Boxer Dog Hip Dysplasia

buffy4
Buffy here, and as a girl with Boxer Dog Hip Dysplasia, I can tell you from experience that is a painful disease, but one that can be managed with the proper medication. Although no medicine can cure Hip Dysplasia, we can live long and happy lives if properly cared for.

Any true diagnosis of Hip Dysplasia (HD) must be made with expert X-rays. This involve taking X-rays of the joint and having them read by a professional.

Reliable diagnosis of HD cannot be made without X-rays and proper evaluation of them.


Bad Hip. Note the almost flat socket	Good Hip. Nice Rounded Socket

HD does not mean you must put your baby down. Because HD is caused by many reasons, some cases are more severe than others. Some of us may have HD and you not know it unless it is tested for. Some of us may have more pain, but it can be controlled with proper exercise and a vet supervised aspirin regiment.

Of course if your baby has Hip Dysplasia you should have them neutered. This is the only known way of eliminating the disease. Please do your part, and neuter your pet so more babies are not born with this affliction. Breeders, you have a special responsibility to screen any of your dogs for HD and not pass this down to the next generation. A little note from mom and dad.

Mom and dad have made a decision not to include any breeder recommendations on this site for this reason. It is very difficult to determine which breeders truly care about the animal and those who are only in it for the money. They know there are good breeders, but with the number of babies that need adoption, they feel this is a better option for those who want a pet.

Now back to the topic at hand....

In young babies it is good advice to keep him from doing any kind of jumping or any other activity that can stress the joint. I know, this can be difficult. Boxers with Hip Dysplasia need non stressful exercise in order to add muscle to support the hip joint. In older dogs, like me, exercise is still important and weight control is as well. A warm soft bed helps ease the joint pressure as well.

Some the medicine commonly used is listed here

Acetaminophen
For mild to moderate hip dysplasia in Boxers, your veterinarian may recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol®, Panadol®, Exdol®, etc.) to relieve pain. Since acetaminophen is only a pain reliever and has no anti-inflammatory properties, it can generally be safely combined with anti-inflammatory medications when recommended by a vet.

Too-high doses of acetaminophen can cause liver damage so seek a vet's advice before administering acetaminophen.

NSAIDs
NSAIDs are a type of medication that helps reduce pain and swelling of the joints and decreases stiffness. When taken at a low dose, NSAIDs reduce pain; when taken at a higher dose, NSAIDs can also reduce inflammation. NSAIDs such as ASA (Aspirin®, Anacin®, etc.) can be purchased without a prescription. NSAIDs do not prevent joint damage and when used over the long-term, may accelerate joint breakdown. Taking more than one NSAID at a time increases the possibility of heartburn and severe side effects such as ulcers and bleeding. (Special buffered ASA is available for dogs.) The newer sub-class of NSAIDs called Cox 2 Inhibitors includes (Rimadyl® (carprofen), Metacam® (meloxicam) and Etogesic® (etodolac).
Ibuprofen is toxic to a dog's kidneys.

Cortisone
Cortisone is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation and swelling. For severe pain and inflammation, veterinarians may inject a corticosteroid, such as cortisone, directly into the affected joint. Cortisone mimics the anti-inflammatory effects of cortisol, which is a hormone naturally produced by the body. Although corticosteroids closely resemble cortisol, they exert a much more powerful anti-inflammatory effect. An injection can provide almost immediate relief for a tender, swollen and inflamed joint.

See my boxer dog hip dysplasia warnings for the above medication. Remember, always seek the advice of you vet.

Mom helped me with an aspirin regiment along with some natural herbs, such as Chondroitin Sulfate 200mg daily. Glucosamine 500mg daily helped as well, Vitamin C ascorbic acid form and MSM starting at 500mg daily increasing up to 2000mg daily if needed.

Surgery Options

Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO)
In this procedure the head (or ball) of the femur is removed. The remaining part of the femur forms a false joint with the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the area. Even though this false joint is not as good as a real joint, there is a significant reduction in pain. Almost any sized dog can have this procedure even though it is much more effective in smaller dogs. This should be done before your boxer is full grown. Obese dogs and those with significant loss of muscle do not do as well. Compared to the other types of surgery this one is much more basic, yet many pets that have this surgery return to almost normal function.

Obie had this done to his hip because he cracked it as a new born pup and it was not noticed until he got older. This was very successful for him.

Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO)
This surgery is used in large breed dogs no older than 10 months of age. Candidates for this surgery can only have mild hip dysplasia and no signs of secondary arthritis. During the procedure the pelvis is cut and rotated slightly so that the head of the femur has a tighter fit into the socket. Since the pelvis is being cut it needs to be stabilized with bone plates.

Total Hip Replacement (THR)
In this procedure the neck and head of the femur are replaced with stainless steel or titanium implants. This is a highly specialized procedure performed only by select veterinarians. It is used in young dogs that have achieved most of their skeletal growth and in adult dogs that weigh at least 40 pounds. It can be used in dogs that already have secondary arthritis, unlike the TPO. It has a high success rate but has to be performed carefully because if post operative complications occur they can be disastrous.

Unfortunately there is no known cure for Hip Dysplasia except for careful breeding of babies without Hip Dysplasia. Even then some may end up with the disease later in life. So please have your baby spayed or neutered if they are only a pet and if you breed your boxers, have them certified hip dysplasia free by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals before breeding.

Even with diseases such as Hip Dysplasia, we can live full and happy lives if we are properly cared for. Many families unfortunately, do not spend the time or the money required to help a sick pup. The money invested in keeping a healthy pup will be returned a hundred times over with unwavering love, devotion, laughs and protection from us. That is all we have to give, but we do not hesitate at all to do our part in this cherished relationship

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