Effective Dog Hip Dysplasia Home Treatment and Remedies

muscle development

In this post, we will look at different ways you can help your pet dog if they are suffering from hip dysplasia and the pain that goes with it.

Before we dive into the details of this post, if your dog becomes seriously disabled due to dysplasia or any other condition, you might need to invest in a set of wheels to help them get around.

We did a post about this that you can check out on this link to Should I Get My Dog a Wheelchair?

Table of Contents

What Is Canine Hip Dysplasia?

Canine hip dysplasia is a hereditary condition in dogs that can be exacerbated or brought on by life factors such as diet, body weight, levels of exercise, etc.

A dog’s hip joint is ball and socket-shaped. Hip dysplasia is when the hip socket is too shallow to accommodate the ball part of the joint properly. This can then causes damage to the joints and painful inflammation.

This degree of looseness of the ball in the hip socket is known as hip laxity. A dog with excessive hip laxity is at a higher risk of developing hip dysplasia compared to dogs with tighter hips or minimal hip laxity.

At its worst, hip dysplasia can cause paralysis in a dog’s legs and might even lead to hip replacement surgery or worse. So, it is a severe condition that can cause a lot of pain and suffering, and as such, it should be treated very seriously.

How Can You Tell if Your Dog Has Hip Dysplasia?

The first thing to say about this is that if you doubt anything related to your dog’s health, the best thing to do is to pay a visit to the vet. This is especially true if there is a condition as serious as canine hip dysplasia. Getting the right diagnosis and advice is important.

But there are some early signs of the disease that you can keep an eye out for, that if you spot them, will give you a hint that your dog is likely suffering from dysplasia in its hip joints.

  • New and unusual behavior when moving its legs
  • Using a hopping motion instead of walking to get up and downstairs
  • A new or increased reluctance to play and run around as much as usual
  • Any signs of pain when walking or running

Any of these signs could be related to the condition, and if you spot them, you should take the time to learn more about the issues your dog may be facing.

NOTE – Many dog owners commonly misunderstand that hip dysplasia only affects adult dogs, but sadly this is not the case.

Dogs can start to suffer from the condition from under a year old, even sometimes as very young puppies, especially if they are very active.

What Are Some Effective Home Remedies and Treatments for Hip Dysplasia?

Home treatments are great as they are much cheaper than surgery or other treatment options the vet might suggest. They also offer the chance of much fewer side effects and other risks than pain medication or surgery.

So,  let’s take a look at some options that are effective in treating hip dysplasia with dogs of all ages:

Weight Loss Can Be Very Helpful for Pain Reduction

It has been proven in multiple scientific studies that one of the best things you can do for your dog to help it deal with hip dysplasia is to maintain healthy body weight.

If your dog has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia and is underweight (or overweight), this will worsen the hip condition in terms of pain and loss of mobility.

As a responsible dog owner, helping your pet dog get to a much more healthy body weight will also give them significant relief from the canine hip dysplasia.

Diet, Nutrition, and Supplements for the Dog Are Important as Long Term Treatment Options

Diet and nutrition are two easy things that a dog owner can do to help treat two major symptoms related to their dog’s hip dysplasia.

First, you can give the dog omega-3 fatty acids to help with the inflammation caused by the disease. The easiest way to do this is to add some high-quality fish oil to your dog’s meals.

Second, you can ensure your dog gets plenty of glucosamine and chondroitin in its diet.

These minerals (glucosamine chondroitin) can help with the maintenance and repair of cartilage that may be damaged due to the issues in the hips.

(BTW – This post on preventing canine hip dysplasia might also be something you would find useful to read for helping your dog).

Anti-inflammatory herbs like curcumin are another natural remedy to consider for hip dysplasia. Curcumin is the active component in turmeric and inhibits enzymes that cause inflammation. It will also not cause any gastrointestinal distress or ulcers.

Garlic is another natural remedy and has anti-inflammatory properties as well as antioxidants. It contains allicin, the active ingredient that gives garlic all of its properties and odor. Antioxidants help protect against free radicals that can ultimately lead to degenerative joint disease.

Vitamin C, for example, is an antioxidant that aids in collagen production and helps repair connective tissues, including cartilage, skin, bone, tendons, and ligaments.

Gentle Exercise Can Offer Relief for Your Dog

Slow, gentle walks at the dog’s preferred pace on soft, stable surfaces can really help ease up the hips. Just the act of getting the dog’s body moving as they exercise will turn on natural mechanisms that help keep joints healthy.

Physical therapy like swimming and hydrotherapy can also help dogs with pain relief when suffering from hip dysplasia. The water reduces the pressure being placed on the dog’s joints and lets them exercise their rear leg muscles. Physical therapy can also strengthen their rear muscles and boost mobility.

Warm Baths Are Soothing (Just Like for Humans!)

Like humans, warm baths are a great treatment that can help a dog’s muscles and joints relax.

Some dogs HATE baths, but if you can get yours to relax in a hot tub, it will help your dog feel better.

Massage the Pain Away and Increase the Range of Mobility for Your Dog

In canine hip dysplasia, the muscles around the hip joints tend to get really tight as they try to manage the loose joint.

By applying a gentle, circular massage to the muscles, you can help them to relax. The hips will hurt less and become more mobile as the muscles relax.

Yes, you read that right; we suggest giving your dog massage therapy!

Note – If you are worried about your dog’s hip dysplasia or a similar condition, you should read this post about dysplasia dog euthanasia).

Applying Heat to Treat Hip Dysplasia

Applying heat therapy is a really great natural remedy to help your dog’s muscles relax and soothe hip dysplasia in dogs. The easiest way to do this is by using a purpose-made electric heat pad for dogs.

Invest in an Orthopedic Dog Bed

Buying a good-quality bed is a great investment in naturally helping your dog deal with its hip problems and joint pain. Dogs sleep a lot, especially as they get older, so making sure that their joints are well off the floor and fully supported will allow them to sleep much more comfortably.

Does CBD Oil Help Dogs With Hip Dysplasia?

Like many other natural remedies we have mentioned, CBD oil also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that can help reduce hip pain and inflammation in dogs with hip dysplasia. CBD oil also helps improve joint mobility and flexibility because it is a natural antioxidant.

However, you must also note that the safety and risks of CBD oil for dogs have not been extensively researched in terms of veterinary medicine.

What Happens If Hip Dysplasia Is Left Untreated In Dogs?

When hip dysplasia in dogs is left untreated, they can ultimately develop osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease. Dogs suffering from hip dysplasia may also show clinical signs of lameness in their hind legs, pain, and muscle atrophy.

Can a Dog Live With Hip Dysplasia?

As a dog owner, if you take the necessary steps to help strengthen the dog’s joints and keep him strong physically, then your dog can still live a long and happy life, even with a hip dysplasia diagnosis. A healthy diet and regular exercise or physical therapy are key to their treatment and long-term well-being.

Final Thoughts

Ok, that’s the end of this post. We hope some of these treatments and natural remedies will help you to help your pet dog cope with hip dysplasia and reduce their levels of hip pain.

Maybe you won’t need to give your dog any pain medication or other more risky treatments, such as total hip replacement operations.

Thank you for stopping over the take a look at our dog lover’s website. Please feel free to check out our other posts. You will find many links on this page to other posts related to hip dysplasia in dogs and similar canine ailments.

Our goal is to help you give your dogs the best life possible. That’s why we do what we do.

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