Where to take tests for dysplasia and ataxia. Painful lameness - dysplasia in dogs: what it is, causes, symptoms and treatment

X-ray. Left healthy joint

Although dysplasia affects the physical performance of the dog, and for the worse, alas, the side, it is still far from always possible, after looking at the movements of the dog, even to assume the presence of this defect. It happens that well-developed, trained muscles can hide the external manifestations of even a severe degree of dysplasia. Therefore, the diagnosis is made only by X-ray.

But now the picture is ready. We look at him - so what? - Yeah, this is the spine, and this seems to be the pelvis, and here is the femur, and here is the head of this bone ... and some other dark and light spots. Everything seems to be in place, everything is fine.

But it is actually normal or not, only a specially trained specialist can say. On the one hand, as one of the leading experts in the field of dog genetics, M.B. Willis, an Englishman, happily combining a veterinarian geneticist, a cynologist and a dog breeder: "You don't have to study five years in veterinary school to read the picture." But "not all veterinarians know how to do it correctly."

Of course, if the acetabulum has the shape of a saucer, and instead of a rounded femoral head sticks out some kind of stub, then you can immediately see - dysplasia. But dysplasia, as the name implies, is a malformed joint. And the manifestation of dysplasia is considered not only severe, but also any deviations from the norm.

And what is the norm?

This question is far from being as simple as it seems. For decades, experts who have conducted studies of TPA have discussed all issues related to dysplasia. Why? Yes, if only because dogs are very different in height, type of addition, weight. And, as a result, the configuration of the pelvis in the tiny Yorkshire Terrier is different from that of the St. Bernard.

This problem was, in particular, devoted to the doctoral dissertation of the German researcher Victoria Richter. The results of her analysis of the structure of the pelvis in German shepherds, boxers, cocker spaniels, dwarf poodles and dachshunds of all varieties (i.e. four breeds + dachshunds of three size categories) clearly demonstrate that in addition all these breeds differ from each other not only externally, but also "from the inside".

Dogs are not mice or rats, but fortunately, as an object of mass laboratory research, they are expensive. (Although there was a fact - at the dawn of the study of the problem of dysplasia, the American organization Fidelko, engaged in training dogs for the service of blind guides and the police, gave a group of live dogs "for experiments." There were no "green" ones at that time). So scientists, due to the impossibility of conducting detailed studies, have long proposed their schemes and approaches for detecting TPA.

In the end, we settled on two variants of execution (there is also a third additional variant), and in order to establish a diagnosis from a picture - on six criteria for evaluating the hip joint. The names of these criteria sound intimidating, and I will not intimidate the reader with them, I will only say that there are several angles determined by a complex technique, indices, characteristics of certain joint surfaces.

The times when the veterinarian squinted at the picture at the light and immediately uttered the diagnosis are over. Now the specialist veterinarian draws the picture using a special protractor and determines the angles. Using special tables, he determines the scores for each of the criteria. And by the sum of points, by the number of abnormal signs, he diagnoses: the degree of dysplasia \u003d A, B, C, D or E.

A - no dysplasia, B - borderline case, suspected dysplasia, "almost normal", C - mild dysplasia, in some countries it is called "still allowed", D, E - moderate or severe dysplasia, respectively.

There would be a sigh of relief. Finally, when making a diagnosis, exact and completely objective parameters appear. So we get a conclusion on our hands and read: Norberg's angle is 105 degrees, the head penetration index is 1.005, the tangential angle is ... You involuntarily feel trust. But, unlike a dog, you don't need to relax. The fact is that in order to measure all these angles and indices along the protractor, you first need to plot these angles on an X-ray image. The starting point for this is the center of the femoral head.

But it has a spherical shape only purely theoretically. "In life" its shape, even if it is round, is still very, very wrong. And it is not so easy to determine the geometric center of this sometimes intricate figure. It is necessary to draw the axes of the various bones of the pelvis and thigh, it is necessary to draw straight lines that are the continuation of various (curves!) Lines of the contour of the joint. If there is an error in the definition of a point, then all further constructions will be distorted. Believe me, all this is not so easy.

Here we need special training, a lot of experience, and the ability to "see". A doctor, like any expert, needs it no less than an artist. Therefore, few people are entrusted with making a diagnosis. In the RKF system, the final and officially recognized diagnosis is a diagnosis made by a doctor with an appropriate license, and there are not many of them in Russia. To obtain such a conclusion, the X-ray is sent through the club to the Central Club in Moscow, and the owner of the dog will receive the answer from the RKF with the doctor's conclusion by mail.

But even the best expert doctor can be mistaken if he receives an incorrectly taken picture for evaluation. I remember how ten years ago, looking at a picture of my dog \u200b\u200band recalling my modest institute knowledge in drawing and geometry, I pestered the radiologist: "But look how asymmetrical everything is here. This could not affect the diagnosis?" He looked at me like I was a fool. "No, it couldn't."

Alas, it could. The internet today is full of examples of x-rays of the same dog taken on the same day. Dysplasia appears in one picture, and healthy in the other. Or "suspicion of dysplasia" and then another diagnosis - mild or moderate dysplasia. The difference between these shots is only in how the dog lies when shooting. Roughly speaking, the position of the pelvis and hind limbs is symmetrical or not. There are such pictures on many sites.

One of the best articles on this issue belongs to the famous American dog handler Ed Frauli and is titled "The Importance of Correct Positioning in Taking X-rays of the Hip Joint". Despite the scary-sounding title, the article is written in a very simple and accessible way, because it is addressed to ordinary dog \u200b\u200bbreeders, that is, you and me. It is excellently illustrated and provided with explanations on how to determine if the picture was taken correctly or not.

Apparently, getting a high-quality image is a worldwide problem. Many researchers believe that most of the mistakes in making a diagnosis are due precisely to incorrectly performed dog positions. Moreover, the wrong position of the pelvis when shooting worsens the diagnosis. Ed Frauli writes that now in the US, the Veterinary Orthopedic Organization (OFA) has started sending back images due to poor positioning. Our experts also began to return images without evaluation, but with a recommendation for reshooting.

But even with experts, the situation is not so simple. Not only the wrong position of the dog during shooting, not only shooting "without anesthesia", but also an error in reading the picture - this is one of the most serious problems in the diagnosis of dysplasia. At the Institute of Animal Husbandry and Genetics of Domestic Animals of the Justus Liebig University of Giessen (Germany), a series of X-rays were selected, three sets of copies of these images were made and sent to three highly qualified experts.

The results once again confirmed that making a diagnosis of "dysplasia" even on X-rays, although, I repeat, this method is still considered the most accurate, is a very subjective matter. It would be good if the discrepancies were at the boundaries of the estimates: one expert says - "norm", another - "borderline case", or "mild degree" - "medium degree". But there were also discrepancies of the type: "mild dysplasia" - "free from dysplasia." High agreement was only in the assessment of severe dysplasia.

In general, everything turned out in accordance with the theory of expert assessments. There is also this: in order to get the most accurate estimate, for example, the estimated time for completing some complex work, they take the forecast of an optimist expert, the forecast of a pessimist expert. The most realistic time frame will be in the middle (of course, provided that both of these experts were quite competent).

In the experiment of the University of Giessen, it was similar: an expert pessimist and an expert optimist, and also a moderate expert. His assessments have the most overlap with colleagues. And, in addition, his diagnoses most of all "overlap" with the symptoms indicated by the owners of the dogs, whose pictures were presented for this experiment.

Here, it seems, is a ready-made solution to the problem. We test experts, choose "moderate" and ... go ahead. But it was not there. And the “moderate” expert had some assessments more optimistic than the “optimist”, and some were more negative than the “pessimist”. What does this mean? First of all, when it comes to dysplasia, everything is not simple and everything is not unambiguous.

E. Alexandrova

The impressive size of the animal is not yet a guarantee of its perfect health, and sometimes, and vice versa, it is the dimensions that are the culprits of certain problems in large-breed dogs. For example, dysplasia is a pathology of the musculoskeletal system, which "loves" massive, heavy animals, forced to constantly experience strong loads on certain groups of joints and muscles. The severity of this disease should not be underestimated, because the payback is too high - the immobility of a beloved pet and a life filled with physical suffering.

What is joint dysplasia?

Dysplasia - This is the destruction (complete or partial) and / or modification of the articular tissue in a dog, caused by improper adherence of the head of the bone to the glenoid cavity. Normally, this design has a tight contact, which ensures smooth sliding and maintains elasticity. In pathology, a gap (gap) is formed between the bone head and its "niche" in the joint, in the process of movement, the tissues rub against each other, this leads to their stratification, flattening, the articular cartilage is subjected to strong pressure and gradually deforms.

Symptoms, classification and degree of development of dysplasia

The disease affects the joints of the pelvis, hips and limbs of the animal and is divided into types:

1. Dysplasia of the hip joint

The most common of all articular deformities of this pathology. This is explained by the fact that the dog's hind legs are jerky and, when running or jumping, serve as shock absorbers for the animal. Large build, high growth, massive physique create a strong load on the hip joint. Breeds such as St. Bernards, Shepherds, Rottweilers, Divers, etc. are at risk.

Symptoms of hip dysplasia:

• Wobbly gait.
• Frequent rest when moving.
• Stiffness (difficulty walking up stairs, getting off the floor, etc.)
• Unnatural lying position.
• Asymmetric trunk development (due to the desire to transfer weight to the front legs).
• Pain on palpation of the thighs.

Classification of hip dysplasia by degrees:

• A - there are no obvious signs of the disease.
• B - deviations are almost invisible.
• C - mild degree of the disease.
• D - signs of violations within the limits of permissible norms.
• E - severe degree of joint damage.

2. Elbow dysplasia

This is an abnormal growth of bone and cartilage tissue in the elbow or knee of the pet. The most common cause of lameness and chronic pain in large dogs.

Elbow dysplasia symptoms:

Soreness when feeling the forelimbs.

Difficulty raising the paw.

Seals and thickenings in the area of \u200b\u200bthe joints.

Difficulty walking, incl. On the stairs.

Lameness.

Classification of elbow dysplasia by degrees:

0 - no violations.

1 - minimal manifestations (arthritic formations (osteophytes) not\u003e 2 mm).

2 - moderately acceptable growths (2-5 mm).

3 - deeply penetrated tissue deformation (\u003e 5 mm).

3. Knee dysplasia

This is a rare pathology, mainly the consequences of injuries or non-compliance with conditions of detention (slippery floors, heavy loads).

The disease is not congenital (with the exception of the rarest isolated cases), but the impetus for development occurs in the puppy's toddler age - it can be assumed from the age of 4 months.

The reasons for the development of dysplasia

The genetic predisposition to the disease is quite high. If the parents are carriers of the "harmful" gene, then the probability of a puppy getting sick, though not 100%, is automatically at risk from birth. And even if the owners raise and feed him according to all the rules, this does not guarantee that dysplasia will bypass their large-bred pet.

Unfortunately, some owners themselves, without realizing it, "spur" the disease. In an effort to turn their pet into a canine giant and a strong man as soon as possible, they begin to intensively feed the puppy with calcined additives, growth stimulants, and meat porridge. And they rejoice that the baby is growing by leaps and bounds, gaining muscle mass in front of our eyes, forgetting that the bones simply do not have time to develop and get stronger as quickly. Add to this exorbitant physical training, and the sad result will come very quickly: joint deformities of varying degrees.

In addition to heredity and artificial muscle building, there are a number of factors that trigger the destructive mechanism of joint disease:

• Excess protein, calcium, phosphorus.
• Obesity.
• Intense physical activity, not appropriate for age and skeletal development.
• Lack of physical activity.
• Limb injuries (sprains, dislocations, severe bruises, etc.).

Obvious, acutely expressed signs of the disease appear after a year of the dog's life, when intensive growth stops, and the bones of the skeleton harden.

Diagnosing dysplasia in dogs

No self-diagnosis is allowed, only professional medical advice. The list of diagnostic measures includes:

Visual inspection

1. Test for mobility (flexion, extension of the joints, listening for sounds when moving (creak, friction, clicks)).

2. X-ray. The picture is taken under anesthesia to ensure complete immobility of the animal. Allows to indicate the degree of deformation of the femoral neck, joints, connective tissue.

3. Arthroscopy. Endoscopic examination (minicamera) of the joint cavity. A very informative event, but expensive and accessible only to large clinics.

Based on the diagnostics performed, the veterinarian will determine the degree of the disease and prescribe therapeutic therapy.

Treatment of joint dysplasia in dogs

There are two methods of dealing with the disease:

1. Conservative.

Based on medications and physiotherapy:

Chondroprotective injections (intramuscularly or drip) to restore cartilage and joint tissues.

Antispasmodics for pain relief.

Anti-inflammatory for the relief of inflammation.

Supplements with chondroitin and glucosamine to strengthen and regenerate bones.

Swimming.

Magneto, laser, paraffin therapy.

Ozokerite.

With obesity, a low-calorie diet and an additional complex of vitamins are prescribed.

2. Operational.

It is used for severe joint damage, when sparing therapy is already powerless. The hip joint head is surgically adjusted to fit the shape and size of the glenoid cavity. The type of surgery depends on the degree of deformation:

Easy removal of cartilage growth.

Excision of the femoral head and neck.

Osteotomy is a change in the location of the joint fossa.

Endoprosthetics - removal of the hip joint with a prosthesis.

The sooner the symptoms of dysplasia are identified, the better the chances of a successful recovery. A disease detected in adulthood is much more difficult to treat, and the prognosis is not always favorable.

Hip dysplasia in dogs - what is it? Can this disease be treated? What steps can you take to keep your pet safe? These questions are of concern to many large dog owners. Let's try to figure it out.

Causes of occurrence

Dysplasia of the hip joints is a real scourge of large breed dogs. With dysplasia, the joint is formed incorrectly and, therefore, functions poorly, causing discomfort to the animal. And, although large dogs are more susceptible to this disease, it also occurs in smaller breeds. The main disadvantage of this disease is that it is not completely cured.

In the photo, you can compare X-rays of a healthy and diseased hip joint.

Views

The most common type of this disease is hip dysplasia. Most often seen in puppies of large dogs. It can be recognized by the wrong position of the hind legs, lameness during exertion, lethargy of the puppy, difficult jumping and unstable gait.

With hip dysplasia in dogs, body asymmetry is observed: a disproportionately narrow rear, poorly developed paws and a massive, wide chest.

Elbow dysplasia is a defect in the development of the forelimbs. The defect can be both on two and on one paw. This genetic disease can be safely treated with surgery. However, even a cured individual is not allowed to breed. In advanced cases, you can hear the crackling and crunching of the elbow joint.

In the photo you can see an X-ray of a sore elbow joint.

The most severe stage of hip dysplasia is multiple epiphase dysplasia. This is a hereditary defect. Most often, the dog is affected in the earliest childhood. Growth in puppies stops abruptly due to calcification of the pineal gland. The joints of the sick animal seem to be swollen, the gait is very wobbly, swinging.

Treatment

Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely cure a disease such as hip dysplasia. But it is quite successfully possible to stop its development and make the dog's life full, long and painless. This can be done with medication or with surgery.

Disease detection test

There is a so-called test that helps to identify dysplasia. Test results are obtained on the basis of a veterinarian examination (includes palpation of the extremities) and an x-ray. Be sure to take an interest in the test results of the parents of your future puppy - do not forget that most often dysplasia is hereditary.

Dysplasia can be diagnosed with more than just an X-ray. There is also the so-called Ortolani test. This is a special way of palpation. Moreover, this test is applied not only to dogs, but also to newborn children. According to this test, the degree of dysplasia in different dogs can differ significantly:

• Grade A. No dysplasia.
• Grade B. Small deviations from the norm.
• Grade C. Mild dysplasia.
• Grade D. Medium dysplasia.
• Grade E. Severe dysplasia.

This method cannot detect elbow dysplasia.

Remember that test results are not always reliable! Often, puppies diagnosed with dysplasia of the elbow or hip joints at 2 months old grew up into healthy dogs. X-rays can only be trusted when the dog's bones are fully formed, that is, after the first year of life.

Operative treatment

Most often, this method of treatment is used in advanced stages of elbow dysplasia or hip joint. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to guarantee the successful outcome of the operation and its effectiveness. Today, there are many types of surgery for joint disease in dogs. Let's consider the main ones.

• Myectomy of the comb muscle. Perhaps the simplest type of surgical treatment described below. The operation is performed only on young dogs. This surgery can help reduce stress on the joint and relieve pain.
• Resection arthroplasty... This is the surgical removal of the head of the hip bone. Mobility after such an operation is retained only in small dogs that weigh less than 15 kg.
• Triple pelvic osteotomy. A very complex operation that can only be entrusted to a true professional in his field. During it, the bone is dissected, then it is deployed so that the hip joint is in contact with it better.
• Intervertebral osteotomy. The wedge-shaped part of the bone neck is removed. After it is fixed with a special plate. This is also a complex operation, which not every zoosurgeon will undertake.
• Hip replacement... This operation is performed only in large cities in large modern veterinary clinics. The diseased joint is replaced with a special prosthesis.

Drugs

Almost all drugs that are prescribed to dogs with hip dysplasia have to be used for life. They are not able to cure the disease, but they significantly reduce pain and allow the dog to walk more confidently and practically not limp. The right treatment can give your dog a fulfilling life!

Now on the market there are many homeopathic remedies for the treatment of this ailment. Owner reviews vary - some found a panacea in them, while others, on the contrary, did not see any result. To find the optimal drug, you need to consult a specialist.

Care

With proper care, a sick dog is able to live a happy and fulfilling life. Always remember about the characteristics of her body. Take your pet away if he gets overexcited while playing with other dogs. Do not take him long walks - it is better to go out several times for shorter periods of time.

So that the disease does not worsen over the years, carefully monitor your dog's diet. It should be balanced and contain the required amount of vitamins, minerals and other beneficial and nutritious substances. Watch your dog's weight, obesity will only make the situation worse.

If you decide on an operation, then carefully follow all the recommendations of the veterinarian in the postoperative period. Do not skip taking medications that alleviate the condition of the animal. Remember that the disease will get worse with age, so try to prolong the happy life of your pet as much as possible. Don't ignore medication.

Dysplasia of the hip joints in dogs is becoming more and more common. Dogs of large breeds or with a large body weight are most susceptible to it, since this creates a load on the musculoskeletal system. The joints also wear out with excessive physical activity. What is dysplasia, how does it manifest itself and how to help your beloved four-legged friend?

What is dysplasia

Dysplasia in dogs is characterized by degenerative changes in the hip joints. That is, they are gradually destroyed, which causes severe pain to the animal. Any movement, even the smallest, is a real torture for a four-legged family member.

It is possible to recognize that a dog will have dysplasia at an early puppy age. This allows you to start treatment as early as possible, which will keep the dog physically active for a long time. How do you know if a puppy or adult dog is at risk of suffering from dysplasia?

Normally (in a healthy animal) the head of the femur ideally fits into the depression on the pelvic bone, they are in close contact with each other. With dysplasia, the dog has a gap (empty space) between the head and the cavity. When moving, friction occurs, as a result, the articular surfaces are erased and destroyed.

Causes of dysplasia in dogs

TBS dysplasia in susceptible dogs will not be congenital, the pathology always develops after birth. But very often this ailment can be diagnosed at an early age: the first suspicions of a veterinarian may arise even at six months of age, but the growth of bone and cartilaginous tissue ends somewhere in a year and a half.

It was during this period that we can already say for sure whether the dog has problems with the musculoskeletal system. But why does hip dysplasia occur in a dog?

The main reason for the development of hip dysplasia is a genetic predisposition. At the genetic level, the baby is transferred to a tendency to pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.

However, even if the diagnosis was confirmed in one parent, this does not mean at all that the puppies will have problems with the musculoskeletal system.

But there are also predisposing factors that can provoke the development of pathology. If you take care of the puppy from a tiny age, you can avoid problems with the hip joints.

• Improper feeding. Most of the sores are due to the wrong diet of animals. If the puppy is fed only with meat or milk (only protein food) or given poor quality food, then problems with paws cannot be avoided.
• Excess calcium and phosphorus. Yes, these microelements are necessary for a growing body, they strengthen bones and cartilage tissue. However, if you overfeed them, then the bone tissue "oversaturated", the cartilaginous tissue will become too dense (elasticity will be lost). And instead of a shock-absorbing effect, when running and jumping, the animal harms its joints.
• Fast or very heavy weight gain. Extra pounds is just an additional load on the musculoskeletal and muscular systems. And if the dog is still trying to run, jump, then problems with joints cannot be avoided.
• Too active training and physical activity. Especially in puppyhood or old age, when bones and joints are vulnerable.
• As the complete opposite of the previous point, there is little activity. If the baby does not walk at all, only goes out into the street to do his business, then his joints will definitely develop incorrectly.
• Injuries, including sprains or sprains. That is why it is so important to make sure that the baby does not run on slippery floors (but on the street on ice). Cover the floors (linoleum, parquet, laminate, tiles) with carpets so that the pet does not "stretch" on the floor when it runs around playing.

Breed predisposition

Any dog \u200b\u200bcan develop dysplasia, but there is some predisposition. Some breeds get sick more often than others. Namely, large, massive and tall dogs, because their load on the musculoskeletal system is much more serious than that of medium or small dogs.

Also, dogs who have a lot of physical activity (service, driving) often suffer. What are these breeds? Great Danes, St. Bernards, Newfes, Shepherds, Rottweilers, Labradors and Golden Retrievers, Malamutes, divers and other representatives of the barking family.

Symptoms

It is not so difficult to recognize the symptoms of dysplasia, but the diagnosis can only be confirmed after additional research has been carried out. The most effective is the X-ray. The picture will show a gap between the articular surfaces of the bones or degeneration that has already begun. However, there are also visible clinical signs that the owner can notice without an X-ray.

It is possible to suspect something was wrong if the pet began to limp or stagger when walking ("throws" the pelvis).

• Notice how the dog runs. If he pushes off with both hind legs, then this is a signal that something is wrong with the limbs. This is considered to be inappropriate positioning of the paws.
• Think if the animal began to rest often during the walk. Runs less, plays less, and tries more and more to lie down or sit. It is noticeable that physical activity is given to him with difficulty.
• There was a certain stiffness in movements. For example, going down and up the stairs), and sometimes getting up from the floor became extremely difficult. Even raising a paw for a dog becomes a daunting task.
• The dog lies down unusually, spreading sore legs in different directions. In addition, it is noticeable how the load is transferred from the injured limbs to the healthy ones. Therefore, healthy paws become more massive (due to the fact that all work is redistributed to them), but patients, on the contrary, "lose weight", the muscles atrophy.
• With hip dysplasia, the affected joints swell, swell, and become extremely painful when touched and palpated.

Treating a dog with dysplasia

Treatment for dysplasia in dogs should be started as early as possible. There are 2 main types of therapy: surgical and medication. And only the veterinarian must decide how to treat the patient. The degree of damage, and the age of the animal, and its weight are taken into account.

With conservative treatment, the veterinarian prescribes chondroprotectors (accelerating the restoration of cartilage tissue), antispasmodics (to reduce pain), anti-inflammatory, vitamins and nutritional supplements that accelerate tissue regeneration. It is imperative to revise the diet, if necessary, put the dog on a diet so that he loses excess weight.

Physiotherapy helps to relieve painful sensations, relieves inflammation, and helps to quickly restore cartilage tissue. It is good to massage (only a professional should do this so as not to harm the dog). Both swimming and a very careful slow run are good as physiotherapy. However, active running and any jumping should immediately fall under the ban.

If the therapy is powerless or the degree of damage is so severe that no medications and physiotherapy procedures will help, then the veterinarian will recommend an operation. It is only necessary to make an X-ray before her in order to assess the severity of the pathology.

Surgery will help correct the size of the articular surface so that the bones fit perfectly together.

There are 3 ways out of the situation: excision of the femoral head and neck, osteotomy (altering the glenoid fossa so that the bone "falls" into it) and endoprosthetics (titanium prosthesis). In any of these cases, long-term rehabilitation is necessary, but after it the dog does not experience the slightest discomfort and happily runs and jumps.

Prevention

Prevention is not difficult.

• Do not strain your baby, do not force him to run and jump a lot. And also do not lock him at home, limiting his freedom. Secure the floor in the house so that the baby does not stretch out on the floor like a frog.
• Watch your diet. Enrich with all the vitamins and minerals you need, but remember that overfeeding protein foods and increased calcium and phosphorus can harm a growing body.
• Don't chase the animal, don't make it jump a lot. And it's not only about puppies, but about already adult dogs.
• Before adopting a puppy, make sure that the test for dysplasia in dogs (both parents) is passed and the result is negative. The breeder must have an official document in his hands, in which there must be a mark "A" (there are no pathological changes in the cartilaginous tissue). This, of course, is not a guarantee that the dog will have no dysplasia in the future, but still the risk of developing pathology is much lower.

Dysplasia is dangerous joint disease, which in dogs is not a congenital pathology, but is directly related to heredity. This disease mainly affects representatives of large breeds. Almost every puppy, which later grows into a dog of heavy constitution, is prone to illness. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose the disease even in puppyhood. Timely treatment will help protect the pet from serious consequences, including complete immobility.

Reasons for the appearance

Recently, dysplasia of the joints has been spreading at a rapid pace and taking on terrifying forms. Over the years of researching the disease, many experts have come to the conclusion that joint dysplasia is a genetically determined disease. Pathology is passed down from generation to generation.

However, there is an opinion that the disease can be acquired (as a result of injury). But this hypothesis is shattered by the fact that unhealthy puppies are more likely to be born to certain breeds. Moreover, in the same bitches and males.

In addition, the theory genetic predisposition also confirms that stray and mongrel dogs are not susceptible to disease, although more often pets are injured. Also, the disease develops in puppies resulting from "mixed marriages" between outbred representatives and individuals of breeds predisposed to dysplasia. Therefore, one can hardly think that the disease is acquired.

The role of hereditary predisposition to the onset of the disease is enormous. There are factors that contribute to the development of dysplasia in dogs:

• lack of essential vitamins and minerals;
• early and inappropriate physical activity;
• unbalanced diet;
• the wrong proportion of calcium and phosphorus;
• obesity;
• excess protein;
• diseases that lead to impaired development and growth of the animal.

All of the above factors have their place in the development of pathology, but their "contribution" to the appearance of the disease is no more than 5%.

Types of disease in dogs

Symptoms and illness, as mentioned, develop in large breeds of dogs - Labradors, Great Danes, Shepherds, St. Bernards and others. Dysplasia is a serious condition that leads to destruction of the hip, elbow, or knee joints. At the last stage of the disease, animals cannot move independently.

There are 5 degrees of dysplasia:

• 1 (A) - absence of joint disorders;
• 2 (B), 3 (C) - sometimes there are dislocations;
• 4 (D), 5 (E) - moderate and severe, which lead to serious and severe damage to the joints.

There is dysplasia of the hip, elbow, and knee joints.

Hip dysplasia (HJD)

In dogs, adverse events in the hip joint cause changes in the physiological location of the femoral head to the glenoid cavity. The main signs of animal behavior during such changes are:

The appearance of signs of hip dysplasia is determined by the severity of the disorders:

• with minor changes, the symptoms of the disease usually do not appear at all or develop only in old age;
• with significant changes in the hip joint, the signs of the disease will immediately become visible even with the correct maintenance of the puppy.

Elbow dysplasia

If the disease is concentrated in the elbow joint, then the following symptoms are observed:

• limping the dog on the front paws;
• unwillingness to give a paw on command;
• the appearance of thickenings or other fragments on the elbow joint;
• withdrawal of the limb on palpation of the neoplasm;
• refusal to go down the stairs.

Some symptoms of this type depend on the characteristics of the disease. For example, articular bones can thicken, causing friction, and conversely, shrink, creating a strong gap.

Knee dysplasia

Knee changes are uncommon in dogs and usually result from trauma or increased stress on the hind limbs. In such situations, the position of the bones changes according to the type of subluxation. Signs of knee dysplasia:

• visible deformity of the knee joints;
• soreness when feeling the knee;
• severe lameness in the hind legs.

To prevent the disease from developing, puppies of large breeds should create the correct conditions of detention and try to exclude the possibility of injury.

Diagnostics

Joint dysplasia is diagnosed by a veterinarian after a thorough examination of the animal and an X-ray examination. The doctor probes all the joints of the dog, assesses their mobility, listens for squeaks of friction when extending or flexing the limbs. An experienced veterinarian can in most cases make a diagnosis based on these examinations.

At the initial stage, the dog is shown an X-ray examination. The picture is taken after the introduction of anesthesia, since without this it is almost impossible to provide the animal's real estate. The picture shows the location of the femoral neck and glenoid cavity. The specialist determines the presence of deformation.

The rules that must be followed to obtain high-quality images:

• small dogs are examined only after 1 year of age, adults - after 1.5;
• each dog is removed 2 times;
• the picture is taken in the supine position of the animal on its back with legs extended parallel.

Arthroscopy is another examination, which will allow you to give an objective assessment of the condition of the joints and help determine dysplasia. This examination is endoscopic. Through a small puncture, a miniature camera is inserted into the joint area, with the help of which the specialist can see the cartilaginous structure. This procedure is very expensive and is not performed in all veterinary clinics.

After all the manipulations and studies, the doctor determines the degree of dysplasia and selects the treatment.

Treatment

Dysplasia in dogs is treated with medication and surgery. The choice of treatment method depends on the course of the disease, the individual characteristics of the body and the health of the dog. Therapy for dysplasia of the joints of the elbows can be carried out both conservatively and operatively. Treatment for hip dysplasia in dogs is usually surgery.

Conservative therapy

Medication treatment includes the use of drugs of different actions:

• hondoprotectors - preparations for the regeneration of joints;
• antispasmodics - to relieve pain;
• anti-inflammatory - aimed at relieving tissue inflammation.

But also dietary supplements with chondroitin and glucamine are prescribed to accelerate the recovery processes in the joints. Along with the use of dietary supplements and medicines, the dog is shown a special diet for weight loss with the simultaneous intake of vitamins and minerals.

Physiotherapy procedures can give a positive effect. The most popular and demanded are:

• laser and magnetic therapy;
• ozokerite or paraffin therapy;
• massage of a sore joint.

During treatment, the animal's motor activity is not excluded, but it should be restrained - light jogging, swimming, slow walks. You need to know that conservative therapy of TPA is only a temporary improvement in the condition, in which lameness is eliminated and pain is removed. Unfortunately, the destroyed joints are not restored. Therefore, veterinarians recommend surgical correction.

Surgical intervention

Surgery to treat dysplasia in dogs involves reshaping the femoral head to fit the size of the glenoid cavity. The complexity of the operation depends on the degree of the disease. In case of minor violations, the process consists in removing a small part of the cartilage. In severe cases the following operations are carried out:

1. Endoprosthetics - replacement of the hip joint with a titanium prosthesis. After recovery, the animal will move normally without any discomfort.
2. Osteotomy - changing the place of the articular notch and giving the physiological correct shape to the joint. If arthritis is present, aggravating dysplasia, this type of surgery is not performed.
3. Removal of the head and neck of the femur - the procedure does not involve replacement of the joint with an implant, but is associated with a long recovery period. After the final recovery, no symptoms of the disease remain, the dog can jump and run without restrictions.

The decision on the method of surgery is made by the veterinarian based on the condition of the dog and the diagnosis. With dysplasia, any operation is a delicate work that a surgeon can perform with high quality only with deep anatomical knowledge and extensive experience. Therefore, it is very important to find a good specialist.

Disease prevention

Preventive measures to prevent and prevent the development of pathology depend on the stage at which they are needed. You need to think about the absence of a disease in a puppy even before buying it. When choosing a large breed puppy, it is important to make sure that its parents have no disease. Their test results for dysplasia must correspond to grade A. The breeder is obliged to submit such a certificate along with the rest of the documents. Although even this does not give complete confidence that the dog will not develop a disease in the future.

In puppies 6 months old (and even older), dysplasia is very difficult to diagnose. But with a predisposition, the disease will still manifest itself someday. Therefore, it is necessary to start preventive measures as early as possible to prevent the risk of occurrence and development of consequences. Preventive measures include adequate exercise and balanced nutrition. With this approach, you can stop the further development of the disease, even if the puppy has begun the process of joint changes.

But if a large breed puppy begins to feed and subject to great physical exertion, then all this leads to an increase in the load on the joints and the development of pathology.

Any animal requires care and attention, especially if it is a large breed dog, which is at risk of joint diseases. However, you need to know that dysplasia is not a sentence. You can save your pet if you notice changes in time and start adequate treatment.

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