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Can hip dysplasia in dogs be cured, or only managed with treatment?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Is there a cure for hip dysplasia In dogs? I have a young male Labrador retriever with hip dysplasia and I want to know if it is 100% curable or if there is only treatment to help the symptoms?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 13th, 2017

Unfortunately no, there is no cure for hip dysplasia. It can be managed medically with drugs and physical therapy as well as acupuncture and hydrotherapy. Now surgery can be done if it's severe, but it won't cure it.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Published on May 25th, 2017
A diagnosis of hip dysplasia is confirmed with xrays. Treatment will depend on the severity of the condition. Consider a consultation with a veterinary orthopedic specialist. You should be able to locate one using your preferred online search engine. Anti inflammatories, physical therapy, swim therapy, cold laser therapy, joint supplements and weight control are all options to manage dysplasia. "
Legally, we are prohibited from recommending medications in the absence of a physical exam and a patient-veterinarian-client relationship.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on December 11th, 2017
There are several factors that lead to the development of hip dysplasia in dogs.

* Genetics (hereditary)
* Excessive growth
* Exercise - too much or too little
* Excessive weight
* Improper nutrition

There are quite a few treatment options for hip dysplasia in dogs, ranging from lifestyle modifications to surgery. Depending on your dog’s case, the vet may suggest the following:

*Weight reduction to take stress off of the hips
*Exercise restriction, especially on hard surfaces
*Physical therapy
*Anti-inflammatory medications
*Joint fluid modifiers
*Surgery: Double or triple pelvic osteotomy (DPO/TPO), Femoral head Ostectomy (FHO), Total hip replacement (THR)

Hope this helps. If you have more questions please feel free to post again. Best wishes.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

My 8-month Golden Retriever has hip dysplasia. What are my options?

There are a variety of treatments for hip dysplasia depending on clinical signs. I would first perform radiographs to assess for comformation. There are surgical procedures that are performed in puppies prior to the development of osteoarthritis for severe cases, but they typically need to be performed before 9 months of age. I think the most important thing is to interpret physical exam and radiographs in the context of clinical signs. I have some puppies with a radiographic diagnosis of hip dysplasia who are asymptomic for years and other puppies with negative ortolani sign, minimal dysplasia on radiographs and severe clinical signs. So, don't jump into surgery if Gary is not showing clinical signs. For my puppies with radiographically confirmed hip dysplasia and clinical signs, I typically manage them medically as needed and start physical rehabilitation. I hope that helps! Good luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has hip dysplasia, but isn't in pain. Do I need surgery?

Hello, sorry to hear about Shiro. He does indeed have hip dysplasia as is evident in his x-rays. This diseases does indeed require surgical correction, but only if Shiro seems to be in discomfort. Hip Dysplasia results in secondary osteoarthritis which in the long term can impact your pets ability to walk and overall comfort. There are two different procedures with regards to surgery, an FHNO were we remove the femoral head and neck or a total hip replacement were we replace the ball and joint with metal implants as they do in humans. Ultimately, the best contributor to decreasing osteoarthritis in dogs is by maintaining an overall low weight and lean body condition score. Obese pets with hip dysplasia tend to do worse. Now, with regards to surgery, it does not need to occur now, typically with either surgery, we want pets to be fully developed so that their bones are fully grown and they have developed all of the musculature. I would recommend asking your veterinarian to refer you to an orthopedic surgeon who may be able to better assist you with Shiro's hips dysplasia. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My 5-month Golden puppy has hip dysplasia. Is it serious?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. So sorry that Baxter has this issue. The right hip has severe dysplasia (the x-ray is not marked so I am assuming it is the right one). The other hip looks OK. The only way to fix this is with surgery - either a FHO procedure or a total hip replacement. You need to speak to your vet about options. There is no medication to reverse, cure or stop the progression of this disease. Surgery will definitely be needed.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has hip dysplasia. What else helps his pain and walking?

Poor Rocco! There are many treatment options for managing hip dysplasia in dogs. I'm not sure what kind of medication he's currently taking, but many dogs with this problem benefit from a combination of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like Rimadyl or Previcox along with a pain medication like tramadol and/or gabapentin. Glucosamine/chondroitin and omega-3 fatty acid supplements have also been shown to be helpful in many cases, and can safely be given with all of the above medications. Finally, adjunct treatment options like laser therapy and acupuncture can also be very helpful for some dogs with hip dysplasia. I would recommend talking with your vet about these options to see what they would suggest as the next step for Rocco.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Is hip dysplasia fatal for my pregnant dog who is in a lot of pain?

Hip dysphasia is not fatal. However it is genetic and can be passed to her puppies. I would recommend talking to your vet about pain management and joint supplements she can take while pregnant. I hope that helps

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has hip dysplasia. Can he recover or will he need meds forever?

It's possible he will need pain killers for the rest of his life indeed and those pain killers could give him an excellent quality of life, he could go back to normal as long as he is on them. i would recommend taking him to the vet ASAP in order to get it checked.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My puppy has hip dysplasia. What are my options without surgery?

Hello, thank you using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am so sorry for your concerns about Madiidda. Her x-rays show very severe subluxation of the one hip, & a very shallow acetabulum of the other. This will never get better on its own, & as she ages, she will experience more & more pain possibly to the point where she may no longer be able to walk. A lot has to do with how you manage her growth, weight, exercise/conditioning, and use of joint supplements & pain medications. You may not be able to afford the surgery now, but perhaps in a couple of years, you might be able to. The important thing is to keep her a tad underweight, regular gentle exercise, & start her on a good glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate supplement. Omega fatty acids can be of some benefit in helping the inflammation in her hips. Work closely with your veterinarian about weight control, medications, & possibly even a veterinarian who practices some alternative modalities such as acupuncture & massage therapy. Here in the US, we even have specialists in canine rehabilitation medicine, where underwater treadmills, water therapy, & special balance exercises can all help to strengthen the muscles around the hips to make life better for Madidda. I wish you all the best that she does well. She is a beautiful girl.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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