{"id":10741,"date":"2023-07-20T11:04:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T10:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/?p=10741"},"modified":"2025-06-16T15:51:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T14:51:16","slug":"hip-dysplasia-protecting-your-labrador-puppy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/hip-dysplasia-protecting-your-labrador-puppy\/","title":{"rendered":"Hip dysplasia: protecting your Labrador puppy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Hip dysplasia in Labradors is one of the most serious inherited diseases that the breed commonly suffer from. Fortunately, there are several ways you can protect your Labrador puppy from developing hip dysplasia. The most important step is to buy your puppy from parents that both have good hip scores. Once you bring your puppy home, make sure that you limit access to slippery floors and steps whilst they are developing. Keeping their weight to a healthy level makes a difference too, as do supplements once your dog becomes a senior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"#how\">What does hip dysplasia mean for dogs?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#cause\">Common causes of canine hip dysplasia.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#prevent\">Hip dysplasia prevention for breeders.<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#care\">Good puppy care to limit your chances.<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Help your dog with hip dysplasia\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Xcp-P9XaceE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how\">Physiological Development of Hip Dysplasia in Labradors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our hips, and the hips of our dogs, are \u2018ball and socket\u2019 joints. And for these joints to work properly, the ball part, which is the bulbous end at the top of the long thigh bone, must fit neatly into the socket, which is a part of the pelvis. Your dog\u2019s back legs need to swing smoothly back and forwards as he moves, whilst remaining snuggly in position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the hip joint is not perfectly formed, movement is impaired, and use of the joint causes damage to the surface of the bones (arthritis) making a bad situation even worse. In some cases this can progress rapidly and seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hip dysplasia in dogs causes arthritis, pain, and lameness. It varies in severity depending on the degree of damage in the joint, and to some extent on the individual dog. Some cases can be adequately managed with pain relief and care. But many medium to large dogs will need expensive major surgery to restore normal movement and relieve pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cause\">Causes of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two main factors at work.&nbsp; One is the genes that your dog has inherited and which determine the potential for your dog\u2019s joint development. The other factor is the environment that the dog grows up in, particularly in early life. How fast he grows, and the way his joints are used when he is still developing, can influence the way his joints will turn out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Working together<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We don\u2019t yet know everything about hip dysplasia, but it is thought that there are several <em>different<\/em> genes involved in your dog\u2019s hip development, and several different environmental factors that can influence his hips after he is born. These environmental factors include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/how-to-feed-a-labrador\/\">diet<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/how-much-exercise-does-my-labrador-need\/\">exercise<\/a>, and hormones. It is believed that these genetic influences and environmental influences work together to shape your puppy\u2019s hip development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Genetics vs Environmental Factors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is possible that with absolutely perfect genes, environmental factors may have little effect on your puppy&#8217;s joints. But we don&#8217;t know for sure. It is also possible, that with absolutely terrible genes, the best environment in the world won\u2019t prevent the dog developing severe hip dysplasia. &nbsp;Again, there is still a lot we don&#8217;t know about this condition, so we cannot say for sure. But for all the dogs in-between, we <em>do<\/em> know that there may be <em>much<\/em> that you as a pet owner, can do, to ensure your dog has healthy hips<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your opportunities to help<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two main opportunities for you to ensure your puppy is free from hip dysplasia &nbsp; The first opportunity begins before he is born.&nbsp; The second begins when you bring him home. If you have already bought your pup, there is nothing you can do about the first, so just skip down the page and read up on what you can do when you bring your puppy home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"prevent\">Health Testing Puppy Parents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every Labrador used for breeding should be tested for hip dysplasia. This includes your puppy&#8217;s mother and father. &nbsp;There are no exceptions. We don\u2019t have a genetic test for this yet, but we can x-ray a dog\u2019s hips and these X-rays can then be assessed and given a score by a team of specialist vets. Breeders can then remove dogs with bad hips from their breeding programmes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All responsible breeders have their labradors \u2018hip scored\u2019 in this way, and you find out more about hip scoring, and how to check hip scores, in this article: <a title=\"improving the odds against hip dysplasia\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/hip-dysplasiaimproving-the-odds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hip dysplasia &#8211; improving the odds<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A sad reflection on dog breeding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sadly, a lot of Labrador puppies (almost half of puppies born in the UK) are still being born from parents that have not been hip scored. It is of course utterly irresponsible to breed from untested dogs, but the tests are expensive, so bad breeders will try and avoid them. And because puppy registrations generate money, the Kennel Club will still register puppies without scores, or with really bad scores!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a truly sad reflection on the current state of dog breeding and the dog registration process, but it is what it is, and it makes your role as a certificate &#8216;checker&#8217; doubly important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check those certificates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It is vital that you check the health test certificates from both parents of any puppy you consider purchasing. &nbsp;Remember, Kennel Club registration will not protect your puppy from having parents with bad hips. Walk away from breeders that make excuses or say there is no need to test your puppy&#8217;s mother because Dad has been done.&nbsp; This is completely untrue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"care\">Puppy Care To Prevent Hip Dysplasia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is your next opportunity to help give your puppy great hips.&nbsp; And it is thought that there are three main ways that you can help. The first is by avoiding inappropriate exercise, the second is by feeding for an appropriate rate of&nbsp;&nbsp;growth, and the third is a little more controversial as it involves delaying neutering until your dog is mature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The right way to exercise a puppy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Puppies don\u2019t need long walks or vigorous exercise.&nbsp; Playing in the garden is sufficient for pups under five months old. If you take your puppy out on a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B009FXSHHG\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B009FXSHHG&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=thelabsit-20&amp;linkId=FZCCAXR2WWLXSLOM\">leash<\/a><span class=\"affiliate-link-text\" style=\"color:#757575;\">(paid link)<\/span>, a rule of thumb often mentioned is no more than five minutes walking per day, for each month of his age. So that means a maximum of 25 minutes for a 5 month old puppy. &nbsp;This is just a guideline, to help those who are not sure how to exercise a puppy. It isn\u2019t backed up by studies or evidence, but is a common sense principle that will help you avoid overdoing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Avoiding steps and stairs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One study has shown that puppies climbing stairs at an early age were more likely to develop hip dysplasia. &nbsp;So it is a sensible precaution to carry your small puppy up and down steps. Most experts recommend you don\u2019t teach or encourage dogs to jump until they have stopped growing &nbsp;and this seems a sensible precaution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Diet and growth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone wants their puppy to grow big and strong.&nbsp; But optimal growth does not mean rapid growth.&nbsp; It is now thought that slower growth probably allows for healthier hip development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure you keep your puppy slim, with a waist, and you should be fine. You can check out our <a title=\"feeding your labrador puppy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/feeding-your-labrador-puppy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">feeding your puppy<\/a> article for more information. So don\u2019t be tempted to \u2018feed your puppy up\u2019 if he seems on the small side, without talking to your vet first.&nbsp; He may just be naturally small, and you don\u2019t want him to grow to quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hormones<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At one time we used to whip away our puppies\u2019 reproductive equipment without a second thought. But the hormones produces by your puppy&#8217;s ovaries or testes are now thought to be important for his or her health in a number of different ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact recent evidence has shown that neutering is implicated in a number of health problems, and hip dysplasia is one of them. A <a title=\"golden retriever study neutering\" href=\"http:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosone\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pone.0055937\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">recent study<\/a> of golden retrievers for example, found that the incidence of hip dysplasia in male dogs neutered early, was double that of male dogs left intact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to neuter your dog, waiting until he is physically mature may reduce the impact of hormone loss on his joint development.&nbsp; You can read more about the pros and cons&nbsp;of neutering in this article: <a title=\"castration male labradors\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thelabradorsite.com\/should-i-have-my-labrador-castrated\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">should I have my Labrador castrated<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you haven\u2019t purchased a puppy yet, make certain you check the hip scores of the parents of any litter you want to look at. Preferably before you have a gorgeous puppy sitting in your lap and gazing into your eyes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you bring your puppy home, give him time to grow and mature naturally. Don\u2019t be in too much of a hurry to disrupt his hormones or take him jogging. There will be time enough for that later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spread the word<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell everyone you know about the importance of hip scores.&nbsp; We need to ensure that there is no market for puppies for untested parents. Let\u2019s give all puppies a chance of a healthy future, where we possibly can. Your decisions now in this respect have the power to help many puppies now and in the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hip dysplasia in Labradors is one of the most serious inherited diseases that the breed commonly suffer from. Fortunately, there are several ways you can protect your Labrador puppy from developing hip dysplasia. The most important step is to buy your puppy from parents that both have good hip scores. Once you bring your puppy&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10747,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[221],"class_list":["post-10741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-labrador-health","tag-fetch"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Hip dysplasia: Protecting your puppy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" 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