The false joint is less stable with a reduced range of motion than the normal joint, which in turn, can cause an abnormal gait.

Surgical options included a femoral head and neck excision, which eliminates hip pain by removing the femoral head and neck and initiating the development of a fibrous false joint that permits ambulation. “We thought there was a better way to treat her.” “We didn’t want to medicate our dog for the rest of her life,” Karen said. However, these medications can have side effects such as gastrointestinal upset and the formation of ulcers or even liver and kidney damage. These drugs inhibit prostaglandin release, which decreases the inflammatory process and therefore, less pain is produced. The most common are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers, which can be used during bouts of lameness and pain. Numerous drugs are available to control the signs of osteoarthritis brought on by hip dysplasia. There are also cases of later onset, where hip dysplasia develops later due to osteoarthritis, a form of joint inflammation (arthritis) that is characterized by chronic deterioration or degeneration of the joint cartilage. Early onset usually develops after four months of age. When dogs present later in life, as with Savannah and Nola, the pain from hip dysplasia is due to the development of osteoarthritis. Early in the progression of the disease when dogs are only months of age, the pain from hip dysplasia results from the laxity in the hip joint. The signs of hip dysplasia can begin when dogs are still young and physically immature. Small breed dogs can also be affected, but are less likely to show clinical signs. Large and giant breeds are most commonly affected, including the Great Dane, Saint Bernard, Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd Dog. Gender does not seem to be a factor, but some breeds are more likely to have a genetic predisposition for hip dysplasia than other breeds. Hip dysplasia is one of the most common skeletal diseases seen in dogs. Osteoarthritis is a form of joint inflammation (arthritis) that is characterized by chronic deterioration or degeneration of the joint cartilage, which results in pain and decreased function of the joint. Laxity and incongruity of the hip joint leads to abnormal wear and tear in the joint, resulting in pain and inflammation, and eventually the development of osteoarthritis. In a dysplastic hip, the head of the femur and acetabulum just do not fit together properly.” “The ball is the head of the femur and the socket is the acetabulum of the pelvis. “The hip is a ball-and-socket joint,” explained Dr. Therapeutic options included pain medication or surgery. Pulice, a Penn Vet grad and member of the Penn Vet Dean’s Alumni Council, took X-rays and diagnosed Savannah with severe hip dysplasia. One day when she tried to get up, she just yelped.” Karen and her husband rushed Savannah to their veterinarian, Dominick Pulice, VMD, of Perkiomen Animal Hospital. “Her symptoms came on suddenly right after she turned four years old. “Savannah came from a puppy mill,” Karen said. Karen and her husband had already undergone a similar experience with their other German Shepherd, Savannah, successfully treated with total hip replacement surgery by Kimberly Agnello, DVM, MS DACVS, orthopedic surgeon at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital. When Karen Raspatello realized her dog, Nola, might be suffering from hip dysplasia, she knew what she was in for.

Xray in normal hip extra