In dogs, hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that can eventually cause crippling lameness and arthritis in your dog’s joints. It is awful in all dogs and especially distressing in Giant Breed dogs.

There are several factors that lead to the devoopment of hip dysplasia in dogs, beginning with genetics, that is why evaluation of the parent’s hips is one of the 4 health tests recommended by the Great Dane Club of America. Genetic predisposition can be exacerbated by some environmentl factors, such as a dog’s weight and nutrition, rapid excessive growth and exercise.

Dogs can show signs of hip dysplasia as young puppies, sometimes as young as 4 months or it can not appear until the dogs are older, four or five. Some symptoms of dysplasia can be decreased activity, swaying or bunny hopping gait, loss of thigh muscle, difficulty in getting up in the morning.