Hip and Elbow dysplasia
These are genetic conditions which can be diagnosed in a wide range of dogs young or old and require expert long-term management. In some cases surgery is required, while other dogs will be more suitable for conservative treatment. Whichever route you have chosen physiotherapy is a vital part of your dog's treatment plan.
The term 'dysplasia' means abnormal development of the bony structures which effects how well the joint fits together making it less stable and more prone to arthritis. 'Dysplasia' is a general term so how the condition effects individual dogs can vary greatly. A through assessment is therefore required to determine the needs of your dog so an individualised treatment plan can be made.
Commonly dogs with joint dysplasia will experience pain in the effected limb due to reduced stability and abnormal movement. They usually compensate for this by offloading the effected limb and increasing the load on the remaining three legs. This causes the supporting muscles of the effected leg to weaken due to disuse and increases the strain on the spine and other muscles as they try to cope with the abnormal movement pattern. Physiotherapy can alleviate the joint pain, tackle compensatory mechanisms and providing appropriate strengthening to restore balance and alignment to your dog.