Hip health for dogs is important to consider, especially if you have a large breed dog which is more susceptible to joint problems than smaller dogs. While there are treatment and surgery options available for dogs with genetic hip disorders, preventative care can reduce problems later in life.
Hip Health Diet
Obesity not only makes hip problems worse, it can also increase the likelihood that problems will develop, especially if the obesity occurs at a young age. Studies on Labrador retriever puppies showed that puppies who free-fed (food is left out for them all day to eat as much as they please) had a higher risk of developing hip dysplasia than puppies who were fed 25 percent less in a controlled diet.
A dog of proper weight has an hour glass figure if viewed from the top, and though you may not be able to see their ribs, you can feel them without pressing through a layer of fat. Puppy food labels often suggest higher amounts of food than necessary, so reduce the amount of food given if your dog begins to put on additional weight. If your dog is already overweight, gradually reduce the amount you feed or supplement some of the food for ground green beans, which provide nutrients but not as many calories.
Your dog also requires proper amounts of calcium and other minerals, especially when he's growing. These are usually included in high-quality kibble, but if you feed a home-cooked diet, make sure to supplement.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are naturally found in healthy joints and are an important supplement if your dog begins showing signs of poor hip health. These supplements not only soothe inflamed joints but can also restore joint tissue. If you have a large breed dog who may develop hip problems, begin supplementing early. These supplements have no side effects and may slow the effects of hip problems.
Hip Health Exercise
Though it's important to keep the weight off your dog, some types of exercise can be detrimental to your dog's health, especially if he has already developed hip problems or is still growing.
If your dog is suffering from hip problems, limit high-impact exercises such as jumping. Provide your dog with ramps to get out of cars and off furniture rather than jumping, and limit activities such as agility, frisbee and catch that require your dog to jump.
These exercises should also be avoided in young dogs whose joints are still developing. Limit the amount of jumping your puppy does. Wait to begin competitive dog sports until your dog is older than a year, and limit running on hard surfaces such as pavement.
The best exercises to conserve the hips are swimming and running on soft ground or sand. If your dog already has hip problems, start slowly when instituting a new exercise program.
Hip problems are common, especially in older, large breed dogs. However, by monitoring their diet and exercise, you can delay and possibly prevent hip problems later in life. Since hip problems can also be genetic, don't breed any dog that develops hip problems early in life.