| What is hip dysplasia? It is actually one of the worst | | | | Pointer can develop very painful arthritis. Hip dysplasia |
| canine diseases that can affect a lot of breeds | | | | can occur unilaterally or bilaterally in the canine. There |
| including the German Shorthaired Pointer. Why does | | | | can be any number of issues that are involved, such |
| this disease occur? It is possible that it is related to | | | | as problems with either the ball section or the socket |
| more than one genetic problem. It is also possible | | | | section of the joint or with the entire joint. |
| that something in the dogs environment is responsible | | | | When the German Shorthaired Pointer is born, the hip |
| for the disease. Some of the environmental factors | | | | joint is more than likely normal and appropriately |
| could be growth rate, type of exercise, nutritional | | | | functional for movement. If you recall, possible |
| factors. Although the German Shorthaired Pointer can | | | | triggering factors were discussed above and it is |
| have a predisposition for hip dysplasia, the disease | | | | probable that if the dog is exposed to one or more |
| may not be triggered without just the right | | | | of these triggers, the abnormalities in the joint(s) can |
| combination of environmental factors. | | | | begin to affect the surrounding structures which then |
| Our original question was: what is hip dysplasia? We | | | | stretch so that the contact between ball and socket |
| need to know something about the hip joint which is | | | | becomes abnormal. It can occur that walking will |
| where the hind legs are attached to the canine hip. It | | | | eventually become impossible. Although some puppies |
| is like a human hip joint which is called a ball and | | | | are diagnosed with hip dysplasia, it typically is |
| socket joint. The head of the femur (thigh bone) is | | | | diagnosed in canine adulthood. The dog owner will |
| the ball part of the joint while fits into an indented | | | | observe that the dog's gait is changing; leg extension |
| space in the pelvic bone (socket part). There are | | | | is decreasing; difficulty managing stairs will be noted |
| muscles and ligaments attached in a way that the ball | | | | and the GSP may seem to be in pain. The pain and |
| and socket joint has appropriate movement | | | | accompanying movement disorder may result in an |
| capability. If there are problems such as loose | | | | inability to walk. Hip dysplasia is really a miserable |
| ligaments or poor muscles and the smooth joint | | | | disease both for the GSP and the owner alike. |
| movement is compromised, the German Shorthaired | | | | |