The Bloodhound Club
Association Of Bloodhound Breeders
Education-Research-Health
Hips & Elbows
Canine Hip Dysplasia typically develops because of an abnormally developed hip joint, but can also be caused by cartilage damage from a traumatic fracture.With cartilage damage or a hip joint that isn’t formed properly, over time the existing cartilage will lose its thickness and elasticity. This breakdown of the cartilage will eventually result in pain with any joint movement.
No one can predict when or even if a dysplastic dog will start showing clinical signs of lameness due to pain. The severity of the disease can be affected by environmental factors, such as caloric intake or level of exercise. There are a number of dysplastic dogs with severe arthritis that run, jump, and play as if nothing is wrong and some dogs with barely any arthritic x-ray evidence that are severely lame.
Hip dysplasia can have serious effects on the health, behaviour and welfare of dogs.
For a more in depth report on HD please download the BVA information sheet HERE
Elbow dysplasia is a common inherited orthopaedic problem in dogs where the elbow doesn’t develop properly.
Elbow dysplasia includes a number of specific abnormalities or problems that affect different areas of the elbow joint. These cause problems by affecting the growth of the cartilage which forms the surface of the joint or the structures around it. Even a small change in the shape of one part of the joint can have major consequences for the joint function, leading to lameness (unable to walk correctly), osteoarthritis (a common form of arthritis), pain and serious effects on the health, behaviour and welfare of the dog.
For a more in depth report on ED please download the BVA information sheet HERE
What can we do do irradicate or reduce the rate of ED or HD?
The most proactive thing we can do, is to hip and elbow screen all potential breeding stock and use the results, wisely, taking into account the breed averages and veterinary advice available.