Hip Dysplasia in Dogs: Genetics, Prevention, and Care

Canine hip dysplasia is one of the most common and preventable orthopedic conditions, causing chronic pain in affected dogs and requiring genetic screening in breeding programs to reduce prevalence.

Key Facts

Hip dysplasia involves abnormal development of the hip joint causing laxity, arthritis, and pain
Large and giant breeds including German Shepherds, Labradors, and Golden Retrievers are most commonly affected
Both genetic predisposition and environmental factors including diet and exercise during growth influence severity
Radiographic hip screening programs such as OFA and BVA score breeding dogs to reduce heritability
Puppies with hip dysplasia may show no signs until arthritis develops in middle age
Medical management includes NSAIDs, physiotherapy, and weight management
Surgical options including total hip replacement and triple pelvic osteotomy offer good long-term outcomes in selected cases

Welfare Considerations

Hip dysplasia causes progressive arthritic pain that typically begins in middle age and worsens throughout the dog life. Many dogs live for years with unrecognized pain as owners attribute stiffness and reduced activity to aging. Effective pain management significantly improves quality of life, but recognition and treatment are often delayed. Breeding practices that prioritize appearance over health have maintained high prevalence in predisposed breeds despite the availability of effective genetic screening. Breeding reform through mandatory hip screening in high-risk breeds is the most impactful population-level welfare intervention. Individual welfare management combines weight control, appropriate exercise, pain assessment, and medical or surgical treatment.

What You Can Do

Verify that both parents of any puppy you purchase have been hip-screened with satisfactory scores
Maintain healthy body weight throughout your dog life to reduce joint loading and arthritis progression
Seek veterinary assessment if your dog shows signs of hindquarter weakness or reluctance to exercise
Work with a canine rehabilitation therapist to develop an exercise program appropriate for your dog hip status
Advocate for mandatory hip screening in breeding programs for high-risk breeds through breed club standards