Hip Dysplasia
What It Is
Hip dysplasia isn’t just a fancy term for “bad hips”—it’s a developmental disorder where the ball and socket of the hip joint don’t fit or develop properly, leading to joint instability, inflammation, and eventually arthritis. Think of it like a golf ball rattling around in a shallow cup instead of sitting snugly. Over time, that grinding wears down cartilage, causes pain, and limits mobility. It’s one of the most common orthopedic conditions in dogs, affecting over 210 breeds. While large and giant breeds are most associated with it, smaller dogs aren’t immune—yes, even your tiny Affenpinscher can be at risk. Genetics play a huge role, but rapid growth, poor nutrition, and excessive exercise in puppyhood can worsen it. The condition is often bilateral (affecting both hips), and severity ranges from mild to crippling.
Symptoms to Watch For
You won’t always catch hip dysplasia early—many puppies show no signs until they’re young adults. But watch for subtle clues: a “bunny-hopping” gait (where both back legs move together), reluctance to jump or climb stairs, stiffness after rest, or a swaying hind-end walk. As it progresses, you might notice your dog struggling to get up, limping after activity, or even acting withdrawn due to chronic pain. Some dogs compensate so well you’d never guess—until they’re 5 or 6 and suddenly can’t keep up on walks. If your dog is from a high-risk breed, assume hip issues could be lurking even if they seem fine. Early detection is key to managing quality of life.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis starts with a physical exam—your vet will check for pain, laxity, and reduced range of motion in the hips. But the real confirmation comes from X-rays, usually taken under sedation so the muscles are relaxed and the images are accurate. The gold standard is the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) evaluation, where radiographs are sent to a panel of vets who grade the hips on a scale from excellent to severe dysplasia. PennHIP is another method that measures joint laxity more precisely and can detect risk as early as 4 months. These tests aren’t cheap—expect $150–$300 depending on your vet and location, plus sedation costs. But if you’re buying from a breeder, this is exactly the kind of screening you should demand to see.
Treatment Options
Treatment depends on severity, age, and lifestyle. For mild cases, conservative management often works: weight control (every extra pound stresses those hips), joint supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin, anti-inflammatory meds (like carprofen), and physical therapy or hydrotherapy. These can cost $50–$150 a month ongoing. For moderate to severe cases, surgery might be necessary. Options include:
- FHO (Femoral Head Ostectomy): Removes the ball of the joint so the body forms a “false joint.” Best for smaller dogs or those not ideal for more complex surgeries. Cost: $1,200–$2,500 per hip.
- Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO): Realigns the socket in young dogs (under 10 months) with no arthritis. Expensive but highly effective. Cost: $3,000–$5,000 per side.
- Total Hip Replacement (THR): The gold standard for severe cases—replaces the entire joint with implants. Dogs often return to near-normal function. Cost: $4,500–$7,000 per hip, sometimes more.
Recovery takes weeks to months, and rehab is non-negotiable. But done right, many dogs live active, pain-free lives.
Prevention and Screening
You can’t change genetics, but you can stack the deck in your dog’s favor. First, buy from breeders who screen their breeding dogs via OFA or PennHIP—ask for the actual certification numbers. Avoid puppies from parents with fair, borderline, or dysplastic ratings. Second, don’t overfeed your pup. Rapid growth increases risk, so feed large-breed puppy food that’s lower in calories and calcium. Third, avoid high-impact exercise (like jumping off decks or long runs) before 12–18 months. A soft bed and ramps instead of stairs help too. If you’re serious about a high-risk breed, consider PennHIP screening early—it’s one of the best predictors we’ve got.
Breeds Most at Risk
While hip dysplasia pops up across sizes, it’s most common in big, fast-growing breeds. The Foundation Stock Service leads the list with 60 affected breeds—many rare or emerging breeds without rigorous screening yet. The Herding (30 breeds), Sporting (29), Working (23), and Hound (22) groups follow closely. High-risk examples include the German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labrador, Great Dane, and yes—your Alaskan Malamute or American Bulldog. But don’t assume mixed breeds are safe. If your rescue has a deep chest and heavy hindquarters, assume hip care is part of the deal. Bottom line: if you’re choosing a breed, especially from these groups, ask about hip scores like you’d ask about temperament. Your future dog’s comfort depends on it.
Breeds commonly affected

Affenpinscher
Toy Group
Afghan Hound
Hound Group
Airedale Terrier
Terrier Group
Akita
Working Group
Alaskan Malamute
Working Group
American Bulldog
Foundation Stock Service
American English Coonhound
Hound Group
American Eskimo Dog
Non-Sporting Group
American Foxhound
Hound Group
American Hairless Terrier
Terrier Group
American Leopard Hound
Foundation Stock Service
American Staffordshire Terrier
Terrier Group
American Water Spaniel
Sporting Group
Anatolian Shepherd Dog
Working Group
Appenzeller Sennenhund
Foundation Stock Service
Australian Cattle Dog
Herding Group
Australian Kelpie
Foundation Stock Service
Australian Shepherd
Herding Group
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
Foundation Stock Service
Barbet
Sporting Group
Basenji
Hound Group
Basset Fauve de Bretagne
Foundation Stock Service
Basset Hound
Hound Group
Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound
Foundation Stock Service
Beagle
Hound Group
Bearded Collie
Herding Group
Beauceron
Herding Group
Belgian Laekenois
Miscellaneous Class
Belgian Malinois
Herding Group
Belgian Sheepdog
Herding Group
Belgian Tervuren
Herding Group
Bergamasco Sheepdog
Herding Group
Berger Picard
Herding Group
Bernese Mountain Dog
Working Group
Bichon Frise
Non-Sporting Group
Black and Tan Coonhound
Hound Group
Black Russian Terrier
Working Group
Bloodhound
Hound Group
Bluetick Coonhound
Hound Group
Boerboel
Working Group
Bohemian Shepherd
Foundation Stock Service
Bolognese
Foundation Stock Service
Border Collie
Herding Group
Border Terrier
Terrier Group
Bouvier des Flandres
Herding Group
Boxer
Working Group
Boykin Spaniel
Sporting Group
Bracco Italiano
Miscellaneous Class
Braque du Bourbonnais
Foundation Stock Service
Braque Francais Pyrenean
Foundation Stock Service
Briard
Herding Group
Brittany
Sporting Group
Broholmer
Foundation Stock Service
Brussels Griffon
Toy Group
Bulldog
Non-Sporting Group
Bullmastiff
Working Group
Canaan Dog
Herding Group
Cane Corso
Working Group
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Herding Group
Carolina Dog
Foundation Stock Service
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Foundation Stock Service
Caucasian Shepherd Dog
Foundation Stock Service
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Toy Group
Central Asian Shepherd Dog
Foundation Stock Service
Cesky Terrier
Terrier Group
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Sporting Group
Chinese Shar-Pei
Non-Sporting Group
Chinook
Working Group
Chow Chow
Non-Sporting Group
Clumber Spaniel
Sporting Group
Cocker Spaniel
Sporting Group
Collie
Herding Group
Coton de Tulear
Non-Sporting Group
Croatian Sheepdog
Foundation Stock Service
Curly-Coated Retriever
Sporting Group
Czechoslovakian Vlcak
Foundation Stock Service
Dalmatian
Non-Sporting Group
Danish-Swedish Farmdog
Foundation Stock Service
Deutscher Wachtelhund
Foundation Stock Service
Doberman Pinscher
Working Group
Dogo Argentino
Working Group
Dogue de Bordeaux
Working Group
Drentsche Patrijshond
Foundation Stock Service
Drever
Foundation Stock Service
Dutch Shepherd
Miscellaneous Class
English Cocker Spaniel
Sporting Group
English Foxhound
Hound Group
English Setter
Sporting Group
English Springer Spaniel
Sporting Group
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
Herding Group
Estrela Mountain Dog
Foundation Stock Service
Eurasier
Foundation Stock Service
Field Spaniel
Sporting Group
Finnish Lapphund
Herding Group
Finnish Spitz
Non-Sporting Group
Flat-Coated Retriever
Sporting Group
French Bulldog
Non-Sporting Group
French Spaniel
Foundation Stock Service
German Longhaired Pointer
Foundation Stock Service
German Pinscher
Working Group
German Shepherd
Herding Group
German Shorthaired Pointer
Sporting Group
German Wirehaired Pointer
Sporting Group
Giant Schnauzer
Working Group
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Terrier Group
Golden Retriever
Sporting Group
Gordon Setter
Sporting Group
Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen
Hound Group
Great Dane
Working Group
Great Pyrenees
Working Group
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Working Group
Hamiltonstovare
Foundation Stock Service
Hanoverian Scenthound
Foundation Stock Service
Harrier
Hound Group
Hokkaido
Foundation Stock Service
Hovawart
Foundation Stock Service
Icelandic Sheepdog
Herding Group
Irish Red and White Setter
Sporting Group
Irish Setter
Sporting Group
Irish Terrier
Terrier Group
Irish Water Spaniel
Sporting Group
Irish Wolfhound
Hound Group
Jagdterrier
Foundation Stock Service
Jindo
Foundation Stock Service
Kai Ken
Foundation Stock Service
Karelian Bear Dog
Foundation Stock Service
Keeshond
Non-Sporting Group
Kerry Blue Terrier
Terrier Group
Kishu Ken
Foundation Stock Service
Komondor
Working Group
Kromfohrlander
Foundation Stock Service
Kuvasz
Working Group
Labrador Retriever
Sporting Group
Lagotto Romagnolo
Sporting Group
Lakeland Terrier
Terrier Group
Lancashire Heeler
Miscellaneous Class
Lapponian Herder
Foundation Stock Service
Leonberger
Working Group
Löwchen
Non-Sporting Group
Mastiff
Working Group
Miniature American Shepherd
Herding Group
Miniature Poodle
Non-Sporting Group
Mountain Cur
Foundation Stock Service
Mudi
Miscellaneous Class
Neapolitan Mastiff
Working Group
Newfoundland
Working Group
Norfolk Terrier
Terrier Group
Norrbottenspets
Miscellaneous Class
Norwegian Buhund
Herding Group
Norwegian Elkhound
Hound Group
Norwich Terrier
Terrier Group
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Sporting Group
Old English Sheepdog
Herding Group
Otterhound
Hound Group
Pekingese
Toy Group
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Herding Group
Perro de Presa Canario
Foundation Stock Service
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
Hound Group
Pharaoh Hound
Hound Group
Plott Hound
Hound Group
Pointer
Sporting Group
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Herding Group
Poodle
Non-Sporting Group
Porcelaine
Foundation Stock Service
Portuguese Pointer
Foundation Stock Service
Portuguese Sheepdog
Foundation Stock Service
Portuguese Water Dog
Working Group
Pudelpointer
Foundation Stock Service
Pug
Toy Group