Hip dysplasia is a developmental condition causing joint instability and osteoarthritis in large breed dogs that requires lifelong management to maintain quality of life and minimise chronic pain.
Hip dysplasia causes chronic pain that progressively worsens as secondary osteoarthritis develops. Dogs with severe hip dysplasia experience constant discomfort that limits activity, reduces social engagement, and affects sleep quality. The pain of hip dysplasia is often undertreated because owners attribute reluctance to exercise or difficulty rising to ageing rather than identifiable and treatable disease. Regular NSAID therapy, adequately dosed, can transform quality of life for affected dogs by reducing the inflammation that drives pain. Weight management is the single most impactful non-medical intervention: each kilogram of excess weight increases hip joint loading and accelerates cartilage breakdown. Early surgical intervention in young dogs with severe dysplasia can prevent the osteoarthritis from developing by correcting joint mechanics before irreversible damage occurs.