Hip dysplasia is a painful hereditary joint condition affecting millions of dogs. Understanding causes, prevention, and treatment can significantly improve quality of life for affected dogs.
Hip dysplasia causes significant chronic pain and disability in affected dogs. The condition worsens with age as secondary arthritis develops, reducing mobility and quality of life. Many dogs suffer for extended periods before diagnosis because owners may attribute slowing down to normal aging. Responsible breeding using hip-screening programs such as OFA and BVA/KC schemes has reduced prevalence in some breeds but remains inconsistently adopted. Welfare improvements require mandatory pre-breeding health screening, consumer demand for health-tested puppies, and owner education about appropriate nutrition and exercise for large breed puppies. Multimodal pain management combining NSAIDs, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and when indicated surgery can restore significant function and reduce suffering.