Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Freeing Your Dog From Canine Hip Dysplasia

By Geraldine Dimarco

Do you know what canine hip dysplasia is? Dog hip dysplasia is a condition wherein the canine thigh ball socket is not fitted right with the hip bone. It may be an inherent skeletal deformity, or it may be that the tissue connecting the ball and socket is not cohesive enough to keep it perfectly fitted together. This significantly decreases the dog's mobility as it causes extreme pain even in the simplest movements.

Hip dysplasia is, more often than not, a genetic abnormality that will develop as the dog grows older. Sometimes though, it can be caused by an injury sustained in the puppy's legs and have not been treated properly. Symptoms do not usually manifest until much later on and the harm in this is that when it is not addressed medically, may result in the dog not being able to walk at all.

OK, this may sound a tad too scary for you. There are things you can do to help your dogs hip dysplasia. An option is surgery of course; however, for most pet owners, they do not go for this because it is too expensive. Now, don't feel bad about it. You can use a natural treatment for hip dysplasia that has been proven effective for many dogs.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin are two elements that can help in restoring the damaged cartilage and joint tissues of the dog. While these natural supplements are not going to help in pain management, you will be happy to see a significant improvement in your dog's functioning after about 6 weeks of consistent use. Glucosamine and Chondroitin are generally safe but your dog will have to be on it all the time.

Methyl-sulfonyl-methane, or more commonly known as MSM, is a compound that improves the quality of the canines connective tissues, as well as lessens the inflammation of the joints. This will help moderate the pain your dog is suffering from. Herbs like yucca, dandelion, licorice, alfalfa and rosemary have properties that also help diminish the painful effects of dysplasia.

Along with the natural treatment for hip dysplasia as mentioned in the previous paragraphs, create a healthy diet chock-full of vitamins C and E, and omega 3 fatty acids. It is essential that you control his weight as obesity will aggravate your pets condition. Integrate their healthy food plan with light exercise that is approved and recommended by the veterinarian.

Physical activity should be relegated to exercises that are light on the joints and ligaments of the dog. This means Frisbee is out of the question. It's fun but really, it will not be good for your pet in the long run. Try taking him for a walk or swim instead. Remember that the goal is not just building muscles and stamina, it is to develop more range of motions. The best thing you can do for him is to keep his weight low and his autoimmune system up.

Hopefully, these helpful tips on canine hip dysplasia will equip you to deal with your dogs condition effectively. Make sure that your dog has a healthy lifestyle and maintain regular visits to the vet. Enjoy quality bonding time with your pet!

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