What Is Hip Dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is a developmental orthopaedic condition in which the hip joint — a ball and socket joint where the head of the femur meets the acetabulum of the pelvis — fails to develop correctly. In an affected dog, there is excessive laxity (looseness) within the joint, which causes abnormal movement and wear on the joint surfaces. Over time, this mechanical stress leads to the development of osteoarthritis (OA), causing progressive pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Hip dysplasia is one of the most common and well-studied orthopaedic conditions in dogs, particularly in large and giant breeds.
Predisposed Breeds
While hip dysplasia can technically occur in any dog, certain breeds carry a significantly elevated genetic risk. The most commonly affected include:
- German Shepherd Dog
- Labrador Retriever
- Golden Retriever
- Rottweiler
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Saint Bernard
- Neapolitan Mastiff
The condition is multifactorial — genetic predisposition is the primary driver, but environmental factors including rapid growth, high-calorie diets in puppyhood, and excessive exercise during skeletal development can worsen the expression of the disease in genetically susceptible dogs. Maintaining a lean body condition during growth is one of the most important preventive measures owners can take.
Signs and Symptoms
Clinical signs of hip dysplasia can appear as early as four to six months of age in severely affected puppies, or may not become apparent until middle to older age as osteoarthritis develops and worsens. Common signs include:
- Bunny hopping — a characteristic gait in which the dog moves both hind legs together rather than in alternating strides, particularly when trotting or running
- Reluctance or refusal to exercise, play, climb stairs, or jump
- Stiffness and difficulty rising after rest, especially following exercise
- Visible muscle wasting (atrophy) in the hindquarters
- Pain on manipulation of the hip joints during veterinary examination
- A swaying or rolling gait in the hind end
- Altered sitting posture, with one or both hind legs extending out to the side rather than tucked neatly beneath
Diagnosis and Hip Scoring
Diagnosis is based on clinical examination combined with radiography (X-ray). Your vet will assess gait, manipulate the hips to detect pain or laxity, and take radiographs of the hip joints, ideally with the dog in a standardised position under sedation or general anaesthesia for accurate assessment.
BVA/KC Hip Score Scheme
In the United Kingdom, the British Veterinary Association and Kennel Club operate a joint Hip Scoring scheme for breeding dogs. Radiographs are submitted to a panel of scrutineers who assess nine specific features of each hip, awarding a score of 0 to 6 for each feature per hip. The total possible score ranges from 0 (perfect) to 106 (severely affected). Breed median scores are published, and breeders are advised to only breed from dogs scoring below the breed median. This scheme is a voluntary but increasingly expected standard for responsible breeding in predisposed breeds.
PennHIP
PennHIP (Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program) is an alternative radiographic assessment method that quantifies hip joint laxity using a distraction index (DI). A lower DI indicates tighter, healthier hips. PennHIP can be performed from 16 weeks of age, making it useful for earlier assessment. It is more widely used in North America but is available in the UK and Europe through accredited practitioners.
FCI Scheme
The Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) operates a hip evaluation scheme widely used across continental Europe. Hips are graded A through E: A (normal), B (near normal), C (mild dysplasia), D (moderate dysplasia), and E (severe dysplasia). Most FCI member countries require breeding dogs in high-risk breeds to achieve a minimum grade of B or C.
Conservative Management
For many dogs, particularly those with mild to moderate disease or those not suitable for surgery, conservative management provides effective long-term quality of life.
- Weight management is the single most impactful intervention — reducing load on the joints significantly reduces pain and slows progression of osteoarthritis
- Hydrotherapy, including underwater treadmill therapy, allows muscle strengthening and cardiovascular fitness with minimal joint stress
- Physiotherapy and targeted exercise programmes help maintain range of motion and muscle mass
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the mainstay of pain management; the WSAVA and IVAPM (International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management) guidelines emphasise multimodal pain management tailored to the individual patient
- Joint supplements including omega-3 fatty acids and green-lipped mussel preparations have some supporting evidence, though the evidence base for glucosamine and chondroitin in dogs remains variable
Surgical Options
Several surgical procedures are available depending on the dog's age, severity of disease, and financial considerations.
- Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis (JPS) is a preventive procedure performed in puppies under 20 weeks of age, altering pelvic growth to improve hip coverage before osteoarthritis develops
- Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO) is suitable for young dogs (typically under 10 months) with laxity but no significant arthritis; it rotates the acetabulum to better cover the femoral head
- Total Hip Replacement (THR) is considered the gold standard surgical treatment for dogs with advanced osteoarthritis; it replaces both the femoral head and the acetabulum with prosthetic components and produces excellent long-term outcomes in suitable candidates
- Femoral Head and Neck Ostectomy (FHO) removes the femoral head entirely, allowing scar tissue to form a false joint; it is a salvage procedure suitable for smaller dogs or when THR is not possible
DNA Testing and Breeding
Genetic testing for hip dysplasia risk is available for some breeds through specialist laboratories such as Laboklin. However, because hip dysplasia is polygenic (influenced by many genes) and strongly modulated by environment, DNA tests provide supplementary information rather than a definitive prediction. Hip scoring of breeding animals remains the most validated tool for reducing prevalence in future generations.