What causes canine hip dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia in dogs is primarily caused by genetics though it can also be a result of the dog’s diet or an injury. If one or both parent animals carry the genetic trait for hip dysplasia, it will be passed on to their offspring. Therefore, the only effective measure to prevent the disease is to not allow dogs with hip dysplasia to breed. However, not all animals with dog hip dysplasia show signs of the disease until they are older and beyond their breeding years. It has also been recently discoverd that the dog’s diet can be a direct cause of hip dysplasia. To reduce the risk of developing canine hip dysplasia, puppies of mid to large size dog breeds should be fed a special diet during their first year. Finally, injuries to a young pup, incurred before or after birth, can also cause the condition. What are the clinical signs and symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs? A dog with hip dysplasia generally becomes less active and seems to have little energy. The animal may have difficulty ris
