Causes and Treatment of Labrador Hip Problems
For the most part, Labrador hip problems happen to only dogs and as such, you don’t hear as much about them in the news as other canine diseases. This is probably because hip dysplasia is a condition that is most commonly found in dogs. However, it can affect other dogs as well, so it’s important to know about this condition and what to do if your dog develops it.
Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition. It means that you have dogs that develop abnormal joint mobility. These dogs will be unable to walk on their own, turn around, or otherwise maneuver themselves around on their hind legs. When walking on their hind legs, they will have to stop every few steps to take a step forward. Or they will simply lose balance and trip over.
It’s not completely clear why dogs develop this condition, but it is known that they contract osteoarthritis in their hip joints at some point in their life. Unfortunately, this osteoarthritis is hereditary and passed down from generation to generation within the breed. The symptoms will only become apparent in adulthood. So, unless you know your family history, you may not know that you have Labrador hip problems without seeing the symptoms.
Labradors are susceptible to some different injuries, which can result in this condition.
Some of these include broken hips, dislocated knees, twisted ankles, fractures, arthritis, and more. Most of these conditions can be treated fairly easily by veterinarians. However, treatment for hip dysplasia can be more complicated. Depending on how far along the condition is, treatment may include surgery, physical therapy, braces, and even weight-loss medications.
Treatment for these hip problems may depend on how advanced the injury is. In some cases, the dog can simply be corrected via surgery. In other cases, the hip may have to be removed, or the joint replaced, to correct the problem. If the hip is out of place, as it is with large breeds like Labradors, the surgery may involve the insertion of a bone screw.
To avoid future occurrences of Labrador hip problems, pet owners need to understand the causes of this condition. Because of its size, this breed tends to experience a lot of stress on its joints. It is also prone to over-exertion because of its short, sturdy frame. These types of exercise requirements can lead to muscle fatigue and a decrease in flexibility. Because of this, the joint that connects the head to the hip, called the femur, will not be able to provide the strength required to protect and secure the joint.
Because of how Labradors tend to move, they often develop poor posture.
They may appear hunched over or have an improperly shaped tail. They also have problems walking on their tiptoes, so they may trip over and pull a muscle. The improper style of walking, combined with their large weight and awkward gait, may lead to Labrador hip problems. Heavy breeds like border collies can easily develop hip dysplasia or patellar luxation.
As previously mentioned, hip dysplasia is the most common cause of Labrador hip problems. A normal gait pattern should continue even after age ten, but many Labrador dogs begin to have hip problems at an early age, often as young as two or three years of age. Treatment may include physical therapy to rehabilitate the dog’s gait and may include a correction of the dog’s posture. Surgery may be needed in some extreme cases.
Patellar luxation is another possible cause of this painful disease.
This condition occurs when the kneecap rotates out of line with the femur. This causes pain and swelling around the hip joint, making it difficult to walk. Treatment may include physical therapy and a corrective hip strap. In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary to correct this problem.
Of course, there are other potential causes of Labrador hip problems. However, the symptoms listed above are the most common reasons for these types of problems. Other conditions that have similar symptoms but are less common include patellar tendonitis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis in cats.
Treatment of Labrador hip problems is usually fairly simple. As previously mentioned, prevention is always better than cure. Preventing this disease requires feeding your dogs a healthy diet and making sure they have plenty of exercises. Regular visits to the vet and the use of a good quality pet medication can help to prevent hip problems. If treatment is needed, your vet can prescribe a variety of treatments including physical therapy and surgery.
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