Keeping canines in an active state of being is a significant task. If there are any orthopedic problems in dogs, they should be dealt with immediately. Orthopedic conditions are issues that influence the bones, joints, or muscles in canines. The most common orthopedic conditions in dogs incorporate dysplasia of the hips or elbows, arthritis, cruciate tendon tears, and much more.

Any dog with a different gender, age, or breed can be affected by orthopedic problems. The following components can be a factor in which it is more likely to affect your dog. Treatments for these types of disorder include Orthopedic surgery in dogs, change in exercises, and medication. The treatments vary from the dog’s exercise routine, daily diet, or surgery. Below is the rundown of the top 6 common orthopedic disorders in canines.

6 Most Common Orthopedic Problems in Dogs

Let us begin with the top 6 most common orthopedic health conditions in dogs!

Hip Dysplasia

The first is hip dysplasia, which can be described as one or more hip joints forming abnormally in dogs. It leads to grinding against one another. With time, this can prompt a breakdown that can be difficult, uneasy, and conceivable loss of movement in the affected joints.

It is a hereditary problem in bigger canine varieties like Bulldogs, Retrievers, Rottweilers, St. Bernards, and Mastiffs. Though inherited, some determinants affect the development of hip dysplasia in canines. For instance, their diet, weight, exercise, and how fast they grow.

Treatments through surgery are designed to restore mobility and function in canines when it comes to hip dysplasia. When discussing surgery, there are three options with unique benefits. Total Hip Replacement, Femoral Head Osteotomy, and A Double or Triple Pelvic Osteotomy, THR provide the best results. When price is your concern, then FHO is the best option.

Intervertebral Disc Disease

Next, we have Intervertebral disc disease in dogs, also known as IVDD. It usually targets the spine of a dog. The condition can also affect canines with different ages as well as breeds, such as elongated backs and short or curved legs that make them tend toward one of the three types of IVDD:

• Type 1: It happens when the dog’s spinal disc ruptures, creating difficulty for them to walk. It is the most common IVDD type in canines such as Dachshunds, Toy Poodles, Shih Tzus, Beagles, and Basset Hounds.
• Type 2: In this type, the outer part of the dog’s spinal cord starts bulging, compressing the spine and leading to type 1 rupture. This IVDD type is common in medium to large-size middle-aged dogs.
• Type 3: This type causes an outer tear in the spine that is caused due to physical trauma or excessive exercise.
• If the dog is diagnosed with IVDD, it will likely require surgery to treat it. A few mild cases may be treatable through pain-management medications and restricted movement. Still, some canines may not walk appropriately without mobility devices.

Torn Cruciate Ligament

Just like humans, canines can strain and tear their ligaments or tendons. The Cranial Cruciate Ligament in dogs is equivalent to the ACL in humans. These essential tendons join your canine shin to their thigh bone and permit the proper knee movements.

“A critical injury like CCL can happen in two ways. The initial one was through overexercise. The second occurs over time without permitting the affected joint to rest and heal. Dogs can’t communicate when a sprain is developing. So, if a canine runs and plays while having an injured ligament, then there are chances that it will damage it further.”

It can happen to any canine who is attempting to overexert themselves. Research shows that particular varieties might be bound to foster it more than others.

Luxated Patella

Luxation means something that is dislocated or not in the correct place. You might observe that sometimes canines with the luxating patella skip a step, limp, or utilize only three legs.

Small dog breeds such as Bichon Frise, French Poodles, Maltese, and Chihuahuas all have some genetic predisposition to dislocated knees. It is reflected in the ligament that joints patella to the remainder of the leg, making it wear out and permitting it to dislocate inwards.

Depending on the condition, treatments may range from the medications of anti-inflammatory medicines to surgeries. Surgeries to fix a luxating patella may reconstruct soft tissues to assist in keeping the patella in place. It also depends on the patella’s groove to keep it still or fix abnormally shaped bones to reduce abnormalities.

Arthritis

Another prevalent orthopedic condition in dogs is arthritis. It causes inflammation and swelling of the joints, avoids playing and exercise, and causes pain and stiffness in the legs, shoulders, and elbows. The Achilles tendon dogs are composed of various muscles. Healthy canines also get arthritis as they get older. Vets are prescribed several treatments, such as acupuncture, anti-inflammatories, cold laser therapy, physical rehabilitation, and more. Veterinarians ensure your dog receives the treatments and care for a good quality of life.

Osteochondritis

A developmental bone disease that causes different defects and disfigurements in the skeletal framework, regularly influencing the growth plates at the end of the dog bones. It usually occurs in large breed dogs that are between the age of 6 to 9 months. It usually occurs more in males. The cause has not yet been discovered.

In any case, this issue is normal in canines with excess energy, calcium, and protein in their eating routine. Other determinants include growth, trauma, genetics, hormonal factors, and less blood flow.

Closure
That’s all about the most common dog orthopedic conditions you should know. If your canine is showing signs of joint problems or any other orthopedic issues, contact specialists such as Safari Veterinary Care Centers or Animal Hospital Pearland to get your dog treated as soon as possible. You can go through the above guide to get some details about the common orthopedic disorders of dogs in dogs, and if your pet is in a similar situation, seek assistance immediately.

The post 6 Most Common Dog Orthopedic Conditions Every Pet Owner Must Know In Pearland, TX appeared first on Veterinarians In League City, TX | Safari Veterinary Care Center.