Living with a large dog is a wonderful experience. A companion who can match you in speed, agility, and endurance, a friend who will protect you in case of danger, and for those who own working dogs, and animal that will become a trusted right hand. Yet the downside of living with a large dog is the fear of your canine companion’s succumbing to hip dysplasia – an illness that will deteriorate her or his joints slowly, gradually, until your companion is crippled to the point of inability to move about.

While all dogs are at risk for developing hip dysplasia, it is a common problem for large dogs, rather than for the smaller breeds. What makes this illness so insidious is the fact that it is partially a genetic disease.  If your dog’s parents or even other littermates suffer from this illness, the odds are very good that your dog is at risk as well. The first clue that a large dog may be suffering from hip dysplasia may be found in an x-ray, well before you will notice any physical symptoms.  Your dog’s thigh bone may not be properly connected to the pelvis via the hip joint.  On an x-ray you can see that instead of the complete fit of the round portion of the femur into the receptacle, it might only be partially inserted. A second clue that will allow you to guess that your dog will at some point suffer from this disease is the fact that the round portion of the femur might evidence some bumps rather than a smooth round surface. 

While the agony of full-fledged hip dysplasia may still be a long ways off, the signs and symptoms are there.  Essentially, your dog’s body will time and again attempt to repair the wear and tear this improperly fitting joint causes, yet at some point the rate of damage will outgrow the rate of repair, and this is when you and your canine friend will encounter the first symptoms. Your dog may suddenly be seen avoiding activities that require a lot of jumping.  It may take her or him a little while to get started, and she or he may appear stiff when getting up in the morning. Perhaps your dog will favor one leg and simply pull up the other, or maybe he will try and jump with both hind legs together.

While some people may feel unable to care for an animal that suffers from a chronic illness, it is important to realize that such a chronic disease does not necessarily have to diminish the dog’s quality of life.  Even in severe cases, a few minor modifications to the dog’s living quarters and exercise regimen may have far-reaching consequences that will drastically improve the dog’s long-term ability to live with the illness!  Here are some tips for dealing with a large breed dog that suffers from hip dysplasia:
• Get veterinary care immediately. While you may be able to self-diagnose the illness, especially if you have a lot of experience with dogs, it is important to get a vet involved.  First and foremost, you want to rule out any other causes.
• Medication may be a valuable ally in your attempt to help your dog lead a normal life. It may actually all that is needed for the mild cases.
• If surgery is a viable option, you may choose to have your dog’s joint reshaped, or his entire hip replaced.
• If you do not want to have your animals undergo surgery, or if the price tag is simply too steep, consider a combination of cartilage building glucosamine and anti-inflammatory drugs.  While it may take a short while for the medications to reach their effectiveness levels, it will make a noticeable difference once they do.
• Make your home dog friendly for your pup.  Even with medication, you want to make sure to not unduly aggravate the condition, and a great way to help your dog may be to install some ramps where only steep stairs are available.  Make sure that the ramps are carpeted to give your dog sure footing so he will not slip and slide down, like he could on linoleum or plastic.
• Consider purchasing an orthopedic bed for your dog.  These beds are built to facilitate proper resting positions and may take some of the strain away from the spine and hip joints.
• Contact an animal supplies company and request a catalog.  There are many more gadgets available that will make your canine companion’s life a bit easier.