This is the fourth part of our 4-part series “Hip Dysplasia in Dogs”.
In this last part we’ll focus on how to prevent hip dysplasia. Can hip dysplasia be prevented?
⇒ Part 1: ‘What Is Hip Dysplasia in Dogs – Causes & Symptoms’
⇒ Part 2: ‘Diagnosis And Treatment Of Hip Dysplasia’
⇒ Part 3: ‘Hip Dysplasia And Your Dog’s Weight’.
Hip dysplasia is a widespread condition that chiefly affects large breeds of dogs like Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepards, and Great Danes. But it can affect other breeds too. Most of the times, hip dysplasia can be prevented in a pet dog if you are careful when selecting a dog from a breeder.
Preventing hip dysplasia through selective breeding
There is a strong genetic link between parents that have hip dysplasia and the incidence in their offspring. Osteoarthritis of the hips is the result of degeneration of the joint caused by hip dysplasia.
The best way to prevent hip dysplasia is through selection of offspring whose parents and grandparents have been certified to have excellent hip structure.
When it comes to preventing hip dysplasia, researchers agree that careful breeding is of utmost importance in avoiding this debilitating disease in dogs.
Selectively breeding of dogs with no known hip problems in their lineage can significantly reduce the incidence of their offspring developing hip dysplasia.
However, breeding two dogs with no hip joint problems doesn’t always guarantee that all of the offspring will be free of the disease, but it results in a much lower rate of occurrence than if two dogs with poor hip joints were bred together.
If all breeders were responsible and only bred dogs with excellent hip joints, hip dysplasia would be less likely to occur. And if people purchased only pet dogs and puppies that had parents and grandparents with excellent hip joints, then the majority of the problems caused by hip dysplasia would be eradicated.
If you are considering buying a pet dog, the best way to lower the possibility of ending up with a dog that develops hip dysplasia as it gets older is to examine the incidence of hip dysplasia in the dog’s lineage. Try to obtain information on the parents and grandparents going back as many generations as possible.
What if my breed of dog is prone to the development the disease?
Can hip dysplasia be prevented?
If your breed of dog is predisposed to the development of hip dysplasia, there are several theories on how to prevent its progression.
- Poor nutrition;
- inadequate or inappropriate exercise;
- and increased body weight
all contribute to the earlier onset and the severity hip problems.
It then becomes vitally important that you follow healthy recommendations for exercise and nutrition.
Adding a quality supplement to your dog’s diet such as Winston’s Joint System will add a new-found vitality to your dog’s life, make him more alert, and greatly relieve his pain.
Winston’s Joint System is an all-natural formula developed by a Naturopathic Doctor to heal his own pet dog. For over 30 years, this long-proven formula has been giving relief from pain and stiffness to all breeds and ages of dogs. Winston’s provides many of the raw materials essential for the synthesis of the joint-lubricating synovial fluid as well as the repair of articular cartilage and connective tissue. This formula has helped more than 20,000 dogs suffering from hip problems.
Because hip dysplasia is primarily an inherited condition, there are no products that can prevent its development. Through proper diet and exercise, you can slow, and sometimes halt, the progression of these degenerative joint diseases while providing your dog with relief from its pain.
Before choosing a particular dog as a pet, you owe it to yourself and to your prospective loving companion, to investigate its lineage for any diseases the dog may be predisposed to.
As the years progress and you and your dog have become ideal companions, the last thing you’ll want is the heartbreak of having to put your loving dog to sleep because it is suffering too much pain.
When the film Love Story came out way back in 1970, the most quoted line from the movie was “Love means never having to say you’re sorry”. Consider those words when choosing your pet dog. Check out its lineage and be sure you’re not setting yourself up for disappointment, regret, and sorrow in the future.
Since 1990, Winston’s Joint System and Winston’s Pain Formula have helped heal over twenty thousand dogs from all over the world. Our staff specializes in hip dysplasia, arthritis and all joint, pain and mobility issues.
There is an excellent chance we can help your dog, so please contact us at: www.dogshealth.com or call our toll free number at 888-901-5557.
