Have you noticed your active dog becoming a little lazy lately? Does he have an unstable gait or experience trouble in walking?
If your canine faced problems while climbing the stairs, it may have left you worried. Upon closer examination, did you find the area above your dog’s hips swollen? If yes, then our dog is may be suffering from hip dysplasia and hip arthritis, or the reason might be something else altogether!
Hip problems can commonly occur in dogs due to injury, following an improper diet, excessive weight gain or obesity, environmental factors, autoimmune disorders, and so on. Some hip conditions like hip dysplasia may occur because of genetic reasons.
Let’s look at some of the different reasons dogs experience swelling in the areas above their hips.
4 Common Causes of Swelling Above Hips in Dogs
Hip dysplasia is the most common reason dogs could develop swelling above their hips.
Your dog could also suffer from other conditions like osteoarthritis, hip dislocation, osteochondrosis, Legg’s calve perthes disease, etc.
1. Hip Dysplasia
It’s one of the common conditions in dogs, mainly occurring in large breeds like the German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Bulldog, and so on. However, it may be seen in smaller dogs too.
When the ball and socket joints in the hip do not develop appropriately and proportionately, it leads to this condition. The deformed hip can result in swelling, pain, and inflammation in the hips.
Dogs with hip dysplasia may develop arthritis in the long run, especially if it is left untreated. Hip dysplasia may occur due to genetic factors. That’s why it’s important for breeders to conduct tests for hip dysplasia in breeds more prone to this condition. This will prevent puppies from inheriting this condition.
2. Hip Dislocation
Hip dislocation, or hip luxation, occurs when the hip joint is dislocated. The most common cause of hip dislocation is trauma, which may occur when the dog has been hit by an accident and has injured its hip.
If a dog suffers from the severest form of hip dislocation, it could lead to hip dysplasia.
3. Osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a condition where the cartilage grows abnormally. This, too, is common in big dogs like Great Dane, Labrador, and Rottweiler. Young dogs are more prone to this condition than their older counterparts.
Dogs with this condition suffer from pain, inflammation, and swelling of joints. A dog suffering from osteochondrosis is at the risk of developing osteoarthritis.
4. Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
This condition is more common in small breeds and occurs when the dogs are not more than a few months of age. It mostly happens when the ball above the thighbone (femur) loses blood supply, which causes it to break down within the hip joint, resulting in bone loss and fractures.
Symptoms Associated with Swelling Above the Hips
When your dog has hip dysplasia, osteochondrosis, or any other condition, it could result in swelling above the hips. There may be other symptoms as well.
Read on to learn more about the signs that differ according to your dog’s condition.
If your dog has hip dysplasia, you could notice the following symptoms in your pet:
- Your dog will begin limping and show disinterest in exercise and other physical activities.
- You may notice a bunny-hopping gait in your dog instead of jumping, where dogs raise their hind legs together.
- He will need help climbing the stairs or even face difficulty standing from a reclined position.
- Your dog will face discomfort or pain when you touch the area surrounding their hips, especially during grooming.
- The area near and above his hips will appear swollen, and your dog might indulge in licking that portion quite often to soothe himself.
- There might be a popping or cracking sound coming from his joint.
When your dog has a dislocated hip due to trauma, injury, or any other reasons, following are the signs to watch out for:
- Lameness of the hind limb and inability to bear weight on the leg that has been affected.
- The leg that has been damaged looks shorter in comparison to the other legs.
- Inability to exert weight on the hind leg, making the dogs carry it so it doesn’t touch the ground.
- Hip joints are swollen and can even be warm when touched.
Suppose your dog has a dislocated hip because of hip dysplasia, arthritis, or Legg calve perthes disease. In that case, he will also have symptoms specific to those conditions other than the ones mentioned above.
Osteochondrosis is a painful condition, and dogs affected by it will have some or all of the symptoms mentioned below:
- Your dog could limp or be lame in the leg/ legs affected.
- You could find your dog flexing his legs or positioning it so that it doesn’t have to exert pressure on that leg.
- There could be swelling in the affected joint, which may appear warm when touched.
When your small dog is affected by Legg Calve Perthes Disease, these are the following symptoms to watch out for:
- Limping or lameness may worsen as the condition progresses.
- There could be stiffness or pain in one or both hind limbs.
- The dog could chew or lick in the area surrounding the hip.
- Lethargy, restlessness, aggressiveness, and anxiety can be seen in your dog.
- Your canine won’t be able to exert weight on the affected leg since he will experience pain and weakness.
Diagnostic Approaches for Swelling Above Hips in Dogs
Consult the vet immediately when your dog suffers from any pain or discomfort in his hips. The vet will conduct several diagnostic tests to determine the root cause behind the swelling above the hips in your dog.
1. For Hip Dysplasia
When you seek medical help, as your dog has issues with his help, the vet will thoroughly examine your dog physically. He will conduct back leg manipulation on your dog.
To explain it in simpler terms, the vet will manually exert pressure on the hind legs or by using a device to examine your dog’s mobility and level of discomfort. He will conduct further examinations to look for any grinding noise from the joints. To confirm the diagnosis of hip dysplasia, the vet may ask for an x-ray to be done.
2. For Hip Dislocation
The diagnosis of hip dislocation is closely similar to hip dysplasia. The vet will physically examine your dog. He will also check for any grinding sensation on the moving of the femur. When your dog’s hip is dislocated, it’ll cause immense pain.
Your dog may not be comfortable with the manipulation process. He may have to be sedated for a thorough examination.
Similar to hip dysplasia, a radiograph will also confirm the hip dislocation. Besides confirming the dislocation, the x-ray will also help determine if a part of the hip has been fractured.
Suppose your dog met with an accident and encountered other serious injuries. In that case, the vet will treat those first before fixing the dislocated hip.
3. For Osteochondrosis
If your dog has had lameness for over two weeks, radiographs will be conducted on the affected joint to understand the cause.
Sometimes, sedating the dog will help in a better diagnosis. When X-rays do not provide accurate results, an ultrasound or arthroscopic examination may help detect the cause.
4. For Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
A clinical examination will diagnose the shortening of the limbs and lessened hip joint movement.
Many owners report irritability in their pets due to joint pain. Like the other conditions mentioned above, a radiograph is needed for this one, too, to confirm the diagnosis. The femoral head’s misshapen appearance will be visible through the radiograph.
Treatment Options for Swelling Above the Hips
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the treatment procedure begins and varies from one dog to the other based on the severity of the condition.
Here are some of the treatment options mostly advised by the vet when your dog has swelling above his hips alongside pain, inflammation, and many other symptoms.
- Surgery would be needed to correct severe cases of hip dysplasia. However, nonsurgical treatments may help manage the condition in less severe cases.
The vet may suggest anti-inflammatory medications, joint fluid modifiers, joint supplements, or physical therapy to help the dog recover.
The common surgeries include THR (total hip replacement), FHO (femoral head ostectomy), DPO (double pelvic osteotomy), and TPO (triple pelvic osteotomy).
However, total hip replacement is considered the most effective in treating hip dysplasia. - Hip dislocation can be treated surgically and nonsurgically. The nonsurgical technique is referred to as closed reduction, where the vet attempts to fix your dog’s hips manually. The procedure is called ‘closed’ since the joint isn’t opened through surgery.
To achieve success, closed reduction should be done at the earliest after a hip dislocation has been diagnosed, within 72 hours. It’s painful, and the dog must be given general anesthesia when closed reduction is done to put the dislocated hip in place.
When closed reduction isn’t possible if your dog has had hip dysplasia or hip fractures, then open reduction is applied. The process involves putting the hips back in place surgically. It has a success rate of 85-90%, and the dog is expected to return to normalcy soon. - In most cases, Legg-calve-perthes diseases are treated in dogs through surgical correction. There are two ways: the ball (femoral head)l above the thighbone is removed, or a hip replacement is done.
However, hip replacement seems more common in bigger breeds. Removing the femoral head is a better option when smaller breeds are affected by this condition. - The treatment for osteochondritis depends on the severity of the dog’s condition. If the dog is below six months of age and has developed no more than a crack, the condition can be corrected through reduced exercise and rest. However, surgical correction will be required if the lameness doesn’t improve and the defect is massive.
Prevention and Monitoring:
Maintaining a proper lifestyle, keeping your dog’s weight under control, and putting him on a healthy diet may help prevent these hip conditions in the future.
1. For Hip Dysplasia
Since it is genetic, breeders must test their dogs for this condition before breeding it. Moreover, maintaining proper exercise and diet in dogs since their puppy days will help lessen their risk of developing hip dysplasia.
When your dog has undergone surgery, it is essential to care for him well. Ensure that he rests a lot, and keep a close watch on his diet. Do not miss out on giving your dog the pain medications and joint supplements as prescribed by the vet. Upon recovery, ensure to give your dog a healthy diet and combat excessive weight gain.
2. For Hip Dislocation
After the open or closed reduction is conducted, the dog is made to wear a supportive wrap (Ehmer sling) or a bandage for 4-14 days. It’s mainly done to help the hip remain in place and prevent it from redislocating.
Sometimes, your dog may be reluctant to wear the bandage. So, the onus lies on you to monitor your dog. You should also ensure the bandage isn’t fixed tightly to cause your dog distress.
Physical therapy and restricted activity for 6-8 weeks will help quick recovery. When your dog is recovering, you should monitor his movements. If he slips or falls or exerts himself a lot, the chances are that he may dislocate his hips again. Also, take special care in managing your canine’s weight.
3. Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
After the surgery, ensure your dog rests for a considerable period and doesn’t move about a lot. Some may also require to have anti-inflammatory medication for a long time.
4. For Osteochondrosis
After your dog has undergone surgery, it is essential to restrict his activity to short walks for at least two to three weeks. The vet will even prescribe joint supplements and anti-inflammatory medications.
After three weeks past the surgery, the vet might increase your dog’s activity levels and advise rehabilitation exercises like swimming. Six weeks after the surgery, you may be asked to make your dog do brisk walking and light jogging.
FAQ’s
Which breeds are more prone to hip dysplasia?
Though any breed can be affected by this condition, larger breeds, like Rottweiler, St. Bernard, Great Dane, etc., are more susceptible to hip dysplasia.
Is swelling above the hip region in dogs curable?
The swelling may occur because of underlying conditions like hip dysplasia, osteochondrosis, etc. Immediate intervention and early treatment may help your dog recover early from the swelling, pain, inflammation, and other discomfort.
Conclusion
When you find your dog’s hip swollen and notice that your canine isn’t as active as before, it could worry you.
However, when you intervene on time and seek medical help early, you can prevent the conditions from aggravating.
It’s also vital to prevent your dog from gaining weight. Obesity triggers several health conditions in dogs, including hip problems.
Elena Gherman is a highly skilled and knowledgeable animal care expert. At the start of her career, she gained practical expertise with multiple animals. In addition to that, she works as a DVM veterinary editor for Joy Pet Products, which focuses on offering reliable information on pet health and wellbeing. She meticulously reviews each piece of writing before it is published to make sure pet owners get the most precise and updated information possible.