| Managing canine hip dysplasia is one of the tasks that | | | | that has a hereditary component; this is carried out |
| a veterinarian finds most difficult. A number of | | | | by selective breeding and the studies carried out so |
| different modes of therapies are available for this; | | | | far have yielded excellent results. Since the year 1966 |
| however this article discusses the techniques that are | | | | OFA - acronym for Orthopedic Foundation, a |
| most commonly accepted. | | | | nonprofit organization have been conducting studies |
| 1. Maintenance - this is a type of management | | | | on orthopedic diseases of animals. |
| wherein no surgical intervention is carried out; in this | | | | This organization controls this disease by evaluating |
| the dog is given adequate rest, limited amount of | | | | the X-ray taken of the hips of various dogs. The |
| exercise, pain-killers, anti-inflammatory drugs etc. It is | | | | X-rays taken by the owner/ veterinarian is sent to |
| mainly useful in milder cases or for animals that have | | | | the foundation wherein 3 veterinary radiologists make |
| high risk factors for surgery. | | | | an assessment of the X-rays independently. For |
| 2. Hip Joint Reconstruction - in this extensive bone | | | | normal joints they issue an O.F.A. Certification number. |
| surgery is performed with a view to bring back the | | | | If the X-ray indicates hip dysplasia the foundation |
| hip joint to normal anatomical condition. This surgery | | | | informs the owner and his veterinarian. It is |
| has to be performed only by an orthopedic surgeon | | | | necessary to avoid using dogs that show any degree |
| since it is very difficult to perform by a vet. For | | | | of hip dysplasia for breeding. |
| successful curing of hip dysplasia you must get the | | | | If large breed dogs are to be used for breeding |
| surgery performed on young dogs before setting in | | | | irrespective of whether they are male or female the |
| of arthritis of the joint. The surgeon uses techniques | | | | owner of such breeds must get a proper X-ray of |
| such as acetabuloplasty, pelvic osteotomy and varus | | | | the hip joints done and evaluated by experts. |
| osteotomy. | | | | Importance of this aspect of control program can |
| 3. Joint Replacement - if the animal is old this | | | | only be appreciated by persons who bred animals |
| technique will benefit by this surgery. In this a | | | | having this crippling disorder. It is likely that O.F.A. |
| synthetic ball is used as a replacement for the ball | | | | certified parents might yield dysplastic offspring; |
| joint or the ball joint is removed totally. As on date | | | | however such occurrences have reduced |
| the success rate of technique of synthetic | | | | considerably. |
| replacement has been very low. You can also | | | | The success rate of treating canine hip dysplasia is |
| eliminate the pain by removing the femoral head | | | | far lower than expectations in most of the cases; |
| thereby eliminating contact of bone with the pelvis. | | | | hence the only way for controlling this disease at |
| Prevention | | | | present is to follow restrictive breeding. |
| It is possible to control at least partially the disease | | | | |