Dog Hip Dysplasia Home Treatment

Canine hip dysplasia affects the hip joints and hind legs this degenerative joint disease’s symptoms can often be spotted early on in puppies as young as two months old and in young dogs up to 2 years old.

In some cases, this condition can cause significant pain and problems for your pup when walking and climbing stairs.

More common in larger breeds of dogs such as German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers, canine hip dysplasia is a long-term condition and requires treatment and care.

However, it doesn’t define your dog, and with some help, support, and pain relief, you can make your pup more comfortable at home and improve their overall quality of life.

Let’s first take a look at the signs and symptoms of hip dysplasia in dogs:

• Difficulty sitting, lying down, and climbing stairs.
• Limping in the hind legs
• Avoiding exercise and playtime
• Protective of their hips and hind legs when grooming and bathing
• Signs that they’re in pain and stiff joints
• Swaying when standing or walking
• Bunny hopping while running

If the above sounds familiar, your pup may be suffering from dog hip dysplasia, although in some cases, canine hip dysplasia is so mild that there are no symptoms or signs.

If you suspect your pup is in pain and may have this condition, the best thing to do is take them to the vet for a check-up.

An x-ray of the hip joints and hind legs will be all that’s needed to diagnose the condition.

(If you dog is suffering with joint issues, you might want to check out these orthopedic beds for dogs).

Treatment For Diagnosed Hip Dysplasia In Dogs

Since there is no cure for canine hip dysplasia, the treatments available mainly revolve around making your pooch feel more comfortable and less pain.

There are both veterinarian/surgical procedures and home care treatments to choose from, depending on the severity of the condition, your financial situation, and your pup's age and condition. 

For many owners, surgery is not the best course of action. Let's find out why a non-surgical approach might be best for you and your dog. 

Canine Hip Dysplasia Surgery Cost & Associated Risks

A total hip replacement is a significant medical procedure for hip dysplasia; however, this is an expensive operation.

The cost of surgery by a veterinarian to treat a dog diagnosed with hip dysplasia in the United States, is around $5,000 per hip. If the condition is affecting both hip joints, the procedure can cost over $10,000.

If you have pet insurance, your policy may cover this expense. However, many don't, and for owners without insurance.

This medical bill is unfortunately, too high to consider it a viable option. 

Suppose your dog is older or has underlying medical conditions. In that case, surgery can also be too risky.

Many owners decide to treat the condition with home remedies for hip dysplasia instead of putting their pup through a surgical procedure. 

Home Treatments for Hip Dysplasia

There are many home remedies to choose from for a natural and non-surgical approach to hip dysplasia in dogs.

They help your dog lose a couple of pounds and investing in anti-inflammatory medication to alleviate pain stiffness in the hip joint with a high-quality orthopedic dog bed.

Let's take a look at 8 of the most popular home treatments for canine hip dysplasia and how they can improve their quality of life. 

1: Weight Management For Hip Dysplasia In Dogs

The more pounds your pup piles on, the more weight and pressure there will be on their hip joints and hind legs, so managing your dog's weight is one of the best ways to treat hip dysplasia in dogs.

Since the condition restricts their overall range of movement, if you plan to increase their activity to lose weight, make sure to keep walks short and on one level, rather than up and down hills or steps. 

You can also watch their weight by switching treats to fresh vegetables such as raw or cooked carrots and celery sticks or peas.

This is particularly important if you have a larger dog breed, such as a German Shepherd or Golden Retriever who are more prone to hip dysplasia.

Larger dogs do require more exercise and food than smaller breeds, and if they start to avoid walks due to pain, this is when their weight can quickly get out of hand.

Some people also pay more attention to processed dog food and switch to feeding their dogs a high-quality and raw diet with fresh meat and plenty of vegetables to give their pups a vitamin boost.

2: Physical Therapy For Hip Joints

Physical therapy will help stimulate blood flow in the hind legs and hip joints, reducing inflammation and stiffness.

Massaging your dog is a great way to show your affection and love for them and reduce pain caused by hip dysplasia in dogs.

Physical therapy can also include balance discs, physio balls, weaving, and even water exercises to help take the weight and pressure off your pup's hip joint and allow them to stretch out their legs.

3: Exercise Restriction

Diagnosed hip dysplasia can be mild, moderate, and severe. If your dog is in a lot of pain, you'll need to restrict their exercise and movement to protect their joints from further damage.

If you have stairs at home, consider a ramp or blocking off a staircase to stop your pup from running up and down the stairs.

When heading out on a walk, choose a low-impact route, and if they don't want to keep going, listen to your pet dog and head back home.

Resistance exercise such as swimming is an excellent alternative to a long walk and will also support the ball and socket joints and help your dog become healthier and fitter without damaging or straining their joints.

4: Joint Supplements for Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Vets often recommend a giving the dog a dose of glucosamine and chondroitin in the form of a chewable joint supplement for canine hip dysplasia.

Sometimes referred to as nutraceuticals, joint supplements packed with Omega-3 fatty acids are a powerful and natural home remedy that will decrease inflammation and pain associated with hip dysplasia and arthritis in dogs.

5: Joint Fluid Modifiers

Another effective dog hip dysplasia home treatment is joint fluid modifiers. Glucosamines are sometimes recommended by vets and are a safe alternative to surgery.

With few side effects, this might be the best approach for older dogs.

Supporting the natural joint fluid production process, joint fluid modifiers provide glucosamine and hyaluronic acid to the hip joints, easing pain and improving your dog's quality of life.

6: Anti-inflammatory Medication

Anti-inflammatory drugs, known as NSAIDs, are also used as a non-surgical and home remedy for canine dysplasia.

Once your dog has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia, your vet may recommend NSAIDs to reduce and minimize pain and inflammation if surgery isn't an option.

The most common anti-inflammatory drugs used today are carprofen, meloxicam, firocoxib, and deracoxib.

Eliminating your dog's pain will give them a new lease of life and will undoubtedly help improve their ability to walk, sit, rest, and play.

7: Orthopedic Dog Beds

Lying down for long periods can make stiff joints more painful, and your dog may find it challenging to get up in the morning.

To overcome problems with the dog sleeping at night caused by hip dysplasia or resting during the day, orthopedic dog beds are highly recommended.

Using memory foam technology to provide additional support and comfort around your pup's chin, spine, and hips, an orthopedic dog bed will offer your dog extra comfort and a better night's sleep.  

Browse our online collection of high-quality orthopedic dog beds here.

8: Dog Acupuncture For Pain Relief

A rather unique dog hip dysplasia home treatment is acupuncture. Used to treat arthritis and joint inflammation, pups with hip dysplasia, or a long-term condition that impacts their joints and muscles can benefit from a pain-relieving acupuncture session.

Although not for everyone, this alternative treatment is said to improve your dog's hip dysplasia, increase their range of motion and help them on their journey to a better quality of life.

If you liked this post, you might also like to read about what is a memory foam dog bed or how long can a dog live with hip dysplasia?

NOTE - If you are worried about your dog and their hip dysplasia, please make sure you consult your local veterinarian for professional advice form an expert.