Hip Dysplasia in Dogs: What It Is, Signs, and Treatment

Q: Can a dog live a normal life with hip dysplasia?

Yes. With appropriate medical and/ or surgical management, many dogs with hip dysplasia can live normal, healthy lives. Regular veterinary examinations are important to monitor pain, mobility, and disease progression.

By Tiffany Tupler, DVM, CBCC-KA. Reviewed by Rhiannon Koehler, DVM

Updated Oct. 29, 2026

Hip dysplasia in dogs. A german shepherd lying down and looking at the camera

Eudyptula/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Key Takeaways

Hip dysplasia develops in growing dogs who have an abnormal, loose fit between the ball and socket of the hip joint.
Common signs of hip dysplasia in dogs include limping, “bunny hopping,” difficulty standing, abnormal sitting, and trouble climbing stairs or jumping.
Large and giant breeds are at higher risk, but any dog can develop hip dysplasia.
Treatment may include weight management, medications, joint support supplements, physical therapy, or surgery, depending on the dog's age and severity of disease.
Dogs with properly managed hip dysplasia often live normal, healthy lives.

What Is Hip Dysplasia in Dogs and Puppies?

Hip dysplasia is a condition that develops during the growth stage in dogs. Normally, the ball and socket of the hip joint fit together closely. With hip dysplasia, the joint does not fit together as well as it should and becomes looser than normal.

In its early stages, dog hip dysplasia may or may not be painful. But as the condition progresses, the cartilage of the hip begins to wear down. This leads to painful arthritis, bone spurs and other joint changes, muscle atrophy, and limited mobility.

Hip dysplasia most commonly affects stocky, large-breed dogs. However, hip dysplasia is not exclusively a large-dog condition. Dogs of other sizes can develop it too. Research shows that it's caused by a combination of hereditary and environmental factors.

Hip dysplasia in dogs. A diagram of normal dog hips and hip dysplasia in dogs.

Click here to download this medical illustration.

What Are the Signs of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs and Puppies?

Some dogs with hip dysplasia may initially show few or no obvious symptoms. Others develop noticeable mobility problems.

Common signs of hip dysplasia in dogs include:

Chronic or occasional lameness
Limping with no previous trauma or injury
“Bunny hopping,” particularly when climbing stairs
Having trouble standing up
Abnormal sitting positions
Having trouble getting on and off furniture, going up stairs, or jumping into cars

Dogs can be very stoic and may not show all of these clinical signs. However, this condition is painful as it progresses, regardless of whether your dog has symptoms.

Which Breeds Are Prone to Canine Hip Dysplasia?

German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retrievers are commonly affected breeds, but any large and giant-breed dogs are at higher-than-average risk for canine hip dysplasia.

Other breeds for which hip dysplasia is a special concern include:

If you have a large or giant-breed dog, talk to your veterinarian about the best way to screen for hip dysplasia.

Remember, hip dysplasia isn’t exclusive to large-breed dogs, so your veterinarian should screen your dog if they’re showing symptoms of hip dysplasia, regardless of body size.

How Do Vets Diagnose Hip Dysplasia in Dogs?

Veterinarians diagnose hip dysplasia in dogs through a physical exam and X-rays of the hip joints.

During the exam, your vet will watch how your dog stands and walks and check their hips for pain, reduced range of motion, or joint looseness.

X-rays allow your vet to evaluate how well the hip joint fits together and look for signs of arthritis or other joint changes. Your dog may need to be sedated to ensure they’re positioned correctly for the X-rays.

Your vet will use these findings to determine the severity of your dog’s hip dysplasia and recommend treatment. Early diagnosis of the disease can decrease or even prevent long-term arthritis caused by hip dysplasia in dogs.

How Do You Treat Dog Hip Dysplasia?

Dog hip dysplasia treatment depends on factors such as the dog's age, size, pain level, mobility, joint changes, and overall health. Many dogs benefit from a multimodal approach, which means using several types of treatment at the same time to manage pain and support joint and muscle health. In some cases, surgery may be recommended.

Your vet will consider many factors before recommending the proper hip dysplasia treatment for your dog. Your pet should have a complete orthopedic evaluation before determining if surgery or medical management is right for them.

Medications

Oral and injectable medications may be used to control pain and inflammation, stimulate cartilage, and lubricate joints.

Depending on your dog’s pain level, your vet may prescribe dog-specific nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Galliprant (grapiprant).

Galliprant is a pork-flavored chewable tablet that can be used at the earliest signs of osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs to control pain and inflammation. Given daily, it may be prescribed for short-term or long-term OA management.

Carprofen is another oral NSAID that can be used to control inflammation and pain.

Other types of medications your vet may prescribe include polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (Adequan) injections, which help fortify cartilage and restore joint lubrication, or bedinvetmab (Librela) injections, a once-monthly monoclonal antibody injection used to control osteoarthritis pain in dogs.

Joint Supplements and Nutrition

Your vet may recommend supplements to support joint health and mobility. Oral joint supplements commonly include ingredients like omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and chondroitin.

You can also speak with your primary care veterinarian about a veterinary diet for joint health that can replace or be used with daily joint health supplements.

Surgical Options

In many cases, surgery for hip dysplasia in dogs has a good prognosis and can improve your pet’s mobility and comfort level. The type of surgery your veterinarian recommends will depend on your dog’s age, stage of growth, and the severity of their hip dysplasia.

Surgical options for hip dysplasia in young dogs include:

Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis: Reserved for puppies younger than 18 weeks old, this procedure involves using heat to prematurely close a growth plate in the dog's pelvis. As the puppy continues to grow, this changes how the pelvis develops and can improve how the hip joint fits together.
Triple pelvic osteotomy: This procedure, which is performed on dogs around 8–10 months old, realigns the hip joint to improve how the ball and socket fit together as the dog grows.

Surgical options for hip dysplasia in adult dogs who are skeletally mature and have increased joint pain and limited mobility:

Total hip replacement: This is just what it sounds like—the dog's hip joint is removed and replaced with an artificial hip.
Femoral head ostectomy: Part of the hip joint is removed but not replaced. The dog then forms a false joint made of fibrous tissue, which prevents bone-on-bone pain. This is usually only an option for dogs weighing less than 45 pounds or so.

Talk to your primary care veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary surgeon to determine the best options for your pet.

What's the Cost of Surgery for Dogs With Hip Dysplasia?

Surgery can reduce or eliminate pain that sometimes even lifelong medical management cannot. It may decrease the risk and cost of lifelong medications—and sometimes, in the long run, it can end up being the more affordable option.

The cost of surgery varies tremendously and is based on many factors, such as:

Procedure type
Location
Your dog’s age, size, breed, and pre-existing conditions
Type of clinical setting (academic, private practice, referral clinic, nonprofit, or government agency)

To give an example of how much variation there is in cost, insurance claims for total hip replacements can range from $1,500–$7,000.

But if you compare this to the cost of medical management, which includes pain medications and joint supplements, surgery can end up being much less expensive over time.

For example, for a dog who lives 10 years that shows signs of hip dysplasia at age 2, you might spend $4,800–$24,000 over their lifetime for medications to manage the condition:

$50–$250: Cost of medications per month
$50 x 12 = $600 per year / $600 x 8 years = $4,800
$250 x 12 = $3,000 per year / $3,000 x 8 years = $24,000

This cost also does not include any prescription joint health diets or other treatments that might be recommended.

Complementary Treatment

These treatments can be used alongside medical management or surgery.

Physical therapy: Physical therapy and low- to moderate-impact daily exercise encourage joint health and mobility, muscle health, and weight loss.
Laser therapy: Laser therapy can stimulate cell repair, boost circulation, and help reduce pain and inflammation.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture for dogs has been shown to increase muscle strength and joint mobility and decrease pain.
Stem cell therapies: Stem cells, which are usually collected from a dog's own tissues, may help joints heal.

Weight Management

Regardless of surgical or medical management, any dog experiencing joint pain should be kept at an ideal weight. Keeping your dog at an ideal body condition will ensure that your dog does not suffer from excess inflammation and weight on their joints.

Speak to your primary care veterinarian about a weight-management plan. A healthy weight prevents the joint pain caused by increased weight and the excess inflammation produced by body fat.

How Long Can a Dog Live With Hip Dysplasia?

With proper surgical and medical management, a dog with hip dysplasia can often live a normal, healthy life.

A dog with hip dysplasia should see their veterinarian every six months for a physical examination to monitor their condition and adjust their treatment plan as needed.

How To Prevent Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

You can help manage your dog's risk of developing hip dysplasia and arthritis in several ways:

Purchase puppies at risk of hip dysplasia only from breeders who screen their dogs for the condition.
Feed large-breed puppies a vet-recommended large-breed puppy food until they are at least 12–18 months old.

Talk to your veterinarian about the best time to start joint supplements for high-risk dogs. Supplements promote joint health and help protect the cartilage of the joints.
Work with your veterinarian to determine the ideal time to spay or neuter your large- or giant-breed dog.
Keep your dog at a healthy weight throughout their life.

Hip Dysplasia in Dogs FAQs

What are the first signs of hip dysplasia in dogs?

Early signs can include unexplained limping, difficulty getting up, an unusual sitting position, “bunny hopping,” or reluctance to climb stairs, jump onto furniture, or get into a car. Some dogs may initially show few obvious symptoms.

Is hip dysplasia painful for dogs?

Hip dysplasia can become painful as abnormal movement within the hip damages cartilage and leads to arthritis and other joint changes. Dogs may not always visibly show their discomfort.

Can a dog live a normal life with hip dysplasia?

Yes. With appropriate medical and/or surgical management, many dogs with hip dysplasia can live normal, healthy lives. Regular veterinary examinations are important to monitor pain, mobility, and disease progression.

Can hip dysplasia in dogs be cured?

Treatment depends on the individual dog. Medical management can help control symptoms and maintain mobility but does not correct the abnormal structure of the hip. Certain surgical procedures can alter or replace the affected joint and may provide substantial improvement.

Does hip dysplasia only affect large dogs?

No. Hip dysplasia can occur in dogs of any size, although large and giant breeds have a higher-than-average risk.

What causes hip dysplasia in dogs?

Canine hip dysplasia develops from a combination of hereditary and environmental factors. Genetics play an important role, which is why screening breeding dogs can help reduce risk.

Does a dog with hip dysplasia always need surgery?

No. Some dogs can be managed with a combination of medications, weight management, physical therapy, joint support, and other treatments. Other dogs may benefit significantly from surgery. A veterinarian should evaluate your dog before deciding on treatment.

Is walking good for dogs with hip dysplasia?

Appropriate low- to moderate-impact exercise can be an important part of managing hip dysplasia because it supports muscle strength, mobility, and healthy body weight. The appropriate type and amount of exercise depend on the individual dog, so ask your veterinarian or veterinary rehabilitation professional for guidance.