Treatment for Hip Dysplasia at Our Austin Veterinary Clinic
Does your beloved pet struggle to stand up or lie down? Has walking, running, or climbing stairs become a dreaded challenge for him? If his back legs seem to be especially affected, the problem may be a degenerative hip condition known as dysplasia. The good news is that your pet doesn't to suffer a life of lameness and pain, not when he has Dessau Vet Clinic on his side. Our Austin veterinary clinic can provide many forms of care to help your faithful friend enjoy a higher quality of life.
A Painful Problem for Your Pet
Hip dysplasia in a condition in which the end of the femur, which makes up the ball of the hip joint, does not fit within the hip socket as precisely as it should. This appears to be an inherited trait in many breeds of dogs, including German Shepherds, Saint Bernards, Labrador Retrievers, and Great Danes. While hip dysplasia is more commonly seen in larger animals, it can sometimes affect smaller ones as well. Hip dysplasia may be evident from early life or it may develop later on as the femoral head degenerates, causing painful bone-on-bone friction and joint instability. Some of the classic signs of hip dysplasia include:
- Leg weakness and muscle shrinkage
- Painful response to being touched in the hip area
- A "bunny-hop" gait
- Clicking sounds when the hip joints are in motion
- Unwillingness or inability to participate in activities that require walking running, jumping, or climbing
- Difficulty sitting down or standing up
Hip dysplasia can vary in seriousness from one pet to the next. Some animals may find it only an annoyance, while others are completely incapacitated by it.
How Your Austin Veterinarian Can Help
Your Austin veterinarian at Dessau Vet Clinic, Dr. Campbell or Dr. Waage, can help your pet feel and function better. We can detect hip dysplasia in its early stages through X-rays and other evaluations. Depending on the stage and severity of your pet's dysplasia, we may recommend:
- Physical therapy to strengthen your pet's hip muscles, lending the hips the extra support they need.
- Anti-inflammatory medications, nutritional supplements, or diets.
- Pain-relieving drugs.
- Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis or triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO), corrective surgeries often prescribed for younger animals.
- Surgical removal of the femoral head, with scar tissue growing to take its place in the joint.
- Total hip replacement surgery.
Call Our Animal Hospital for a Consultation
Whatever kind of hip dysplasia care your pet may need, our Austin animal hospital can provide it. Call Dessau Vet Clinic at (512) 339-3177 to schedule a consultation!