Preventing orthopedic diseases including hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia requires breed selection, appropriate exercise management and nutrition during growth to reduce lifetime welfare burden.
Orthopedic disease prevention welfare begins before the dog is born — breeding selection using validated screening programs significantly reduces the frequency of heritable conditions in offspring. During the growth phase, appropriate nutrition preventing excessive growth rate and exercise management protecting developing joints are the primary welfare interventions available to owners. The lifetime welfare consequence of orthopedic disease is substantial — dogs with hip dysplasia may spend half their lives with chronic joint pain. Prevention through responsible breeding and careful puppy management is far superior to management of established disease, making early intervention in the breeding and raising pipeline the highest-leverage welfare opportunity.