| Symptoms: | HD
is frequently, but not always, painful and interferes with proper gait and activity.
Clinical signs of HD may become evident as dogs grow, but many times there are
no signs until later in life when osteoarthritis develops due to joint laxity.
Symptoms include slowness in getting up, limping and soreness after exercise,
and unwillingness to jump. |
| Treatment: |
The two most common surgeries
for severe hip dysplasia are the Triple Pelvic Osteotomey (TPO), which can be
performed on one side only or on both sides, and the Total Hip Replacement (THR).
Depending on the severity of the clinical signs, dogs might also live happy, long
lives just on the combination of restricted but daily exercise, Adequan/Cosequin
and pain treatment. Reducing the frequency of the disease depends on selective
breeding of dogs and lines with normal hip formation. In the Leonberger, as in
other large breeds, hip dysplasia is a problem. An OFA evaluation is required
for all potential breeding dogs at or after two years of age. Only dogs with Excellent,
Good, or Fair hips will be considered breedable. The
HREC would like to suggest that all Leonberger owners have their dogs x-rayed
for elbow dysplasia. Even though the incidence of these diseases is relatively
low in the Leo, continued monitoring provides important information for your breeder,
and allows us to detect changes in trends early on and act accordingly. In particular,
those dogs that participate in working events will benefit from early detection,
assuring they are functionally sound for the job. |
