X-rays are crucial for visualizing the signs of hip dysplasia. Any information you have on your dog's parentage will be helpful as well, as there may be a genetic link. As part of surveying the physical symptoms and fluid work-ups, your veterinarian will also need a thorough history of your dog's health, onset of symptoms, and any possible incidents or injuries that may have contributed to your dog's symptoms. Inflammation due to joint disease may be noted in the complete blood count. Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical exam on your dog, including a blood chemical profile, a complete blood count, an electrolyte panel and a urinalysis. Genetic susceptibility for hip looseness or laxity.Influences on the development and progression of hip dysplasia are concurrent with both genetic and environmental factors: Enlargement of shoulder muscles due to more weight being exerted on front legs as dog tries to avoid weight on its hips, leading to extra work for the shoulder muscles and subsequent enlargement of these muscles.Decreased range of motion in the hip joints.Joint looseness or laxity – characteristic of early disease may not be seen in long-term hip dysplasia due to arthritic changes in the hip joint.
Narrow stance in the hind limbs (back legs unnaturally close together).Intermittent or persistent hind-limb lameness, often worse after exercise.Reluctance to run, jump, or climb stairs.Later disease: signs are related to joint degeneration and osteoarthritis.Early disease: signs are related to joint looseness or laxity.Symptoms depend on the degree of joint looseness or laxity, the degree of joint inflammation, and the duration of the disease. There are also cases of later onset, where hip dysplasia develops later due to osteoarthritis, a form of joint inflammation (arthritis) that is characterized by chronic deterioration, or degeneration of the joint cartilage. Early onset usually develops after four months of age. Hip dysplasia often begins while a dog is still young and physically immature. Rarely, small breed dogs can also be affected, but are less likely to show clinical signs. Large and giant breeds are most commonly affected, including the Boxer, Great Dane, Saint Bernard, Labrador Retriever, and German Shepherd. Gender does not seem to be a factor, but some breeds are more likely to have the genetic predisposition for hip dysplasia than other breeds. Hip dysplasia is one of the most common skeletal diseases seen in dogs. Hip dysplasia is the failure of the hip joints to develop normally (known asmalformation), gradually deteriorating and leading to loss of function of the hip joints. The development of hip dysplasiais determined by an interaction of genetic and environmental factors, though there is a complicated pattern of inheritance for this disorder, with multiple genes involved. The hip joint is composed of the ball and the socket.