My Dog Has a Hip Dislocation. What Should I Do?

Vet examination

If you think that your dog has dislocated their hip then you should take them to your vet. A hip dislocation can be an extremely painful experience for your dog and it is very unlikely to resolve on its own. Usually your vet will ‘reduce’ the dislocated joint. This involves giving strong pain-killers and sedating your dog so that the muscles relax, then manipulating the joint back into its correct position.

Reasons for hip dislocation

It could be any number of reasons why your dog has dislocated their hip but one symptom of hip dysplasia is the hip joint becoming dislocated. This is because the ball and socket which is what makes up the hip joint, is mal-formed and shallow and in addition the supporting muscles have too much laxity. This means that the ball slips out of the socket more easily than it should. Although hip dislocation, (or to give it its proper name hip luxation) is not the same as hip dysplasia, hip dysplasia can often predispose a dog to hip dislocations. Hip luxation ultimately leads to osteoarthritis in dogs.

How to help hip dislocation

To help prevent the onset of osteoarthritis for as long as possible, you should promote:

• A healthy diet
• High in omega 3 fatty acids which research shows can help decrease inflammation
• A joint supplement rich in glucosamine and chondroitin, supports joint health and reduces arthritic symptoms
• Weight management is important also, a healthy body weight is crucial to reduce stress on arthritic joints and minimise inflammation and damage
• A hip brace can also be a really helpful way to support your dog after a hip dislocation has been repaired. Giving extra support to their hip joints and enabling them to be more confident when running and playing.

Read more about Dog Hip Dysplasia Causes, Prevention and How to Help at home https://zoomadog.co.uk/collections/dog-hip-dysplasia-braces-signs-and-treatment