Structure and purpose

A normal hip is a mechanism that works on the “key – lock” principle, and only this type of relationship provides stability. The hip joint is an indispensable mechanism for transferring mobility and power from the muscles of the hind legs to the body. It serves as the foundation for speed and power. This mechanism is distinguished by the presence of supportive, hip-related structures such as ligaments, tendons, and muscles. The large surface area of the articular cartilage, which is lubricated by joint fluid, allows for completely painless movements. Any disruption in these ideal relationships will have serious ramifications.
Hip dysplasia (HD) is a term that refers to a variety of developmental and acquired hip abnormalities. During the growth period, developmental or primary changes occur. Acquired or secondary changes occur as a result of using diseased hips and frequently progress. These joints are painful, and a limp develops. As a result, one or both hip joints are completely dysfunctional.

Causes

The causes of this disease are not fully understood, but several risk factors have been identified: inheritance and genetic characteristics (both parents play an equal role in the transmission of this disease), early, rapid growth of the individual and a sudden increase in body weight, an excessive and unbalanced diet, and smoking (too many calories, vitamins, minerals and proteins).

Symptoms

The symptoms of this disease differ depending on the individual’s age.

A complete absence of clinical signs in dogs younger than 3 months is possible, but such a puppy may also show the first signs of unsafe movement as a result of hip instability.

Between the ages of 3 and 18 months, dogs exhibit varying degrees of leg weakness, stiff and/or unsteady gait, and resistance to regular exercise. Furthermore, dogs in these age groups may not have clearly expressed clinical signs.

These symptoms can progress progressively even after 18 months of age in more severe clinical cases, but most dogs stop showing clinical signs and live a normal life.
Dogs in their middle or later years of life may experience recurrence of symptoms (difficulty getting up and moving, varying degrees of pain, etc.), necessitating medical or surgical intervention.

Diagnosis and evaluation

It is critical to understand that some people are more resistant than others and that not everyone exhibits the same symptoms. Observing a dog from the outside cannot provide an accurate assessment of whether or not it has this disease. A clinical examination can raise the possibility of this disease in some people, but not all. Radiography – using an X-ray machine – is the only way to completely exclude or establish hip dysplasia and determine its severity. X-ray imaging provides a photographic record of the anatomical structures that comprise the hip, as well as their mutual relationship, as well as the presence and extent of any secondary changes.

The majority of developed countries and European countries have standards that clearly prescribe X-ray imaging techniques as well as criteria for evaluating and determining disease severity or absence. There are some differences in these standards between countries, but these are essentially very similar techniques.

As a result, in addition to the HD value, the country code in which the video was evaluated is included. Breeding clubs and kennel associations typically enter into contracts with completely independent veterinary committees that meet several times a year to read recordings. The special veterinary regulations specify who is authorized to record and provide detailed instructions on how to do so.
Under veterinary supervision, X-ray imaging is performed in veterinary institutions (outpatient clinics, practices, clinics, veterinary hospitals, etc.). There are no specific requirements for the veterinarian’s specialty or the equipment used to x-ray the dog, but there are clear requirements for the quality of the x-ray image that is sent for further evaluation. Clinical experience has shown that the dog must be deeply sedated or put under general anesthesia for better positioning and manipulation, as well as for the dog’s, owner’s, and working staff’s safety. Without special equipment (positioners and aids) and appropriate expertise, adequate hip position is nearly impossible to achieve.

The dog’s owner or keeper is required to bring the dog’s pedigree in order for the dog to be identified (tattoo number or microchip). In addition, the owner is required to sign a form guaranteeing the identity of the dog (which can be tested later without the owner’s consent) and allowing the public publication of HD results.

The x-ray must be clearly marked, dated, and have the tattoo number, microchip number, or other number under which the dog is registered and identified “printed” (not later written or stamped).

The veterinarian will send such a recording, along with all necessary documentation, for an official evaluation, and the outcome will be recorded in the dog’s pedigree.

The majority of image reading commissions are made up of veterinarians – radiologists or veterinarians who are authorized to evaluate images or have a specific additional qualification. It is critical to understand that kennel organizations (clubs, societies, associations, etc.) have no authority and are not professionally trained during the recording and evaluating process. It is the responsibility of veterinarians, and it is up to canine organizations to use the results of the recording (not just HD) correctly when conducting breeding policy and evaluating dogs. Only healthy individuals can be used in breeding, and this is the only way to significantly reduce and control the risk of occurrence and transmission of this disease.

A dog’s minimum age is 12 months, and only dogs older than that can be officially evaluated for HD. Hip imaging has no age restrictions. Some breeders and owners record dogs between the ages of 6 and 8 months in order to obtain a “preliminary image” that allows for an earlier insight into the dog’s health condition and possibly taking additional appropriate measures.

The veterinary evaluation of the X-ray is based on the evaluation of 9 individual criteria (anatomical structures that make up the hip joint) (anatomical structures that make up the hip joint). For each anatomical structure there is a scoring system from 0 to 6 so that the maximum for one hip can be 53, or 106 for both. It is preferable to have the lowest (0-10) individual sum of values and the lowest (0-20) sum of values for both hips. A higher total indicates that the disease is more severe. Individual values obtained from X-ray examinations of dogs of that breed are compared to an average value given separately for each breed.