Canine hip dysplasia causes chronic pain and mobility impairment in millions of dogs worldwide, with prevention through responsible breeding and effective management central to welfare improvement.
Hip dysplasia causes significant ongoing suffering - chronic pain, exercise intolerance, and progressive disability in affected dogs. Welfare concerns span the full trajectory from breeding decisions through to end-of-life care. Many dogs live with unrecognised and undertreated pain because owners misinterpret lameness as normal ageing. The condition is substantially heritable, making breeding decisions a primary welfare lever. Breeders who bypass screening programmes or breed from high-scoring parents perpetuate unnecessary suffering across generations. Effective multimodal pain management - including NSAIDs, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and weight management - significantly improves quality of life for affected dogs.