Clayton Animal Hospital Canine Hip Dysplasia

Canine hip dysplasia can affect all
dog breeds; however, German
shepherds and other large breeds are
most commonly affected clinically. Hip
dysplasia is a genetic disease which
is related to the degree of looseness of
the hip joint, also known as hip laxity.
Laxity in the ball-and-socket joint over
time results in damage and
remodeling of the surfaces which
contact each other. These changes
are often not visible on X-rays until two
years of age or older. Thus, before it
shows any clinical signs, a young
diseased animal can pass on the
inherited trait to its offspring.

Fortunately, a new technique is
available to determine hip laxity in
younger animals. This technique,
called PennHip®, measures laxity in
hip X-rays using a special device
called a distractor. The distraction
index is a measurement calculated
from the X-rays. The distraction index
is a measure of passive hip laxity
expressed between 0 and 1. A
distraction index of 0 indicates no joint
laxity and very tight hips, whereas a
distraction index of 1 indicates very
loose hips. Each measurement is
entered into a worldwide,
breed-specific database which allows
for comparison of individual scores.

The PennHip® technique is being
embraced by conscientious breeders
to target diseased animals before they
are bred. The technique can be done
in animals as young as four months,
compared to conventional methods of
diagnosis (OFA) which cannot be
done until two years of age. The aim
of the PennHip® program is to
decrease the prevalence of hip
dysplasia in all breeds by helping
breeders select the best dogs to
breed. PennHip® is also a benefit to
individual pet owners, by allowing you
to identify your pet’s susceptibility to
develop hip dysplasia. This allows you
and your veterinarian to plan lifestyle
adjustments to minimize the chances
of clinical disease.

What can you do to help decrease the
prevalence of hip dysplasia? Before
you buy a purebred dog, ask dog
breeders what they are doing to
screen their breeding animals for hip
dysplasia; especially breeders of
predisposed breeds (German
shepherds, retrievers). If you have any
questions about treatment and
prevention of hip dysplasia, your
veterinarian.