Dog Hip PainDog Hip Dysplasia and Hip Dysplasia in DogsDog hip pain is one of the most feared signs being a dog owner.What to look after and is this condition always caused by dog hip dysplasia? Top veterinary advice from by Dr Per Schonbeck
Dog hip pain can turn up in all ages. In the young dogs especially, you don't want to any signs of pain in the hind legs. This can be a sign of hip dysplasia. Hip pain from hip dysplasia in young dogs can vary a lot. Often I get suspicious if hind leg lameness show up in dogs being 6-9 months old. Sometimes the pain can become much better around age of 9-10 months. But, pain often returning at the age of 12-15 months. Dog hip pain signsYes, limping and lameness is obvious. This is obvious for most arthritis dog pain. Is there any other signs for you to be aware of? Sometimes you can hear the dog walking! I have had dogs with severe hip dysplasia and i could hear the femoral head moving out and in of the femoral joint. This is not a pleasing sound! Other signs as reluctant jumping, getting up or screaming in pain if moving "wrong" is other signs. Or perhaps the hind legs looses the muscle mass after some time. The one sign often showing if there is pain in the hips or not you extend the hip. I move the hind legs backwards, stretching the hip joint. Any pain? It will be very clear if something is wrong. Unless you are medical trained in some way, i would not recommend you to do this. If the movement is done wrong. Terrible strong pain is the result. X-ray Example of Hip Dyslpasia in DogsHer you have two pictures of dog hips. One is normal and the other is highly dysplatic. Can you see which one? Yes - the right one is the one having hip dysplasia. This is why dog hip pain can been seen in hip dysplasia. 
Could it be other things?Certainly. Dog hip pain can be caused by other things than hip dysplasia. Back leg lameness in dogs can also be:
Panostitis In young dogs growing fast it could also be Panostitis. Panostitis is painful bone disease. Often the lameness is moving from one leg to another within days. From the back and the to one front leg , and so on. They can have a temperature as well. This is not a disease coming very slowly, but often very fast. Anal Gland Infection Not that often seen in young dogs. Much more likely in middle to old dogs. Sudden infection in two sacs lying in the anal region can make the dog limping. Often also very red and saw in the region around the anus. It can smell as well, bad smell! This also is a disease most often appearing suddenly. Lyme disease and/or Anaplasma infection Tick borne diseases in Sweden. I admit my lacking experience regarding tick borne diseases in other countries. Probably there is some other candidates as well. In Sweden these two diseases is a major cause of dog lameness, both in young and older dogs. The symptoms varies a lot but it can be raised temperature, tiredness and joint pain. Often this is difficult diagnoses to make and the symptoms are not very distinct. Spondylosis Not seen in young dogs. Old dogs can sometimes develop bony bridges on the vertebrae. As long these not are total calcified certain movements can hurt. In the lumbar area this type of pain can mimic dog hip pain. Even if performing the back leg extending test you can see reaction. Lumbosacral instability Also called lumbosacral spondylopathy. As with spondylosis this can be clinical similar hip pain. It is more like a increased movement in the last lumbar vertebra and the sacrum. It can more or less be regarded as a herniation of the disc between these two structures. Not in young dogs (unless by accidents for example) and not in small dogs. Legg–Calvé–Perthes Disease seen in small dogs. The blood flow to the femoral head is interrupted. The head is becoming necrotic and signs of pain is obvious. This is in fact hip pain, but not because of dysplasia. Hip dysplasia can be seen in small dogs as well. x-ray will tell which one is the problem. Dog Arthritis Relevant Pages
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