Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is a very crippling disease of the hip joints. Unfortunately, even though it is a smaller breed of dog, Australian Shepherds do get it.
PET ARTICLE : Introduction to
Canine Hip Dysplasia
by Tiffani Beckman
Canine hip Dysplasia is a terrible, painful disease. I wish that no dog would have to go through it, but we can make them more comfortable by diet, supplement, and lifestyle changes, with or without surgery. Arthritic changes in the Dysplasia dog can be very painful and debilitating. Here are some tips on helping your dog live with dysplasia, some I have use on my GSD mix "Tabasco", and some I have merely heard about.
(This post was originally written expressly for dogs with hip problems, but most of the supplements/treatments can be utilized for many kinds of joint or bone pains, in humans as well as other animals). For those of you with dogs with DM, you might want to check out Dr. Clemmons' site at
Also join an email list at:
1. Keep your dog light and lean. Excess weight can put even more strain on the already sore joints. Keep your dog a bit lighter than maybe what you think he/she should weigh. Most people aren't used to seeing a dog who is actually at a prefect weight. Ribs should be easily felt, and in some breeds, should be visible.
2. Ample exercise. Walks and swimming are 2 great exercises for dogs with hip problems. Catching frisbees and tearing around retrieving are NOT good ideas. Water exercise is a very good idea. Consulting with a canine physical therapist can yield great results for the prevention and treatment of arthritis. Dr. Billinghurst mentions that in puppies, the ONLY exercise they should have is eating exercise and playing exercise, so as to not stress their growing joints and bones. Do NOT take them on extended walks or runs. Let them decide how long and how far to go. Don't forget puppies want to please you, so they might not tell you on a walk if they are tired until damage has already been done.
3. Massages seem to help lots too, as well as improving blood flow to the area and helping sore muscles. Try this essential oil rub with the massage. Try to rub down to the skin, and if the dog licks it off later that is O.K. too. Take 2 drops of lavender oil, 3 drops ginger oil, 4 drops rosemary oil and dilute in 30 ml vegetable oil. This rub can be used on any affected joints. Caution - rosemary oil can induce seizures in seizure prone animals. And you always want to get the highest quality oils - ones without synthetic ingredients. Never use essential oils on cats or around birds. Another great doggie Ben gay recipe using essential oils is up at :
4. Supplements. Below are a list of supplements and treatments that can ease the discomfort of arthritis. When giving herbs, always try to give the organically grown ones.
1. Cosequin
2. Adequan
3. Yucca
4. Glycoflex
5. MSM
6. S.O.D.
7. Shark cartilage
8. Glucosamines
9. Chondriotin sulfates
10. Manganese Ascorbate
11. Acupuncture/Acupressure
12. Chiropractic adjustments
13. Gelatin
14. Vitamin C
15. Flaxseed
16. DMSO
17. Gold bead insertion
18. Bromelaine
19. Evening Primrose oil
20. Vitamin E
21. Vitamins A and D - such as in cod liver oil
22. Hokamix
23. Cetyl Myristoleate
24. Golden Treat (brand)
25. Magnetic therapy
26. Fish oil (different than cod liver oil)
27. The flower essence Ocotillo, available atMedicine Garden
28. Joint Rescue, a supplement from the
29. Grape seed oil
30. Digestive enzymes, like Prozyme (which contains 18, Bromelaine)
31. A B vitamin supplement (free of yeast, sugars and dairy)
32. Turmeric, a spice
33. Boswellia, an Ayurvedic herb
34. Horsetail
35. Alfalfa, powdered leaf is best, feed the sprouts sparingly
36. Devil's Claw
37. Yarrow
38. Licorice root
39. Sarsaparilla
40. Echinacea
A nice warm and padded area to lie in is important also in pain management. TTouch is a wonderful thing to learn to make your animal companion more comfortable, and to help her heal. Some pain relievers, such as aspirin, Rimadyl, etc. have been used in the past for treating pain due to Dysplasia. I do not recommend allopathic pain relievers, because of the potentially negative side effects. There are specific homeopathic pain relievers that your homeopathic veterinarian can recommend, as well as specific Chinese herbs. It really depends on the individual animal. I advocate a natural diet for cats and dogs. I believe that this can help with preventing Dysplasia as well as keeping the animal healthier so that Dysplasia doesn't hinder the dog's movements. The biggest single improvement on Tabasco's hip Dysplasia was definitely the switch to a natural way of feeding. Dr. Ian Billinghurst recommends a raw diet very heavy in raw, pureed veggies for arthritis sufferers, so you may look in to that version of the diet to help your dog. This may or may not be suited to your individual dog (some dogs can only tolerate a small amount of veggies). He also has some very powerful ideas on how to prevent hip Dysplasia (as well as other skeletal problems) as well as stop it from getting worse. I highly suggest you get his book "Grow your Pups with Bones". It contains a wealth of information. Avoiding all members of the nightshade family - potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, eggplant - can really help too, as sometimes they aggravate arthritic conditions. For information on Golden Treat, please contact Cyndi Herzing at cherzing@comwerx.net.
Tiffani Beckman & Tabasco, the bilaterally Dysplasia dog Copyright 1997
**Disclaimer - This advice is not meant to take the place of a veterinarian's. Always consult with your vet before trying anything new.
I have added the following article by the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals because I believe there are many beliefs in what contributes to HD. I think both beliefs deserve to be provided. The following is only a small part of the information they provide on their web page. If you would like to know more about diagnosis, breeding, and the purpose of OFA, I suggest visiting their site by the link in the article.
Recent Research in Hip Dysplasia
Information provided by The Orthopedic Foundation For Animals, Inc.
The web site for the OFA and Hip Dysplasia is
Correction of Anecdotal Misinformation
There are no environmental factors which cause CHD (Canine Hip Dysplasia)
There is no evidence in the scientific literature that megadoses of Vitamin C or any other supplement is beneficial in reducing the effects or preventing CHD.
High caloric intake resulting in rapid growth and increase weight gain may exacerbate changes in dysplastic hips but will not create hip dysplasia.
Exercise, running, jumping up and down, and slick floors will not cause hip dysplasia.
Prior injuries to the femurs and/or pelvis may be detected radiographically and are taken into account when evaluating hip status.
Suggested Reading
Corley, E.A., Keller G.G.: Hip Dysplasia: A Guide for Dog Breeders & Owners. OFA 2nd Edition
Corley E.A., Keller G.G. Hip Dysplasia: A Progress Report and Update OFA Supplement, 1993
Rendano V.T., Ryan G.: Canine Hip Dysplasia Evaluation. Vet Rad., Vol.25, No. 6, 1985, p.170-186
Morgan, J.P., Stephens M.: Radiographic Diagnosis and Control of Hip Dysplasia Iowa State Press, Ames, Iowa, 1985
Lauting, F.L.: Canine Hip Dysplasia and Other Orthopedic Problems. Alpine Publications,Inc. 1901 S. Garfield Loveland, CO 1981
Links to more internet sites with information on HD
http://www.workingdogs.com/ofa_penn.htm
Discussion comparing PenHip & OFAThe wonderful walking pawprint
graphics are by
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