Home Care Options for Dogs With Hip Dysplasia

Find out how to care for your dog with hip dysplasia at home. Get tips on how to ease pain, boost mobility, and make your pet feel comfortable, with natural remedies and proven solutions.

Home Care Options for Dogs With Hip Dysplasia
Learn about effective remedies to care for dog hip dysplasia at home.

Photo by limoo

Hip dysplasia affects dogs' hip joints, particularly in larger breeds. It can cause inflammation, arthritis, and reduced mobility. There is no cure for hip dysplasia, but there are ways to help your dog cope better at home and be in less pain. Having cared for animals for many years, I've learned some home care options to help dogs with this condition feel more comfortable and happy. I'll share some background on hip dysplasia, plus home care tips that might benefit you and your dog the most.

What is Hip Dysplasia in Dogs?

Hip dysplasia is a common orthopedic condition that affects dogs, particularly larger breeds. It is a developmental disorder where the hip joint fails to develop correctly, leading to instability, discomfort, and reduced mobility.

This condition can cause pain and difficulty walking, running, or even getting up and down. Understanding the basics of hip dysplasia can help us better care for our pets and provide them with the necessary support and treatment they need.

Home Care Options for Dogs With Hip Dysplasia

Various home care options are available to help alleviate discomfort and improve the quality of your dog's life. You can provide relief and support by incorporating simple yet effective strategies into your daily routine.

These tips can significantly affect your dog's comfort and overall well-being, from pain management techniques to health supplements. Let's explore some of these options and learn how to provide the best care for our canine friends with hip dysplasia.

Please set realistic expectations and understand that supplements and home care options should be part of a comprehensive veterinary treatment plan for managing hip dysplasia. Before adding supplements to your dog's regimen, please talk to your vet to ensure safety and effectiveness.

1. Pain Management Techniques

When managing pain in our beloved animals, we often search for effective techniques to provide the relief and support they need. Dogs with hip dysplasia may experience sudden pain or have difficulty walking, leaving us concerned and eager to help.

By combining appropriate medication and weight management strategies, we can offer much-needed comfort to our loyal pets in the comfort of our own homes. Let's explore these practical approaches that address the specific needs of our dogs and provide guidance for caring for them during those challenging moments.

  1. Medication: Your vet is the most qualified person to determine suitable pain medication for your dog. With veterinary guidance, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics can help alleviate pain and reduce inflammation.
  2. Weight Management: Dogs with hip dysplasia need to maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight means additional joint strain, worsening the condition and causing discomfort. You can help by giving them a balanced diet and regular exercise appropriate for their condition.
Please keep an eye on your dog's weight; Your vet can help you on a balanced diet to help with hip dysplasia at home.

Image by Amy_Gillard from Pixabay

2. Health Supplements

Certain supplements can play a beneficial role when it comes to supporting your dog's hip health. With veterinary guidance, you can incorporate them into your pet's home routine to support and promote overall well-being. Here are three options that experts recommend.

  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids: One of the most beneficial supplements you can offer a dog with hip dysplasia. Naturally found in fish oil, they are anti-inflammatory and can help reduce joint inflammation and improve mobility. This study says that feeding a fish-based dog food enriched with omega-3 fatty acids and other nutraceuticals lowered the risk of hip and elbow dysplasia in growing Labrador retrievers.
  • Glucosamine Chondroitin: According to the veterinarians.org website, glucosamine can benefit large dogs with hip issues, spinal injuries, and joint inflammation. Arthritis can affect all joints, including knees, shoulders, elbows, and hips. It often shows up when dogs age, so glucosamine chondroitin supplements are usually given to middle-aged or older dogs when they start having mobility problems.
  • Boswellia Extract: A recent veterinary clinical trial in Switzerland showed that a herbal dietary supplement containing a natural resin extract of Boswellia serrata significantly improved symptoms in 71% of dogs with chronic joint and spinal diseases, including osteoarthritis. After just two weeks of treatment, the dogs experienced reduced lameness, pain, and stiffness, suggesting the effectiveness of Boswellia Extract as a natural and supportive option for managing hip dysplasia in dogs.

In the following video, Dr. Jones recommends Superior Labs Boswellia Extract as a natural home remedy for hip dysplasia in dogs.

3. Adjusting Their Surroundings

Creating a supportive and safe environment is crucial when caring for a dog with a hip condition. So how can we enhance our pets' comfort? We can create an environment that promotes well-being and mobility by making simple adjustments to their living space and minimizing the risk of further strain or injury. For example:

  1. Comfortable Sleeping Area: Please provide a soft and supportive bed for your pet. Orthopedic dog beds can help relieve joint pressure and provide a pleasant resting place.
  2. Slip-Proof Flooring: Cover slippery surfaces with rugs or nonslip mats to prevent falls and injuries. This adjustment is significant for areas where your dog frequently walks or lies down.
  3. Elevated Food and Water Bowls: A simple gesture like providing raised bowls can reduce the strain on your dog's hips and make mealtime more comfortable.
Raised bowls can make eating and drinking more manageable for your dog. They can reduce neck strain and improve posture, which can help with hip dysplasia symptoms.

Image by Helga from Pixabay

4. Mobility Aids

Dealing with mobility issues in dogs with hip problems can be a challenging and problematic experience. Watching our pets struggle with walking or performing everyday tasks can hurt our hearts.

But there's more hope than you may realize. By incorporating the right mobility aids into their routine at home, we can offer the support and assistance they need to regain mobility and independence.

  1. Assistive Devices: Consider using mobility aids such as harnesses, slings, and ramps. These supportive measures provide stability, allowing your dog to move around more easily.
  2. Gentle Exercise: Low-impact exercises like swimming or short walks can help improve your dog's muscle strength and joint flexibility. Please talk to your vet about exercise options tailored to your dog's condition.
To care for your dog at home, low-impact exercises such as swimming or short walks can help as a therapy for dogs with hip dysplasia.

Photo by Bethany Ferr

Final Thoughts and Summary

Having a dog with hip dysplasia can be challenging, but you can significantly improve their quality of life at home with some therapeutic remedies. I've witnessed the positive impact these care options can have on dogs in their homes, and I believe they will also bring relief and comfort to your pet. Please remember to seek a personalized care plan from your vet. Alongside veterinary guidance, these tips can help your dog live a happier and more comfortable life.

Home therapy options for managing dog hip dysplasia include a range of techniques, supplements, and modifications to enhance comfort and mobility.

Home Care OptionDescription

Pain Management Techniques

Prescribed Medication, Weight Management

Health Supplements

Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Boswellia Extract, Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate

Gentle Exercise

Low-Impact Activities, Swimming, Physical Therapy

Comfort Aids

Orthopedic Bed, Ramps and Stairs, Harnesses and Slings

Sources and Further Reading

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

© 2023 Louise Fiolek


(Excluding for the Headline, this article ("story") has not been edited by MiBiz News and is published from a web feed or sourced from the Internet.)