Friday, January 25, 2013

What Do You Know About Canine Hip Dysplasia?

By Geraldine Dimarco


Do you know what canine hip dysplasia is? Dog hip dysplasia is a condition wherein the canine thigh ball socket is not fitted right with the hip bone. It may be an inherent skeletal deformity, or it may be that the tissue connecting the ball and socket is not cohesive enough to keep it perfectly fitted together. This significantly decreases the dog's mobility as it causes extreme pain even in the simplest movements.

Sometimes hip dysplasia is caused when a puppy gets injured in his legs and did not receive the proper medical attention. Oftentimes though, it is a genetic ailment that develops as the puppy matures. When the canine is not given the appropriate treatment at the right time, sometimes he will not be able to walk at all.

Does this seem scary? It's a sad fact for some dogs but there are options to help you deal with it. Surgery is used to correct physical deformities of your pet's skeletal structure. The thing is, surgery itself might be a bit too costly; not to mention the hospital visits and maintenance. Now, don't feel bad if this is you. You can use a natural treatment for hip dysplasia that many pet owners have availed of successfully.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin are two elements that can help in restoring the damaged cartilage and joint tissues of the dog. While these natural supplements are not going to help in pain management, you will be happy to see a significant improvement in your dog's functioning after about 6 weeks of consistent use. Glucosamine and Chondroitin are generally safe but your dog will have to be on it all the time.

MSM or Methyl-sulfonyl-methane lowers joint inflammation and improves the condition of the connective tissues. This will lessen the pain that your dog will feel. Herbs like dandelion, alfalfa, yucca, licorice and rosemary will also help in alleviating arthritis painful effects.

Feed your dog a healthy diet that is rich in fatty acids and vitamins C and E. It is vital that you monitor their food intake because weight maintenance is critical in a disease such as this. You should integrate light exercise as recommended by your vet, with the natural treatment for hip dysplasia as previously mentioned.

The exercises that you can put your dog through should be very easy on the ligaments and joints. Frisbee, for example, places too much undue stress on the joints, harming his lifestyle later on in his senior years. Try swimming, walking and slow stair walking. Remember that the objective in engaging him in physical activity is not just to develop muscle but to build a wider range of movements. The best thing you can do for your pet is to keep his ideal weight and enhance his immune system.

Hopefully, these helpful tips on canine hip dysplasia will equip you to deal with your dogs condition effectively. Make sure that your dog has a healthy lifestyle and maintain regular visits to the vet. Enjoy quality bonding time with your pet!




About the Author:



No comments: