How Physiotherapy Can Help Young Dogs with Hip Dysplasia

Starting early management for your young dog with hip dysplasia can help your dog for the future

Being told your young dog has hip dysplasia can feel overwhelming. It can be heartbreaking to see your young dog limping, slowing down, or avoiding play. Most people think hip dysplasia is only a condition that affects older dogs, but in reality, it begins at puppyhood. Signs of hip dysplasia can begin presenting as early as 4-6 months old, when the hips are still developing, especially in larger dog breeds. When diagnosed later on in life, usually secondary arthritic changes have occurred therefore early screening for hip dysplasia is crucial to manage the condition early and prevent the progression of osteoarthritis.

If your dog has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia young, there are effective ways to manage the condition and help your dog live a happy, active life. With the right support, your pup can grow up strong, mobile, and happy, doing all the things they love without fear or restriction.

What is hip dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia is a developmental condition where the ball and socket of the hip joint does not form properly. You may hear the words “subluxation” or “ ortolini positive”, this is veterinary language to describe a hip that has movement within the joint that is unstable. Because the ball and socket does not fit together as it should, the bones ultimately have friction due to the reduced smooth fitting which can cause pain, inflammation and even risk the joint becoming fully luxated (out of place).

Over time, that abnormal movement causes:

Wear and tear on the cartilage
Degenerative arthritic changes
Joint inflammation and pain
Muscle weakness or compensatory movement patterns
Strain on other joints compensating the load

Hip dysplasia is a life long condition – we can help educate you on how to maintain your dog’s new condition for the long run.

My dog isn’t limping, why is rehabilitation important so young?

Many dogs with hip dysplasia learn from a very young age how to mask their condition. Dogs instinctively hide pain or weakness as a survival trait from their ancestors where showing vulnerability may mean danger.

They may still want to run, play, and interact with other dogs. Puppies may have a higher pain threshold, with strong muscular compensation to hip the weakness of the hips until they worsen. They may show adaptive behaviour where they avoid certain movements, lie in a different position or very subtle gait changes (like a bunny hop).

Why Early Intervention Matters for Young Dogs

Puppies and adolescent dogs are still growing, which gives us a golden window of opportunity.

With targeted physiotherapy, we can:

Encourage correct muscle development
Improve joint stability through strengthening
Reduce compensatory movement patterns before they become habits
Slow or even prevent early-onset arthritis
Support a more normal, pain-free lifestyle as they grow

What rehabilitation at Apollo Animal Physiotherapy will aim to do:

We will conduct a full evaluation of your dog from head to paw. This gives us an idea of the nature of your dog’s condition, and allows us to cater a plan to address your goals, and the goals of your dog to manage and improve symptoms.

Hip dysplasia causes instability of the joint however strengthening the surrounding muscles of the hips, including the gluteals, hamstrings, and thigh muscles can support and stabilise the joints. Furthermore, core and overall muscle conditioning can improve your dogs strength to improve confidence, co-ordination and mobility.

As your dog begins to grow, they likely develop a gait that feels most comfortable for them. In dogs with hip dysplasia, they will adapt a gait to ensure maximum stability of the hips by utilising activation of other muscle groups to prevent over use of the hips. Due to this unnatural gait, there is often strain on these muscle groups, surrounding joints and ligaments. Re-educating your dog how to move via gait re-education is vital to reduce strain, and wear and tear of the hip and other joints.

Proprioception is the dog’s way of sensing their body position in movement in space, knowing what their limbs are doing without needing to look. Altered gait patterning, joint instability and muscle wastage can reduce your dog’s sensory perception due to reduction of use and weakened neuromuscular feedback loops. Improvement of proprioception is necessary for better balance, co-ordination, injury prevention and slower progression of compensatory issues. This leads to more confidence in your dog’s movement and enhanced rehabilitation outside with improved quality of life.

Improved soft tissue tone, mass, and strength is very important in rehabilitation in dogs with hip dysplasia. Overuse, or underuse of muscles can create imbalances and disturb biomechanics. Weak tissues cause instability and can worsen the signs of hip dysplasia in your dog. When muscles become tight, or overused, these can become inflamed or trigger painful spasms. Therapy at Apollo Animal Physiotherapy aims to relieve pain, stiffness, improve circulation and reduce soft tissue tension while enhancing mobility, flexibility and strength to support the hips.

Stories from our pet parents:

“Daffodil was diagnosed with bilateral hip dysplasia last year and has been having regular physio/hydrotherapy sessions since. The support and knowledge of the team at Apollo is second to none. Can’t recommend them highly enough! Fantastic and so grateful for their support”

“We purchased Billie when he was 6 months old. He came with all sorts of behavioral and health issues including hip dysplasia. We were advised to take him for physio. Billie didn’t like being touched on his rear end. I couldn’t groom him or even touch his back legs. Since taking him to Apollo’s he has come on in leaps and bounds. His behaviour has improved. I’m also able to groom him using a soft brush. “

The earlier we start, the more we can do. We can help you tailor your dog’s life to be comfortable, pain free and mobile. We can help your dog build strength, and function and to allow your dog to have the freedom into their life again.

Restoring mobility, one paw at a time

Restoring mobility, one paw at a time

Kent’s Leading Veterinary Rehabilitation Specialists

How Physiotherapy Can Help Young Dogs with Hip Dysplasia

Starting early management for your young dog with hip dysplasia can help your dog for the future

What is hip dysplasia?

My dog isn’t limping, why is rehabilitation important so young?

Why Early Intervention Matters for Young Dogs

What rehabilitation at Apollo Animal Physiotherapy will aim to do:

Stories from our pet parents:

Restoring mobility, one paw at a time

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