Although hip dysplasia can occur in cats, dogs and humans, for the purpose of this article we will focus on dogs. According to the ASPCA, hip dysplasia is an inherited disease that occurs when a hip joint is improperly formed. Because the hip joint is loose, the dog’s leg bones move around too much causing pain. It is one of the most common skeletal diseases found in dogs, it can strike dogs of any age, and is not gender specific.
Hip dysplasia usually begins when a dog is young (four to five months) and is more noticeable before and after exercising or running. However, it can also develop when a dog gets older in combination with osteoarthritis, which is inflammation of the hip joint.