Physical Therapy for Hip Dysplasia: Tips and Techniques

Can physical therapy help your dog with hip dysplasia?

What is hip dysplasia?

Lots of people think hip dysplasia is a tight, sore, arthritic hip. However, it is really a hip that is too loose and lacks stability.

The hip consists of

a ball-and-socket joint formed by the head of the femur (ball) and
the acetabulum of the pelvis (socket)

These two hip structures are designed for movement. In a healthy hip, their shapes match each other perfectly with the socked surrounding the ball.

The dog walks on four limbs with the hip in a flexed starting position (as opposed to human beings who walk upright with the hip in a straight starting position), producing a large arc of movement during gait. It’s very important that the ball and socket make even contact to achieve the quality of movement the dog needs to walk comfortably.

Hip dysplasia a skeletal disease where the hip socket (acetabulum) is shallow and abnormally formed.

The lack of contact between the socket and the femoral head leads to further changes in shape.

This gets worse as the dog develops, the hip becoming loose and lax usually by age 2.

Without early diagnosis and care, the continual wear and tear on the hip lead to arthritis and bone spurs.

Physical Therapy for Hip Dysplasia - What’s a Dawg Mama to Do?

So to be clear, arthritis doesn’t cause hip dysplasia, but hip dysplasia can definitely cause arthritis!

What causes hip dysplasia?

What causes hip dysplasia to occur? It is a genetic disease having traits which are inherited, being passed to offspring through reproductive cells.

This condition commonly affects large breeds with rapid growth and weight gain early in the development such as

German Shepherds
Labs, Rottweilers
and St Bernards

Signs of hip dysplasia

Dogs will show rear limb lameness during running, jumping, climbing, with a bunny-hopping gait. You might also hear a popping or clicking sound. The gait strides will be short and choppy, with the rear end waddling from side to side. Dogs may pace instead of the normal left-right gait and have trouble negotiating turns and stairs.

Hip dysplasia diagnosis

Hip dysplasia is diagnosed by a physical exam and radiographs.

Testing methods exist from OFA and PennHip with documentation and registry of the disease, especially within the breeding industry.

How can hip dysplasia can be treated?

The first step is to learn about the various surgical options.

These include

triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO),
total hip replacement (THR)
dorsal acetabular rim arthroplasty (Darthroplasty)
and the femoral head osteotomy (FHO)

Next, have a good discussion with your vet, asking their recommendation on which method is best.

Always get a second opinion if you feel the need and consider seeing a board-certified veterinary orthopedic surgeon.

Surgery, followed by a recovery period and then physical therapy and rehabilitation, can yield wonderful results for your dog.

Conservative management

The reasons against surgery can be

financial constraints
medical issues which make anesthesia risky
immunosuppressive diseases that could invite sepsis or widespread infection, etc.

In these cases, it is essential to use conservative measures to help your dog such as:

Cold Laser

Cold laser treatment delivers bundles of light which decrease pain and reduce inflammation.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

Adhesive surface electrodes are placed around and on the hip, and gentle current is applied, to reduce pain. A dog’s coat may need to be shaved to ensure good skin contact for the electrodes.

Targeted Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy

Through a pad or loop, this treatment delivers a soothing wave frequency which reduces inflammation.

An example of this is Assisi Loop. You can acquire it through your vet or therapist, and treat your dog at home, in 15-minute doses.

Moist Heat

To apply moist heat you can use

commercial hot packs
wraps, and sacks filled with gel, silicon, and sand

You can heat them by hot water immersion or microwave ovens. Before applying them over the hip, first place padding (such as a towel) to prevent burns.

Moist heat, as opposed to dry forms of heat, penetrates deeper.

Consult the vet or PT for specifics and precautions.

Massage

Massage increases blood flow to relax tight sore musculature around the hip. Position the dog on its side (dysplasia side up), with a rolled towel or pillow placed between the thighs. Stroking and kneading techniques will work best, gently, for 5-10 minute durations.

Range of Motion

Range of motion of the hip with manual joint compressions can be very effective. Only an animal physical therapist or a rehab-trained veterinarian can administer this treatment.

Therapeutic exercise

Therapeutic exercise includes

standing weight shifting and rocking front to back and side to side, using wobble or balance boards, weaving around cones
supported standing over a physio-roll

These exercises usually need a physical therapist but you can learn how to do some of them at home.