Orthopedic diseases including hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and cruciate disease cause chronic pain in millions of dogs and are substantially preventable through breeding.
Orthopedic disease in dogs is one of the most prevalent sources of chronic pain in companion animals, with millions of dogs globally living with hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, or cruciate disease. These conditions cause progressive, often lifelong pain that reduces mobility, disrupts sleep, limits social participation, and decreases quality of life. The welfare tragedy is that the genetic component of orthopedic disease is modifiable through responsible breeding: decades of hip and elbow scoring data demonstrate that selective breeding using radiographic assessment reduces prevalence in programmes with high testing uptake. But the market pressure for popular breeds regardless of health has undermined breeding reform in many lines. Weight management in at-risk breeds — reducing the load on compromised joints — is the most accessible welfare intervention for owners of affected dogs.