Hip dysplasia is a developmental condition in which the hip joint does not form as a snug ball and socket, allowing looseness that leads to wear and arthritis. It begins while a dog is still growing, not in old age. Bunny hopping, reluctance on stairs, a swaying back end or difficulty rising all deserve attention early.
The mistake almost every owner makes
Most people first hear the phrase when an older dog is struggling to get up, so they file it under things that happen to elderly dogs. In reality the joint changes are usually well underway before the first birthday, and often the very early signs appeared in a puppy that everyone thought was simply clumsy or lazy.
That matters because the window in which growth, weight and exercise can be influenced is the window that closes first. A dog identified at seven months has options that a dog identified at seven years does not.
Right now in Bowness there is a cohort of spring puppies coming through the four to nine month range. If you brought home a large breed puppy in April or May, this is exactly the stage where a watchful eye pays off.
What is actually happening in the joint
A healthy hip is a deep socket holding a well-shaped ball, with the two surfaces gliding smoothly against each other. In a dysplastic hip, the socket may be shallow, the ball may be poorly shaped, and the supporting soft tissues may be lax. The result is a joint that moves more than it should.
That extra movement grinds the joint surfaces against each other in ways they were not built for. The cartilage wears, the body lays down new bone at the margins in an attempt to stabilise things, inflammation follows, and osteoarthritis develops. The arthritis you see in an eight year old dog is the end of a process that started when they were a puppy.
What owners notice, by age
In young dogs, roughly four to twelve months, the signs are easy to explain away:
- Bunny hopping, where both back legs move together when running
- A swaying or wobbly back end when walking
- Reluctance to jump into the car or onto furniture, or to use stairs
- Sitting with the legs out to one side rather than tucked underneath
- Getting up slowly, or in stages, especially after a nap
- Stopping partway through a walk, or lying down during play
- An audible click from the back end when moving
- Narrow, close-set back legs, and thighs that look underdeveloped compared with the shoulders
In adults, the pattern shifts toward stiffness that is worst after rest and eases with gentle movement, difficulty with stairs and slippery floors, muscle loss over the hindquarters with a correspondingly heavier looking front end, irritability when the back end is handled, and a general drop in enthusiasm that owners often attribute to maturity.
Calgary weather adds a seasonal signal. As mornings cool through September and October, stiffness that was invisible in July becomes obvious in the first ten minutes of the day. If your dog has become noticeably slower to get going as the temperature drops, that is worth mentioning rather than accepting.
Which dogs are affected
It is most common in large and giant breeds, including German Shepherds, Labrador and Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands and Mastiffs. Smaller dogs and cats can be affected too, though it is recognised far less often in them because their body weight puts less demand on the joint.
Genetics set the baseline, which is why asking a breeder about hip screening in the parents is a fair and useful question. What happens after that is influenced by things within your control: growth rate, body weight, diet and the type of exercise a puppy does.
The three things that make the biggest difference in a growing dog
Growth rate comes first. A large breed puppy who grows too quickly puts more load through joints that are still forming. Feeding a diet formulated for large breed growth, and feeding to a measured amount rather than leaving food available all day, is one of the most useful things an owner can do. This is a genuinely individual calculation based on breed, projected adult size and body condition, which is what our nutrition counselling service is for.
Body condition comes second, and it never stops mattering. Every extra kilogram is load through a joint that is already working harder than it should. Keeping a dog lean is the single most effective long-term measure, and it costs nothing. Our guide to healthy weight in Bowness pets covers how to assess body condition at home rather than relying on the number on the scale.
Exercise type comes third. Growing joints do well with regular, moderate, low-impact activity such as steady lead walking and swimming. What is less kind is repetitive high-impact work in a young dog: long sessions of ball throwing with hard stops and twists, jumping down from heights, and forced running alongside a bike before the skeleton has matured. Slippery floors are worth addressing too, since a puppy scrabbling on laminate is loading the hips awkwardly several times a day.
How it is assessed
Assessment begins with a physical examination, watching your dog move and gently testing the range and stability of the hips. Radiographs are the definitive step, and they need careful positioning to be interpretable, which usually means sedation for comfort and accuracy. Our diagnostic imaging covers that, and the findings are discussed in a medical consultation alongside what you are seeing at home.
One thing worth knowing: the pictures and the patient do not always agree. Some dogs with dramatic looking radiographs cope remarkably well, and some with mild changes are notably uncomfortable. Decisions are made on the whole animal rather than on the images alone.
What management looks like
Most dogs are managed without surgery, particularly when the condition is identified early. A plan typically combines weight control, a structured exercise routine built around consistent moderate activity rather than weekend bursts, physical therapy to build and maintain the muscle that supports the joint, home changes such as rugs on slippery floors and ramps instead of jumps, and pain management prescribed and monitored by your veterinarian.
Several surgical options exist, and which is appropriate depends on the dog’s age, size, the state of the joint and how they are coping. Some are only available in a narrow age window, which is another argument for early assessment. That conversation belongs with our surgical services team, who can also explain when referral is the right route.
As dogs age, this joins the wider picture covered in our guide to senior pet wellness in NW Calgary. For anyone at the beginning of the journey, our puppy and kitten first year guide covers the growth and nutrition decisions that shape joint health from the start.
When to get the hips checked
Make an appointment for any young dog who bunny hops, sways behind, sits sideways, tires quickly or hesitates at stairs, and for any adult who has become stiff, reluctant or slower to rise. Bring a video of your dog walking and trotting on a non-slip surface. Do not wait for limping, because dogs affected in both hips often do not limp at all. They simply do less.
Frequently asked questions
At what age does hip dysplasia show up in dogs?
Signs can appear as early as four months, and many affected dogs show something by twelve months even though they are rarely diagnosed then. A second wave of owners notice it in middle age or later, once arthritis has developed. The underlying joint changes almost always began while the dog was still growing.
Can hip dysplasia be prevented?
The genetic component cannot be changed, so it cannot be prevented outright. How severely it develops is influenced by factors you can control: a controlled growth rate on an appropriate large breed puppy diet, keeping your dog lean for life, sensible low-impact exercise while growing, and good footing at home. Choosing a breeder who screens the parents matters too.
My dog does not limp, so are the hips fine?
Not necessarily. Dogs affected in both hips are often symmetrically uncomfortable, so there is no good leg to favour and no limp to see. They tend to show it by doing less instead: shorter walks, fewer stairs, more lying down, slower to rise. Those changes are easy to read as personality or age.
Does cold weather make it worse?
Many owners report more stiffness in cold weather, and it is usually most noticeable first thing in the morning and after rest. Cold does not damage the joint itself, but it makes existing discomfort more apparent. A warm bed away from draughts, a gentle warm-up before activity and consistent daily exercise all help through a Calgary winter.
Should my large breed puppy be on a special diet?
A diet formulated specifically for large breed growth is generally recommended, because the balance of energy and minerals is designed to support a steadier growth rate. Feeding a measured amount rather than free feeding matters just as much. The right amount depends on your individual puppy, so have it worked out rather than estimated.
Will my dog need surgery?
Most dogs are managed successfully without it, particularly when identified early and kept lean and well muscled. Surgery is considered when a dog remains uncomfortable despite a good management plan, and the appropriate procedure depends on age, size and the state of the joint. Some options apply only within a limited age window, which is why early assessment is worthwhile.