WHAT IS IT

"Hip dysplasia" simply stated means an "abnormal formation" of the hip joint. Think of the condition first as a looseness in a joint that should be snug - then most of the problems attendant to hip dysplasia are a result of this "looseness".  

The normal anatomy of the hip joint is a classic Ball and Socket joint.  The head of the femur (the "Ball") is supposed to match the acetabulum (the "Socket").  A good hip joint has a neat, snug fit between the ball and socket - that is, the head of the femur should not be slipping and slopping around somewhere in the neighborhood of the acetabulum!

Symptoms:
Less energy and movement; difficulty rising; lameness in the back legs; reluctance to use stairs (particularly to go up); reluctance to jump or stand on hind limbs; swaggering gait, bunny-hopping gait; soreness after lying down; soreness after heavy exercise.

Treatment:
There are conservative, or non-surgical, methods for treating hip dysplasia, such as pain medications, weight loss programs, controlled exercise, and physical therapy. These methods can be very effective in certain cases. However, conservative treatments do have their limitations.

The other option is surgery. There are two surgical approaches for dealing with hip dysplasia: prophylactic procedures, which are designed to prevent the progression of arthritis, and therapeutic procedures, which aim to treat or salvage already arthritic hips.