hip dysplasia

We do our part in lowering the risk of hip dysplasia in the puppies that we produce by certifying with OFA or PennHip, each of our parent dogs.  But studies have now shown hip dysplasia to be a multifactorial disease, meaning there are many factors that can contribute to an individual dog's risk of hip dysplasia.  So once your puppy goes home, there are several ways that you can actively reduce the risk of hip dysplasia for your dog.  We ask that all of our families follow the recommended guidelines to ensure the health and longevity of your canine companion.

SPAY/NEUTER AFTER 12 MONTHS
We require that every puppy is spayed and neutered after they go to their new homes.  But several studies indicate that the timing of the procedure could have an impact on the future risk of hip dysplasia for your dog.  Several studies now show that a dog spayed or neutered after 11 months of age, can significantly lower the dogs risk of hip dysplasia and may reduce the future risk of certain types of cancer.  

OBESITY
We all know that a healthy diet is an imperative part of a healthy lifestyle and it is the same for your dog.  A diet complete with the needed vitamins and minerals to support adequate and steady growth is essential in puppyhood.  While the nutritional needs of your dog may change with time, maintaining a healthy weight through every stage is imperative.  Little treats are great training tools, but all of those calories can add up. You can reduce the risk of hip dysplasia in your dog by monitoring their weight and preventing obesity.

EXERCISE
Regular exercise is important for all of us and equally important to our canine companions.  But certain types of exercise, especially at a young age, can actually increase your dog's risk of hip dysplasia.  We recommend avoiding excessive exercise in growing puppies and young dogs.  Your puppy is an excellent walking partner, but keeping the lengths of walks reasonable for the age of your dog is important as well as reducing the number of stairs they navigate.  We know that having a running partner always makes the experience more enjoyable, but we do not recommend taking dogs under two years of age for lengthy runs. Avoiding strenuous high impact exercises in growing dogs under 24 months can decrease the chance that hip dysplasia will affect them later on.  

With due diligence on our part and yours, we can ensure that your dog lives a full life, free from hip dysplasia.

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