Clinical Signs of Canine Hip Dysplasia
Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) in its severest form can be diagnosed by clinical signs, but it usually requires radiographic evidence of hip joint laxity and/or the appearance of degenerative joing disorder to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.
There exists an acute and a severe form of CHD. An affected dog may have one or any combination of the following clinical signs:
Severe (Acute) Phase
- Presentation at five to 12 months of age,
- Overt pain, lameness, and functional deficits (low exercise tolerance, reluctance to climb stairs) and
- Other signs: audible "click" when walking, increased intertrochanteric width ("points of hips" are wider than normal), thigh muscle atrophy.
Mild (Chronic) Form
- Clinical signs ranging from none to mild,
- Mild discomfort and stiffness in geriatric years and
- Possible pain and crepitus on range of motion.
Clinical signs by themselves do not necessarily mean that a dog has hip dysplasia, other conditions of the hip can mimic CHD. A radiograph is essential for a more accurate assessment of the dog's hip joint integrity.