Dog Breeding and Joint Problems
August 1st, 2009 | Published in Pets
Hip problems with different dog breeds should be identified at an early stage. If you think that smaller dogs are safe from joint problems, you’re wrong. Joint problems can attack any breed of dog at any point in time. Since you can’t be too sure if your dog is suffering from joint problems or not, this article can help you in determining if your dog has a problem.
The most common problem with dogs is hip dysplasia. This refers to the deterioration or malformation of the hip joint. The hip joint sits on a socket that secures the femur’s head. If the socket is excessively shallow, the condition is called hip dysplasia. This should be addressed immediately because if you leave it unattended, the dog can suffer from extreme pain especially when the cartilage is already destroyed. Asymptomatic dogs are not encouraged to be bred. Larger breeds of dogs are often affected by this problem but certain studies revealed that smaller breeds can also be affected like the Shetland Sheepdogs and Cocker Spaniels.
It’s not easy to tell if your dog has hip dysplasia. The dog should be radiographed. Only experts can give appropriate analysis. The vet can’t do this and you will be asked to send the hip x-ray to the Orthopedic Foundation of Animals in the US. The evaluation will be sent back to you after several weeks. If you live anywhere in Britain, Europe, and Canada, equivalent programs are also available but the certification varies depending on the dog’s age.