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German Shepherd
Hip Dysplasia
Signs & Treatments
German Shepherd Dogs
German Shepherd Dogs
Are German Shepherds Prone to Hip Dysplasia?
Unfortunately yes. Hip dysplasia is genetic and the first thing you need to do is to check if the breeder certified the hips of the parents if you’re looking into having a German Shepherd puppy. As a result of selection of particular features during the breeding of German Shepherd dogs, they are commonly affected with a hip disease characterised by excessive laxity in the joint (the ball moves too much within its socket) or excessive shallowness of the hip socket joint. In time this leads to painful arthritis.
Hip Dysplasia Signs and Symptoms
Hip Dysplasia Symptoms in Puppies
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Unsteady Gait
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Reluctance to run, play, or go upstairs
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Limping
Unsteady Gait
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Bunny Hopping
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Difficulty lying down or standing up
Hip Dysplasia Symptoms in Adults
A German Shepherd is full grown after the age of two, so if any of these symptoms show up after that time, your dog is considered an adult. This is mostly important for determining treatment options. As you’ll note, most of these are the same as the puppy symptoms.-
Unsteady Gait
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Reluctance to run, play, or go upstairs
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Loose hip joints
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Decreased activity level
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Weakness in the back end
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Limping
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Bunny Hopping
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Difficulty lying down or standing up
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Crying when hips are touched
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Back legs held close together
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Swaying while walking
Hip Dysplasia Treatments
Physical therapy
Hydrotherapy and heating therapy can be helpful to aid in healing and relieve joint pain.
Joint supplements
A special diet with supplements to support joint health can make a big difference.
Surgery
Some puppies with severe dysplasia may be recommended for less-intensive corrective surgery. In other cases, adults with severe arthritis and joint damage may need a hip replacement or surgery to remove the top of the femur.
Home Remedies for Hip Dysplasia/Athritis in German Shepherds
Weight Control
Extra weight to carry puts extra pressure on their joints. Put your GSD on a diet and encourage it to exercise if obesity is a problem.Moderate Exercise
Don’t do intense exercise. If you have slippery floors, you may need to provide some traction so that your dog doesn't slip and re-injure their hip. Short walks and swimming are great ways to develop muscles to support loose joints.
Buy Ramps and small steps
Try to remove the need for your dog to use stairs. For example, keep his food, water, bedding, and toys on the same level of the house where you let him out for walks. That way, he will have everything he needs in one place and not need to climb stairs if he is not up to it.Gentle Massages
The best times are when waking up, before and after play time, and right before bed.
Apply heat to affected areas
Heat increases circulation, stimulates muscles, and lessens pain. Our Targeted Heating Therapy Braces has 3 temperature options and available for elbow, hip and spine.
Hip Dysplasia Treatments
Physical therapy
Hydrotherapy and heating therapy can be helpful to aid in healing and relieve joint pain.Joint supplements
A special diet with supplements to support joint health can make a big difference.Anti-inflammatory medications
Your vet may prescribe anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving medication.Surgery
Some puppies with severe dysplasia may be recommended for less-intensive corrective surgery. In other cases, adults with severe arthritis and joint damage may need a hip replacement or surgery to remove the top of the femur.Home Remedies for Hip Dysplasia/Athritis in German Shepherds
Weight Control
Extra weight to carry puts extra pressure on their joints. Put your GSD on a diet and encourage it to exercise if obesity is a problem.Moderate Exercise
Don’t do intense exercise. If you have slippery floors, you may need to provide some traction so that your dog doesn't slip and re-injure their hip. Short walks and swimming are great ways to develop muscles to support loose joints.Buy Ramps and small steps
Try to remove the need for your dog to use stairs. For example, keep his food, water, bedding, and toys on the same level of the house where you let him out for walks. That way, he will have everything he needs in one place and not need to climb stairs if he is not up to it.Gentle Massages
The best times are when waking up, before and after play time, and right before bed.Apply heat to affected areas
Heat increases circulation, stimulates muscles, and lessens pain. Our Targeted Heating Therapy Braces has 3 temperature options and available for elbow, hip and spine.
Hip Dysplasia Treatments
The application of heat is used to reduce stiffness and muscle spasms, increase blood flow and relieve pain,
which is helpful for ongoing conditions such as chronic pain, arthritis and hip dysplasia in your German
Shepherd. By reducing stiffness, heat therapy helps to improve joint range of motion during and after
exercise. In addition to these healing benefits, heat therapy provides comfort, relaxation and anxiety
reduction.
Wanna Learn More About PetieTec Heated Therapy Braces?
Stimulate Blood Circulation
Reduce Joints Stiffness
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia Pain Relief
Home-used heat therapy for recovery
Work Well with Other Therapies
Other German Shepherd Joint Problems
Elbow dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia is the same problem as hip dysplasia but at a different joint. In either case, there are a few treatment options. Diet can help reduce inflammation, and keeping a healthy weight will reduce the strain on the joint. Warm and dry sleeping areas help manage the pain and inflammation as well, especially if arthritis has set in.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the inflammation of the joints and most often seen in senior dogs. You may notice your dog moving a bit more slowly and having trouble with stairs. With less cartilage, bones can grind against each other and cause inflammation.
Degenerative Myelopathy
Similar symptoms might occur with nerve degeneration as seen with dysplasia, however, myopathies aren’t happening in the joint, it’s the deterioration of the spinal cord itself, causing muscular weakness and an unsteady gate. It is not painful but affects the quality of life, and often causes complete debilitation within a few years.
Panosteitis
A dozen or so of the 130 breeds recognized by the AKC become affected with panosteitis. A sudden lameness characterizes the disease, and diagnosis might include gait and motion analysis, comparison t other limbs, a verbal report from the owner, or x-rays.
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