage workshop to learn how simple massage and shiatsu techniques can help your hip dysplastic dog