Companion Animals

Dog Hip Dysplasia: Screening and Prevention

Canine hip dysplasia is a heritable developmental disease causing progressive joint deterioration and pain, with screening programmes essential for reducing prevalence in affected breeds.

Key Facts

Hip dysplasia affects up to 70% of some large breeds including German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers
The condition results from abnormal development of the hip joint leading to progressive osteoarthritis
BVA/KC Hip Scheme in the UK and OFA in the US provide standardised screening
Heritability estimates suggest 40-60% of variation in hip dysplasia is genetic
Breeding only from low-scoring parents has successfully reduced hip dysplasia prevalence in some breeds

Welfare Considerations

Hip dysplasia causes progressive pain from hip joint laxity, subluxation, and secondary osteoarthritis. Affected dogs may show reduced activity, difficulty rising, and lameness. Chronic pain significantly impacts quality of life and normal canine activities. The welfare burden of hip dysplasia across affected breeds is enormous. Prevention through rigorous breeding selection is far more impactful than treating established disease in millions of individual dogs.

What You Can Do

Purchase puppies only from breeders who health test both parents for hip dysplasia
Verify health test results through official schemes like BVA or OFA databases
Maintain healthy body weight to reduce stress on developing hips
Avoid excessive high-impact exercise in large breed puppies during skeletal development
Seek veterinary assessment if your large-breed dog shows signs of hip pain or reduced activity