Hip Dysplasia

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Dear Dr. Hannon,

My Labrador retriever, George W., was recently diagnosed with hip dyplasia. He is only nine months old, and he is already having problems. He cries when he gets up in the morning, and he limps sometimes after playing. My vet put him on Etogesic, and it makes him feel better, but it is so expensive. Can I give him aspirin or Advil instead?

- Gimpy Puppy

Dear Gimpy,

I am so sorry that your puppy has to endure this crippling disease at such a young age.

Hip dysplasia is a growth defect in which the bones that make up the hip joint don’t align properly, and the hip rubs abnormally or rides out of the socket when the hip is moved. Large breed dogs are most commonly predisposed, but any dog can be affected.

Although genetics play a role in its occurrence, rapid growth rates, often secondary to over-eating, are a common cause as well. When a dog gets fed too much protein, the soft tissues can grow at a faster rate than the bones, and then start to pull the joints out of alignment. This can happen to any joint, but the hips are most noticeably affected because of their structure and function.

Anti-inflammatories, such as Etogesic and Rimadyl, work well to treat the pain and inflammation associated with hip dysplasia, but they do little to help accommodate the changes that the joint is going through. Consider adding a dietary supplement containing glucosamine to help the joint remodel and grow more normally, and if you are still feeding your lab puppy food, ask your vet about switching to an adult diet, preferably one made for large breeds.

And please do not give your pet any over-the-counter anti-inflammatories without consulting with your veterinarian first. Even though some of these products can be used safely in dogs, the dosage is much different than it is for humans, and some of these products can have very dangerous side effects, such as stomach ulcers or liver failure.

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