Canine hip dysplasia (HD)

Canine hip dysplasia (HD) is an undesirable development of the hip joint.

The almost spherical end of the femur head (the caput, or caput ossis femoris) doesn't fit accurately into the acetabulum.

All breeds of dog can be affected by it but lager or giant breeds are rather susceptible.

Hip dysplasia is a hereditary disease that s caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. An environmental factor can be e.g. climbing the stairs.

How can hip displasia be recognized?.

With dogs which still are in the growth the bones are still soft and the dog is even more mobile in the joint.

By this greater movability the periosteum of the acetabulum is irritated and the dog has pains at running and playing.

Many dogs don't want to go any more but simply sits down.

Another dog has such severe pains that it yells out loudly or "only" have a shaking walk. The consultation to the veterinarian should be carried out shortly after recognizing these symptoms of the desease to discuss causes and consequences.

It is highly recommended to make x-ray diagnosis to the dog to find out if it whether it is hip dysplasia.

For an excact evaluation the dog must be shortly general anaesthetised, otherwise the examination will be too painfull. In dorsal position the hind leg will be hyperextended and then x-rayed. The veterinarian then can judge the heaviness degree of the hip dysplasia with the help of a special protractor.

Degree of HD

HD-A: FREE OF HIP DYSPLASIA
HD-B: OVERGANGSVORM
HD-C: MILD HIP DYSPLASIA
HD-D: MODERATE HIP DYSPLASIA
HD-E: SEVERE HIP DYSLPLASIA

If your dog should suffer from HD, the further procedure has to be discussed with the veterinarian of your confidence.

It is important for dogs of all breeds to feed them regulary and approriateley to its species an breed.

It is also important to give the opportunity to move. But take care that it is a movement of low-impact appropriate to the breed. The healthiest dog also can suffer heavy hip damages due to a wrong attitude.

If a dog should be affected by HD, no respectable breeder will use this animal for the breed. But unfortunately (and this is my personal opinion) still not all races have to be examined for HD so that they may be used in the breed. I recommend pup buyers to let show the breed admittance documents of the parent animals.

HD cannot be cured but the progression of the illness can be slowed down and the pains can be taken away from the dog by medication. Different operations are possible, an artificial hip also can be used in extreme cases.

I only can recommend to read further literature.

Helma Raedeker

Eclampsia of the mother-bitch

Many breeders know the for mother bitches life-threatening sickness eclampsia. This term is originated in human medicine. The bitch convulses in consequence of reduced concentration of calcium in the blood. This convulsions may occur to each bitch during lactation period due to the reason that the bitch often needs more calcium for lactating than there is deposed in her body. How much calcium is needed depends on the one hand side on the race. Smaller races need generally more calcium than giant races. On the other hand it is depending on the number of pups in the litter.

With high valuable food the risc may be reduced that the bitch comes down with eclampsia, but the risc can never be omitted.

Some breeders recommend to feed some curd cheese and a lot of fresh meat. Feeding the bitch with curd cheese can never protect the bitch against eclampsia, because no bitch can eat so much curd cheese as it is necessary for a lactating bitch.

The recommendable ratio for calcium/phosphorus is 2:1. I.e.2 parts of calcium to 1 part of phosphorus.

The calcium/phosphorus ratio of meat is 1:20. Means 1 part of calcium comes to 20 parts of phosphorous. Neither grain nor vegetable can adjust such a maladjustment.

How can eclampsia be recognized?

In most of the times the bitch becomes fidgety. Then the bitch begins to lurch, gets problems with standing up (hind leg), fever, denial of food.

Later convulsions of the whole body can be noted and the bitchs turns up it’s head in the sky.

Uncontrollable convulsion follow and it seems it is an elpileptic seizure.

If the bitch gets temperature (from 39° C) about 4 days after accouchement you should be highly alarmed.

When this symtoms are notifield and you don’t go IMMEDIATELY to a competend veterinarian, you can be sure the bitch will die within a few hours.

But if the bitch get fast a competent medical treatmend by a vet, the bitch recovers within short time. But be aware that aklampsia can come back after a relative short period.

To avoid a relapse the calcium depots should be refilled and be kept on a high level.

The decision whether the pups should be seperated from the bitch or whether they can stay with the bitch can only be done by an experienced vet.

Please keep in mind that the energie requirement af a middle sized bitch with a litter of “only” 6 pups is 5 timws higher than w/o pups. If the number of pups is higher, the energie requirement is as higher.

The experience shows that if the bitch is supply by the optimum, it can reduce the risk, but it can never be omitted.

I wish you and your dogs, that you are always be untroubled by this desease.

Yours Helma Raedeker