BBVA Buzzards Bay Veterinary Associates

230 Main Street * Buzzards Bay, MA 02532 * Tel: 508-759-2521 * Fax: 508-759-6782

Prevent a Lifetime of Suffering:

Screen your puppy for hip laxity

What is “Hip Dysplasia?”

Hip Dysplasia or hip laxity is a term used to describe malformed hip joints. It is one of the most common diseases of large breed dogs. A dysplastic hip is one where the hip joint is too loose. Veterinarians refer to this as excessive hip laxity. The hip joint is composed of two surfaces comprising a ball and socket joint. The first part of the joint, the socket, is called the acetabulum. Translated from the latin this means “vinegar cup” The acetabulum is located on the pelvis. In a normal hip it is deep and well rounded like a “vinegar cup” so that it may accommodate the head of the femur also called the femoral head. The head of the femur is the ball of this ball and socket system. This bone when normal should have a round surface and fit inside of the acetabulum such that there is minimal laxity in the joint. Dysplasia is characterized by a flat and shallow acetabulum and/ or femoral head. The result is that the ball and socket joint is a poor and loose fit. This in and of itself causes the joint to move around excessively in motion. This is called joint instability. This is painful as it can apply forces to the joint capsule, an area of tissue surrounding the hip joint that contains sensitive nerves. Long term effects of an unstable joint include the development of osteoarthritis. In severe cases, arthritic changes and crippling pain can be seen in dogs as young as one year of age.

How can my dog be screened for “Hip Dysplasia”?

Hip dysplasia or hip laxity can be definitively diagnosed by an x-ray and a positive “Ortolani sign” which is a special maneuver performed under gas anesthesia by a veterinarian. We recommend screening all dogs whose adult body weight will be over 50 pounds for hip laxity at 12 – 14 weeks. If your dog has a POSITIVE Ortalani sign, we will recommend that you see one of our board certified veterinary surgeons to discuss a preventative surgical procedure that can correct or markedly improve the hip joint of your dog if performed at the proper age. If you are interested in screening your dog for breeding purposes, we recommend a special test called a PennHIP test with one of our PennHIP certified doctors.

What are the options for treating Hip Dysplasia?

Traditional surgical techniques used to treat hip dysplasia such as triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO), femoral head ostectomy (FHO), and total hip replacement (THR) surgeries are known to be invasive, can be associated with significant pain, have a long recovery time, and are expensive for dog owners, as some of these procedures can exceed $3,000.

Juveline Pelvic Symphysiodesis (JPS) is a new minimally invasive procedure for treating canine hip dysplasia. This procedure is done in very young dogs who screen positive for hip laxity as a result of a screening test at 12-13 weeks of age. During JPS surgery, electocautery is applied to the growth plate of the pubis (part of the pelvic bone) inducing bony fusion. During the dog’s normal growth after surgery, pubic fusion results in angular change to the pelvis. These changes allow for a better fit of the ball and socket joint, resulting in significant improvements in hip conformation.

JPS surgery is short in duration and requires no orthopedic implants. Typically dogs spend only one night in the hospital after JPS surgery with minimum discomfort. The cost for this surgery is considerably less expensive compared to traditional procedures for hip dysplasia.

JPS surgery needs to be performed at an early age to slow or stop the progression of osteoarthritis in dogs with hip dysplasia. It has successfully been performed on puppies as young as 12 weeks of age. Typically, it is done at 15-20 weeks of age and can be combined with your dog’s spay or neuter procedure.

JPS Publications and Awards

The JPS technique has been developed and refined by a team of board-certified veterinary surgeons, surgical residents, and radiologists. Their comprehensive and careful study results have been published in peer-reviewed journal manuscripts. This work has received numerous awards from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, the National Phi Zeta Honors Society, the Morris Animal Research Fund, and the Veterinary Orthopedic Society. JPS is a cutting edge procedure that could potentially save your dog from a life of pain and suffering associated with hip dysplasia.

Buzzards Bay Veterinary Associates recommends screening all dogs whose body weight will be greater than 50 pounds for hip laxity. If we find that your dog has hip laxity, we will refer him or her to the care of our board certified veterinary surgeons that work right at Cape Cod Veterinary Specialists.

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