What Is a Dislocated Hip in Dogs?
When a dog has a dislocated hip, also known as a coxofemoral luxation, the ball part of the joint comes out of the socket. Dislocation disrupts and can damage the joint capsule (an outer layer of tough fibrous tissue that stabilizes the hip joint), in addition to the ligaments, muscle, and bones of the hip.
From common symptoms to treatment options, here’s what you need to know
Hearing that your beloved cat or dog has a dislocated hip is enough to make any pet parents heart drop. While it is a major injury, dont panic, vets have several options for treating hip dislocations, both surgically and non-surgically.Â
Fetch by The Dodoâs on-staff veterinarian Dr. Aliya McCullough is sharing everything you need to know about dislocated hips in pets, from common symptoms to treatment options to the long-term prognosis.â
How can you tell if your dog has a hip injury?
The clinical signs associated with a hip injury for a dog include:
Dogs may be able to walk, but their movement will be impaired with a severe, toe-touching lameness for which veterinary treatment is recommended.
A dog’s hip can luxate, meaning that the head of the femur (thigh bone) can pop out from the acetabulum (the socket of the hip bone that fits the tip of the femur).
The most common type in dogs is cranio-dorsal, meaning that the displacement of the head of the femur occurs along the back, towards the head.
Instead of luxation, where the joint has fully dislocated, it is possible for dogs to be afflicted with subluxation, in which the joint does not sit well within the socket. Subluxation is typically caused by hip dysplasia, and can range in severity from mild to severe.
Final Video: A Cavalier King Charles has left hip dislocation
Hip luxation is a serious condition amongst dogs in which their hip has dislocated as a result of intense physical trauma.