Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is abnormal development of the coxofemoral joint in which a lax hip lets the femoral head slip partly out of the acetabulum, and the joint then wears into osteoarthritis. It is one of the most important orthopedic diseases of large-breed dogs, and it is controlled through screening, breeding selection and lean feeding as much as through surgery. The NAVLE expects you to match the right screening test and the right operation to the dog's age and the state of its joint.
Key facts
Hip dysplasia at a glance- Species and system: dogs (cats are occasionally affected); musculoskeletal, coxofemoral joint.
- Cause: polygenic, moderately heritable trait whose expression is modified by growth rate, nutrition, exercise and body weight.
- Key lesion: joint laxity in the growing dog, leading to subluxation, cartilage damage and secondary osteoarthritis (OA).
- Classic presentation: a large-breed dog with hindlimb lameness worse after exercise, difficulty rising, a "bunny-hopping" gait and pain on hip extension.
- Screening: OFA hip-extended view (certification at 24 months or older) and PennHIP distraction index (from 16 weeks).
- Not zoonotic and not reportable; affected dogs should not be bred.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 5 tables, 2 figures, 3 self-test questions and 21 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.