Hip dysplasia (canine)

In dogs, hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that, in its more severe form, can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. It is a genetic (polygenic) trait that is affected by environmental factors. It can be found in many animals and in humans, but is most commonly associated with dogs, and is common in many dog breeds, particularly the larger breeds.

Hip dysplasia is one of the most studied veterinary conditions in dogs, and the most common single cause of arthritis of the hips.[1]

Hip dysplasia in a Labrador Retriever
Normal hips, for comparison

Overview

Normal hip anatomy

In the normal anatomy of the hip joint, the root (the thigh bone) is connected to the pelvis at the hip joint. The almost spherical end of the femur head (the caput, or caput ossis femoris) fits into the acetabulum (a concave socket located in the pelvis). The bony surfaces of the femur head and of the acetabulum are covered by cartilage. While bones provide the strength necessary to support body weight, cartilage ensures a smooth fit and a wide range of motion. Normal hip function can be affected by congenital conditions such as dysplasia, discussed in this article, trauma, and by acquired diseases such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Dysplastic hip anatomy

In a hip the dog could have major contractions or seizures from dysplasias. The caput is not deeply and tightly held by the acetabulum. Instead of being a snug fit, it is a loose fit, or a partial fit. Secondly, the caput or acetabulum are not smooth and round, but are misshapen, causing abnormal wear and tear or friction within the joint as it moves. The body reacts to this in several ways. First, the joint itself is continually repairing itself and laying down new cartilage. However, cartilage repair is a relatively slow process, the tissue being avascular, so the joint may suffer degradation due to the abnormal wear and tear, or may not support the body weight as intended. The joint becomes inflamed and a cycle of cartilage damage, inflammation and pain commences. This is a self-fueling process, in that the more the joint becomes damaged, the less able it is to resist further damage. The inflammation causes further damage. The bones of the joint may also develop osteoarthritis, visible on an X-ray as small outcrops of bone, which further degrade the joint. [2] Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease marked by the breakdown of cartilage between joints resulting in painful bone-to-bone contact.[3]

The underlying deformity of the joint may get worse over time, or may remain static. A dog may have good X-rays and yet be in pain, or may have very poor X-rays and have no apparent pain issues. The hip condition is only one factor to determine the extent to which dysplasia is causing pain or affecting the quality of life. In mild to moderate dysplasia it is often the secondary effects of abnormal wear and tear or arthritis, rather than dysplasia itself, which is the direct causes of visible problems.

Causes and effects

A Labrador Retriever standing with hind legs close together to compensate for hip dysplasia

In canines, it can be caused by a femur that does not fit correctly into the pelvic socket, or poorly developed muscles in the pelvic area. Large and giant breeds are most susceptible to hip dysplasia (possibly due to the BMI of the individual animal[4]), though, many other breeds can suffer from it. For a list of top 100 breeds affected, by percentage, visit the OFFA Here: http://www.offa.org/stats_hip.html. Cats are also known to have this condition, especially Siamese.[5]

To reduce pain, the animal will typically reduce its movement of that hip. This may be visible as "bunny hopping", where both legs move together, or less dynamic movement (running, jumping), or stiffness. Since the hip cannot move fully, the body compensates by adapting its use of the spine, often causing spinal, stifle (a dog's knee joint), or soft tissue problems to arise.

The causes of hip dysplasia are considered heritable, but new research conclusively suggests that environment also plays a role.[6] To what degree the causality is genetic and what portion environmental is a topic of current debate. Neutering a dog, especially before the dog has reached an age of full developmental maturity, has been proven to almost double the chance he or she will develop hip dysplasia versus intact dogs or dogs that were neutered after reaching adulthood [7] Other environmental influences include overweight condition, injury at a young age, overexertion on the hip joint at a young age, ligament tear at a young age, repetitive motion on forming joint (i.e. jogging with puppy under the age of 1 year). As current studies progress, greater information may help provide procedures to effectively reduce the occurrence of this condition.

In dogs, the problem almost always appears by the time the dog is 18 months old. The defect can be anywhere from mild to severely crippling, and can eventually cause severe osteoarthritis.[8]

It is most common in medium-large pure bred dogs, such as Newfoundlands, German Shepherd Dogs, retrievers (such as Labradors, Tollers, or Goldens), rottweilers and mastiffs, but also occurs in some smaller breeds such as spaniels and pugs and occasionally (usually with minor symptoms) in cats.

Clinical detection and testing

Symptoms

Atrophy of thigh muscle after a two-year evolution of hip dysplasia
"Traditionally, the signs of hip dysplasia are rarely extreme. Usually, only mild to moderate lameness is noted which may suddenly worsen. Dogs with a cranial (anterior) cruciate ligament tear typically hold the affected leg up (which is unusual with hip dysplasia). Patients with back (spinal) problems often scuff their toenails when walking, have an uncoordinated gait, and are weak in the rear limbs. They may be very painful if they have a disc rupture (sciatica) or show no spinal pain in certain degenerative spinal cord conditions (German Shepherd myelopathy)."[9]

Petplan Australia reported that signs of arthritis in dogs and cats include stiffness, difficulty moving, lethargy, irritability, and cat or dog may lick, chew or bite at sore joints.

Dogs might exhibit signs of stiffness or soreness after rising from rest, reluctance to exercise, bunny-hopping or other abnormal gait (legs move more together when running rather than swinging alternately), lameness, pain, reluctance to stand on rear legs, jump up, or climb stairs, subluxation or dislocation of the hip joint, or wasting away of the muscle mass in the hip area. Radiographs (X-rays) often confirm the presence of hip dysplasia, but radiographic features may not be present until two years of age in some dogs. Moreover, many affected dogs do not show clinical signs, but some dogs manifest the problem before seven months of age, while others do not show it until well into adulthood.

In part this is because the underlying hip problem may be mild or severe, may be worsening or stable, and the body may be more or less able to keep the joint in repair well enough to cope. Also, different animals have different pain tolerances and different weights, and use their bodies differently, so a light dog who only walks, will have a different joint use than a more heavy or very active dog. Some dogs will have a problem early on, others may never have a real problem at all.

Each case must be treated on its own merits, and a range of treatment options exist.

Long term pain

A dysplastic animal has probably lived with the condition since it was only a few months old, and has therefore grown up taking the chronic pain for granted and has learned to live with it. Dogs suffering such pain do not usually exhibit acute signs of pain. Sometimes, they will suddenly and abnormally sit down when walking, or refuse to walk or climb objects which they usually would, but this can equally be a symptom of many other things, including a thorn in the paw, or a temporary muscle pain. So pain recognition is less common a means of detection than the visible gait and other abnormalities described above.

Diagnosis

The classic diagnostic technique is with appropriate X-rays and hip scoring tests. These should be done at an appropriate age, and perhaps repeated at adulthood - if done too young they will not show anything. Since the condition is to a large degree inherited, the hip scores of parents should be professionally checked before buying a pup, and the hip scores of dogs should be checked before relying upon them for breeding. Despite the fact that the condition is inherited, it can occasionally arise even to animals with impeccably hip scored parents.

In diagnosing suspected dysplasia, the x-ray to evaluate the internal state of the joints is usually combined with a study of the animal and how it moves, to confirm whether its quality of life is being affected. Evidence of lameness or abnormal hip or spine use, difficulty or reduced movement when running or navigating steps, are all evidence of a problem. Both aspects have to be taken into account since there can be serious pain with little X-ray evidence.

It is also common to X-ray the spine and legs, as well as the hips, where dysplasia is suspected, since soft tissues can be affected by the extra strain of a dysplastic hip, or there may be other undetected factors such as neurological issues (e.g. nerve damage) involved.

There are several standardized systems for categorising dysplasia, set out by respective reputable bodies (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals/OFA, PennHIP, British Veterinary Association/BVA). Some of these tests require manipulation of the hip joint into standard positions, in order to reveal their condition on an X-ray.

Conditions which can mimic or replicate the symptoms of hip dysplasia

The following conditions can give symptoms very similar to hip dysplasia, and should be ruled out during diagnosis:

It is also worth noting that a dog may misuse its rear legs, or adapt its gait, to compensate for pain in the forelimbs, notably osteoarthritis, osteochondritis (OCD) or shoulder or elbow dysplasia, as well as pain in the hocks and stifles or spinal issues. It is important to rule out other joint and bodily issues before concluding that only hip dysplasia is present. Even if some hip dysplasia is present, it is possible for other conditions to co-exist or be masked by it.

Treatment

Overview

There is no complete cure, although there are many options to alleviate the clinical signs. The aim of treatment is to enhance quality of life. Crucially, this is an inherited, degenerative condition and so will change during the life of an animal, so any treatment is subject to regular review or re-assessment if the symptoms appear to get worse or anything significantly changes.

If the problem is relatively mild, then sometimes all that is needed to bring the symptoms under control are suitable medications to help the body deal better with inflammation, pain and joint wear. In many cases this is all that is needed for a long time.

If the problem cannot be controlled with medications, then often surgery is considered. There are traditionally two types of surgery - those which reshape the joint to reduce pain or help movement, and hip replacement for animals which completely replaces the damaged hip with an artificial joint, similar to human hip replacements.

Non-surgical interventions

Non-surgical interventions include three elements: weight control, exercise control, and medication. Canine massage may alleviate discomfort and help move lymph and nutrients through the system. Weight control is often "the single most important thing that we can do to help a dog with arthritis", and consequentially "reducing the dog's weight is enough to control all of the symptoms of arthritis in many dogs".[11] Reasonable exercise stimulates cartilage growth and reduces degeneration (though excessive exercise can do harm too),[11] and also regular long walks in early or mild dysplasia can help prevent loss of muscle mass to the hips. Medication can reduce pain and discomfort, and also reduce damaging inflammation.[11]

Non-surgical intervention is usually via a suitable non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which doubles as an anti-inflammatory and painkiller. Typical NSAIDs used for hip dysplasia include carprofen and meloxicam (often sold as Rimadyl and Metacam respectively), both used to treat arthritis resulting from dysplasia, although other NSAIDs such as tepoxalin (Zubrin) and prednoleucotropin ("PLT", a combination of cinchophen and prednisolone) are sometimes tried. NSAIDs vary dramatically between species as to effect: a safe NSAID in one species may be unsafe in another.[11] It is important to follow veterinary advice.

A glucosamine-based nutritional supplement may give the body additional raw materials used in joint repair. Glucosamine can take 3–4 weeks to start showing its effects, so the trial period for medication is usually at least 3–5 weeks. In vitro, glucosamine has been shown to have negative effects on cartilage cells.[12]

It is also common to try multiple anti-inflammatories over a further 4–6 week period, if necessary, since an animal will often respond to one type but fail to respond to another. If one anti-inflammatory does not work, a vet will often try one or two other brands for 2–3 weeks each, also in conjunction with ongoing glucosamine, before concluding that the condition does not seem responsive to medication.

Carprofen, and other anti-inflammatories in general, whilst very safe for most animals, can sometimes cause problems for some animals, and (in a few rare cases) sudden death through liver toxicity. This is most commonly discussed with carprofen but may be equally relevant with other anti-inflammatories. As a result, it is often recommended to perform monthly (or at least, twice-annually) blood tests to confirm that the animal is not reacting adversely to the medications. Such side effects are rare but worth being aware of, especially if long-term use is anticipated.

This regimen can usually be maintained for the long term, as long as it is effective in keeping the symptoms of dysplasia at bay.

Some attempts have been made to treat the pain caused by arthritic changes through the use of "laser therapy", in particular "class IV laser therapy". Well-controlled clinical trials are unfortunately lacking, and much of the evidence for these procedures remains anecdotal.

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used for a number of years to treat OA. Their use has mostly been autologous (self); used fresh (in the form of a mixed cell population mainly sourced from adipose tissue), or expanded in number via culture; or allogeneic (non-self). The majority of their action via a paracrine effect,[13] and hence the route of administration has been mostly via intra-articular injection. In vitro, this paracrine effect has been shown to enhance type II collagen expression in OA chondrocytes while decreasing matrix metalloproteinase activity (MMP-3 and MMP-13).[14] In clinical cases, this has been shown via their anti-inflammatory/pain relieving effects. Dogs treated with adipose derived stem cell therapy have had significantly improved scores for lameness and compiled scores for pain and range of motion compared with control dogs.[15] Other randomised studies have shown similar improved results with functional limitation, range of motion, and owner and veterinary investigator visual analogue scale for pain all showing improvement.[16] Beyond this, significant improvements in MSC treated animals as measured by peak vertical force and vertical impulse in force platform have been observed.[17]

Patient-side autologous therapy in the US is subject to change. New guidance issued (FDA#218 Guidance for Industry - Cell-Based Products for Animal Use) will likely require stem cell therapy to be produced via cGMP. Resources required to implement these changes may change the US veterinary stem cell industry more towards a hub and spoke approach or towards allogeneic therapy, and away from patient-side therapy.

Surgical interventions

If medications fail to maintain an adequate quality of life, surgical options may need to be considered. These may attempt to modify or repair the hip joint, in order to allow pain-free usage, or may in some cases completely replace it.

Hip modification surgeries include excision arthroplasty, in which the head of the femur is removed and reshaped or replaced, and pelvic rotation (also known as triple pelvic osteotomy, or pubic symphodesis) in which the hip socket is realigned, may be appropriate if done early enough. These treatments can be very effective, but as a rule tend to become less effective for heavier animals - their ability to treat the problem becomes reduced if the joint has to handle more pressure in daily life. Pelvic rotation is also not as effective if arthritis has developed to the point of being visible on X-rays.[1]

Femoral head ostectomy (FHO), sometimes appropriate for smaller dogs and cats, is when the head of the femur is removed but not replaced. Instead, the resulting scar tissue from the operation takes the place of the hip joint. In such surgeries, the weight of the animal must be kept down throughout its life in order to maintain mobility. FHO surgery is sometimes done when other methods have failed, but is also done initially when the joint connection is particularly troublesome or when arthritis is severe.

Hip modification surgeries such as these usually result in reduction of hip function in return for improved quality of life, pain control, and a reduction in future risk.

Hip replacement has the highest rate of success, especially in severe cases, since it completely replaces the faulty joint. It usually restores complete mobility if no other joint is affected, and also completely prevents recurrence. Hip replacement for dogs, can sometimes also be a preferred clinical option for serious dysplasia in animals of 51 lb (23 kg) or more, a weight that excludes certain other surgical treatments.

Other options under exploration include:

BioScaffold implant procedure

In a recent comparative orthopedic study, a new bioscaffold having an embryonic-like structure has shown positive clinical outcomes in dogs with advanced, end stage osteoarthritis.[18] The bioscaffold was implanted into intra-articular areas and reported up to 90-days of clinical improvement after a single implant. The bioscaffold has been shown to cause infiltrating cells to upregulate a variety of tissue repair factors including aggrecan, connective tissue growth factor, bone morphogenetic protein, transforming growth factors, and other tissue repair factors associated with osteoarthritis.

Aids to living

There are many products available to help mobility in dogs suffering from hip dysplasia. These consist of pressure-reducing pet beds, ramps, stairs, and steps built with wood, plastic, metal, or foam that help the dog get from one place to another without causing pain or hurting themselves further. Hip hammocks have been tested and proven effective in aiding dogs suffering from hip dysplasia regain mobility.[19]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Workingdogs.com. "Canine hip dysplasia". Workingdogs.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  2. ↑ Randall, David (Mar 23, 2014). "Ask The Expert Dr. Randall - Hip Dysplasia In Dogs". Youtube. Flexpet. Retrieved Nov 10, 2015.
  3. ↑ Connor, J.R.; LePage, C.; Swift, B.A.; Yamashita, D.; Bendele, A.M.; Maul, D.; Kumar, S. "Protective effects of a cathepsin K inhibitor, SB-553484, in the canine partial medial meniscectomy model of osteoarthritis". Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 17 (9): 1236–1243. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2009.03.015.
  4. ↑ An Error Occurred Setting Your User Cookie
  5. ↑ Ettinger, Stephen J.; Feldman, Edward C. (1995). Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine (4th ed.). W. B. Saunders Company. ISBN 0-7216-6795-3.
  6. ↑ "A number of environmental factors can affect the incidence of hip dysplasia in dogs - NVH". Veths.no. 2012-03-13. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  7. ↑ Torres; de la Riva, G; Hart, BL; Farver, TB; Oberbauer, AM; Messam, LLM; Willits, N; et al. (2013). "Neutering Dogs: Effects on Joint Disorders and Cancers in Golden Retrievers". PLoS ONE. 8 (2): e55937. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055937.
  8. ↑ Archived February 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  9. 1 2 Archived June 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ Lenehan TM, Van Sickle DC (1985). "Chapter 84: Canine osteochondrosis". In Nunamaker DM, Newton CD. Textbook of small animal orthopaedics. Philadelphia: Lippincott. ISBN 0-397-52098-0.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Arthritis in the Dog". Vetrica.com. 2004-02-09. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  12. ↑ Terry DE, Rees-Milton K, Smith P, Carran J, Pezeshki P, Woods C, Greer P, Anastassiades TP (2005). "N-acylation of glucosamine modulates chondrocyte growth, proteoglycan synthesis, and gene expression". J. Rheumatol. 32 (9): 1775–86. PMID 16142878.
  13. ↑ van Buul, G. M.; Villafuertes, E.; Bos, P. K.; Waarsing, J. H.; Kops, N.; Narcisi, R.; Weinans, H.; Verhaar, J. A. N.; Bernsen, M. R.; van Osch, G. J. V. M. (2012). "Mesenchymal stem cells secrete factors that inhibit inflammatory processes in short-term osteoarthritic synovium and cartilage explant culture.". Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 20 (10): 1186–1196. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2012.06.003.
  14. ↑ Platas, J.; Guillén, M. I.; del Caz, M. D. P.; Gomar, F.; Mirabet, V.; Alcaraz, M. J. (2013). "Conditioned Media from Adipose-Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Downregulate Degradative Mediators Induced by Interleukin-1β in Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes. Mediators of Inflammation". Mediators of Inflammation. 2013 (2013): 357014. doi:10.1155/2013/357014.
  15. ↑ Black, L.; Gaynor, J.; Gahring, D.; Adams, C.; Aron, D.; Harman, S; Gingerich, D.A.; Harman, R; et al. (2007). "Effect of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem and regenerative cells on lameness in dogs with chronic osteoarthritis of the coxofemoral joints: A randomized, double-blinded, multicenter, controlled trial". Veterinary Therapeutics : Research in Applied Veterinary Medicine. 8 (4): 272–284.
  16. ↑ Cuervo, B.; Rubio, M.; Sopena, J.; Dominguez, J.; Vilar, J.; Morales, R.; Cugat, M.; Carrillo, J.M (2014). "Hip Osteoarthritis in Dogs: A Randomized Study Using Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Adipose Tissue and Plasma Rich in Growth Factors.". International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 15 (8): 13437–13460. doi:10.3390/ijms150813437.
  17. ↑ Vilar, J.M.; Morales, M.; Santana, A.; Spinella, G; Rubio, M. N.; Cuervo, B.; Cugat, R.; Sopena, J.; Carrillo, J. M. (2013). "Controlled, blinded force platform analysis of the effect of intraarticular injection of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells associated to PRGF-Endoret in osteoarthritic dogs.". BMC Veterinary Research. 9 (1): 131. doi:10.1186/1746-6148-9-131.
  18. ↑ "BioScaffold Reduces Pain and Lameness in Dogs with Osteoarthrits: July 2009 Report" (PDF). Trmatrix.xom. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  19. ↑ "Friday Find: Animal Assistance Products-For Pets Who Need a Little Extra Support". Fourgreensteps.com. 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2013-08-18.

[1]

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  1. ↑ Connor, J.R.; LePage, C.; Swift, B.A.; Yamashita, D.; Bendele, A.M.; Maul, D.; Kumar, S. "Protective effects of a cathepsin K inhibitor, SB-553484, in the canine partial medial meniscectomy model of osteoarthritis". Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 17 (9): 1236–1243. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2009.03.015.
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