OCD, Arthritis, and Dysplasia

I will add articles and links to these pages as they become available, or I find them. If you find an article or link that you feel would be a valuable source for this article, let me know! -- Brenda Rushman, Web Author

I get lots of questions about dysplasia... what it is, how to prevent it, and treatment options. I decided to write this based on the most common questions that I get... the answers to these questions come from several sources, the best of which is our own Dr. Droolittle. She's always there when we need her, willing to help with advice, experience, and warmth.

When someone calls me with questions about dysplasia, I explain, first, that I am not a vet.... I am learning, right along with everyone else. Experience has taught me, though, that some vets in a general practice just don't have the experience with giant breeds to take the actual x-rays, read the x-rays, or make surgical treatment decisions, and I explain this... but I also explain that if their vet is open to discussion, there is every opportunity for him to *learn*. That non-invasive treatment should be discussed with them... surgical treatment should NOT be the method-of-choice for treatment options -- surgical intervention is a last resort.

Then, I explain the role of proper diet, proper exercise, and the glucosamine/chrondrointin/vit c complex, in helping to allay the problem. These dogs require proper exercise -- not only for emotional stimulation, but also for physical health. Many owners think that because there is such a tendency toward these dogs being "couch potatoes", that allowing them to laze about won't hurt them... the opposite is true. Their joints depend on well-developed muscles, tendons, and ligaments to hold them in place.... when these supporting items are allowed to become lax, the result is loose joints. The head of the femur slips out of the socket, and begins to rub on the socket... causing malformation of both parts. This laxity of the joint is dysplasia... the malformation of the bone is arthritis.

Maintaining a healthy, lean weight allows your dog to get the necessary exercise (YOU put on 20 pounds, and see how much you want to move around!), and the best exercise for a healthy dog is an hour of aerobic activity, 3-4 times a week. Running on grassy or sandy surfaces (NOT concrete or linoleum!), and swimming are excellent exercises for building and maintaining good musculature. Dogs that have been found to have any joint conditions SHOULD NOT be encouraged to run or jump -- swimming is a good exercise for them, as is moderate walking (both of these are low-impact). Please understand that, just as with people, dogs will tend to get mildly sore for the first couple of weeks after beginning a new exercise regimen... consider this in those first days, when the dog shows increased signs of limping.

When a dog is to be used in a breeding program, general consensus is that the dog should be x-rayed first at about a year of age -- and then again at 2 years. If the dog is dysplastic at 1 year, (s)he should be spayed or neutered and placed on glucosamine-chrondroitin therapy (unless luxation has occurred... then hip replacement is suggested). If not dysplastic at 1 year, the dog should be re-evaluated at 2 years, and OFA'd. **Do not have these films done when a bitch is near (immediately before, during or immediately after) estrus! The estrogen can cause laxity in the joints and make a normal dog look dysplastic on films.

Notes from Doc Sara (Dr. Droolittle):

The ones that have mild to moderate dysplasia on radiographs many times are in more pain than the severely dysplastic dogs, because there is more bone to bone contact.

80% of dogs requiring total hip replacement do very well with unilateral (1 side) replacement.

When I realized my Lady Girl was dysplastic I took her to Auburn for evaluation for hip replacement. A very wise orthopedic surgeon (who taught me) recommended waiting until she had a problem with the hips. The prosthesis can fail sometimes if placed too early in the dog's life if the dog lives a long time. We waited until her right hip luxated (came out of the acetabulum), then did the surgery. That was 5 years ago and she is doing very well with only 1 replacement.

Hip replacement sx can be done anytime. TPO (triple pelvic osteotomy) should be done at 6-12 mo of age. So if animal is showing signs of severe CHD at 6 mo old, the hips should be checked then if surgery is an option. TPO is a very invasive procedure -- cutting the pelvis in 3 places and plating it to cover the head of the femur. I don't like this one (my opinion only, but the wise orthopod does not either)

More links to learn about OCD, Arthritis, and Dysplasia:

Visit the VetMed website for any canine health information!

Orthopedic Foundation Association

The Barkbytes website has a nice collection of medical/health articles, too!

Visit a state of the art facility at the University of Pennsylvania, PA. You can take a tour and see the latest on emergency service for dogs and cats. An ER has treatment rooms, accomodation area, information center, action stations, isolation area, diagnostic equipment, radiology etc.

Kansas State University News Services

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KSU VETS: CANINE HIP PROBLEMS CAN BE AVOIDED

MANHATTAN -- Many pet owners may be setting their dogs up for hip problems by feeding them too much, said James Hoskinson, associate professor at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and board certified radiologist. He said canine hip problems are not uncommon and can often be avoided.

The two most common types of hip problems in dogs are hip dysplasia, which is caused by a combination of genetic and biological factors, and avascular necrosis of the femoral head, which is caused by purely genetic factors.

Hip dysplasia most often occurs in middle to large breed dogs, such as German shepherds, great Danes, St. Bernards and Labrador retrievers. It occurs when the head of the femur and the socket of the hip fail to develop properly, which can lead to degenerative hip disease and symptoms of arthritis. Hip dysplasia can be treated by either managing it medically, such as through prescribing aspirin or other anti-inflammatories, or by performing surgery. The surgery can range from making minor changes in the shape of the femur or by a hip replacement.

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head most often occurs in smaller or toy breeds of dogs, such as poodles, Pomeranians and Pekingese. When this occurs, the dogs lose blood supply to the head of the femur, which can lead to degenerative hip disease as well. Treatment often involves having the head of the dog's femur removed. Because of the dog's small size, most often it can still walk normally after surgery.

The severity of the problem may also influence the decision of what
treatment to use. A mild case will usually be treated with medication and the more severe cases will usually be treated using surgery.

One of the most important factors in determining whether a dog will
develop hip problems later in life has to do with nutritional factors.
According to Hoskinson, keeping a dog on the proper diet and minimizing feeding can reduce the risk of developing hip problems.

James Roush, associate professor and section head of small animal surgery at K-State, said that a dog should not be obese, should have a visible waist, and its ribs should be felt but not seen. Owners should watch the caloric intake of their dog and make sure it is receiving the proper percentage of calcium in its diet. He says that most puppy foods contain 0.5 to 1.5 percent calcium, and that this is the ideal amount. Dog foods containing more than 3 percent calcium are more likely to lead to hip dysplasia or other skeletal problems. Roush says that the best way to insure that a dog is receiving the correct nutrition and quantity of food is to consult a veterinarian.

Roush says that when buying a dog, the most important point to look at to increase your chances of having a dog free of hip problems is the parentage. If both parents are free of hip dysplasia there is a much greater chance of their offspring not having hip problems.

There are two major organizations that are working to reduce the incidence of hip problems. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is a non-profit organization that has established control programs to lower the incidence of orthopedic and genetic diseases. The foundation evaluates X-rays of the hips of dogs at two years of age or older and gives a rating. PennHIP is another scientific method to evaluate a dog for its susceptibility to develop hip dysplasia. This method stresses the hips of the dogs as they are being X-rayed. PennHIP rates younger dogs.

Most young dogs don't show any outward signs of hip problems. But if you see your dog limping after exercise; if it has a waddling gait; is slow to get up or lie down; is reluctant to move; or if it has a reduction of muscle mass in the back legs; is protecting one side, or is lame, contact your veterinarian.

For more information, contact Dr. Hoskinson or Dr. Roush at (785)
532-5690. Prepared by Brent Gill.