Golden Retriever Hip Dysplasia Disease
Hip dysplasia is a common disease among young dogs of almost all breeds. It is characterized by the poor formation of the hip joints. Unsteady hip joints are common with larger breeds, but hip dysplasia can be a serious problem capable of limiting your golden retriever’s physical activity. What many golden retriever owners don’t realize is that hip dysplasia is a disease passed by the dogs to their litters, and the disease gets worse as the dog having the disease grows older.
The signs and symptoms of hip dysplasia are extremely hard to detect in golden retriever puppies, but will eventually become noticeable as soon as the puppy reaches 9 months of age. You can take your golden retriever to the veterinarian and have your dog checked for signs and symptoms of hip dysplasia. However, your vet may tell you that you need to wait until your dog reaches a certain age before the vet can check for signs and symptoms of the disease.
The signs and symptoms of hip dysplasia vary but the most common is crippling or the lack of ability to walk properly. On the positive side, this disease can get bet better once the dog gets older: the joints stabilize, inflammation improves, and the muscles become stronger and more mature. Golden retrievers with hip dysplasia when they were young, though, will have a greater probability of developing arthritis when they become older.
Your veterinarian can recommend certain drugs to help you manage your dog’s weight and help control the disease. These drugs are also capable of reducing the pain and thus allow your golden retriever to enjoy itself as much as possible. Even though golden retrievers that suffer from hip dysplasia can live a long and healthy life, they still are not suitable for breeding.
Hip Dysplasia
You have to be cautious of your golden retriever because it may not show any signs of hip dysplasia at all until it reaches a few years of age, when its muscles start to wear down and the damage to the hip muscles start to become apparent. Even though your dog is energetic and healthy during its younger years, hip dysplasia can take your dog’s vigor away, making your dog suffer from the physical attributes of arthritis and look as if it is old.
You can always opt to have your dog undergo surgery to eliminate the pain of hip dysplasia. X-rays won’t pinpoint pain, but you’ll know that your dog is in pain by its limping or slow walking. Even though you know they are in pain, golden retrievers won’t normally show any sign of hurting as they have a high tolerance for pain. Hence, you should help your dog in any way you can. Even with hip dysplasia, it can still feel better, only if you do your part and provide the help it needs.