Hip dysplasia is one of the most common and painful hereditary orthopedic conditions in dogs, affecting millions of large-breed dogs with progressive arthritis that causes lifelong suffering without management.
Hip dysplasia causes progressive, chronic pain that begins in early life and worsens with age. The joint instability of juvenile hip dysplasia causes an acute inflammatory pain that young dogs experience during the most active period of their lives. The subsequent arthritic changes cause daily chronic pain that limits mobility, exercise, and the joyful play that is fundamental to dog wellbeing. Dogs with poorly managed hip dysplasia become increasingly reluctant to move, develop muscle wasting, and show behavioral changes reflecting chronic discomfort. The hereditary nature of this condition - significantly reduced in populations with mandatory radiographic screening - means that every affected dog in a breed with available screening represents a preventable case of lifelong suffering.