Canine Hip Dysplasia

Abstract

Hip dysplasia is the bad formation of the coxofemoral joints, happening in all the races, mainly in the big ones and of fast growth. Its transmission is hereditary, recessive, intermittent and polygenic. Nutritionals, biomechanicals and environmental factors, associated to the hereditary, they worsen the dysplasia condition. The suspicion to the clinical exam is possible, but it is the radiographic study, usually to the twelve months of age in most of the races, by means of correct positioning of the animal, that defines the diagnosis. For so much the patient should be free from any reaction. This state is reached with the general anesthesia, of preference. The patient should be positioned in dorsal recumbency, pelvic limbs in posterior extention, of the same length, parallel to each other and in relation to the spine, medially rotated, in such a way that the patellas are centered over the femur. The pelvis cannot be inclined. In the minimum identification of the film it should consist the number of registration of the dog, birth's date and date of the radiographic exam. The subluxation, usually as first radiographic sign, can take to the secondary artrosis, like this denominated by developing secondarily to another alteration, in the case the dysplasia. The control of this bad formation is made through a radiographic selection of all animals used in the reproduction. The index of Norberg is used for the diagnosis. Nowadays the treatment has based on products that regenerate the degenerated joint cartilage.