Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

By the Woofio Team · Updated September 2026 · 10 min read

Hip dysplasia is one of the most common orthopaedic conditions in dogs, and one of the most misunderstood. Two dogs with the same x-ray can live very differently, because how much it affects a dog depends as much on weight, muscle and daily routine as it does on the shape of the joint.

This guide covers the symptoms in the order owners actually notice them, how hip scoring works if you are choosing a puppy, what treatment involves and roughly what it costs, and what the years afterwards look like.

What Hip Dysplasia Is

A healthy hip is a deep socket holding a well-shaped ball, snugly. In a dysplastic hip the socket is too shallow, the ball is not quite round, or the ligaments are too lax, so the joint moves more than it should.

That looseness is the problem. Every step grinds the surfaces against each other in a way they were not built for, cartilage wears, and the body responds by laying down extra bone around the rim. Within a few years the original looseness has become arthritis, and it is usually the arthritis rather than the dysplasia itself that a dog feels.

The Symptoms, in the Order You Notice Them

Early, and easy to explain away

• Bunny hopping. Both back legs moving together when running or going upstairs, instead of alternating. This is the single most characteristic early sign and it is often the first thing anyone spots.
• A swaying, loose back end when walking, as if the hips are working slightly independently of the rest of him.
• Slow to get up, particularly from a hard floor or after a nap, then fine once he is going.
• Sitting oddly, flopping onto one hip rather than sitting square.
• Hesitating at the car boot or the sofa, or needing a run-up where he never used to.
• Shorter walks without you deciding it.

Later

• Visible muscle loss over the hips, so the back end looks narrow while the shoulders look overbuilt. Dogs shift weight forwards to spare the hips.
• An audible click from the hip on some steps.
• Refusing stairs or the car altogether.
• Difficulty on slippery floors, with the back legs sliding out.
• Grumbling when touched around the hips, or when helped up.

Because hip dysplasia is usually present on both sides, many affected dogs never limp at all. They simply do less, which is why it gets called old age. If that sounds familiar, how to tell if your dog has arthritis covers the pattern in more detail.

Which Dogs Are Affected

It is largely inherited, so it clusters in breeds. Growth and body weight then determine how badly it shows.

German Shepherds

The breed most associated with hip dysplasia, and the one where owners ask about it most. The sloping topline of the show type is often blamed; in reality the condition is about joint conformation rather than back angle, and it appears in working lines too. What matters more is the hip scores of the parents. If you are buying a German Shepherd puppy, that is the question to ask before any other.

Labradors and Golden Retrievers

Very commonly affected, and often carrying extra weight on top, which makes the same joint work considerably harder. In these breeds hip and elbow dysplasia sometimes occur together.

Other breeds at higher risk

Rottweilers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards, Old English Sheepdogs and many other large and giant breeds. It occurs in smaller dogs too, but it is far less often the thing that limits them.

How Hip Scoring Works in the UK

The British Veterinary Association and the Kennel Club run a Hip Dysplasia Scheme for breeding dogs. It is worth understanding even if you never breed, because it is the only objective information a puppy buyer can get.

• Hips are x-rayed from twelve months of age, in a standardised position, usually under sedation.
• Specialist scrutineers assess nine features on each hip and score them.
• Each hip receives a score from 0 to 53, and the two are added for a total out of 106. Lower is better, and zero is perfect.
• Each breed has a published breed mean score. The sensible target when choosing a puppy is parents scoring at or below the mean for that breed.
• The balance between the two hips matters too. A total of 10 made up of 5 and 5 is a better hip than a total of 10 made up of 1 and 9.

How It Is Diagnosed

Your vet will watch your dog move, then examine the hips through their range of motion, feeling for looseness, reduced extension and discomfort. There are specific manipulation tests for hip laxity, usually done under sedation because a tense dog braces against them.

X-rays confirm it and show how far any arthritis has progressed. Bloods are often taken at the same time, both to check what else is going on and to set a baseline before any long-term medication.

Treatment Options

There is no cure. Everything below aims at the same two things: less load on the joint, and a comfortable dog. Your vet will weigh these against your dog's age, severity and general health.

Conservative management

The route most dogs take, and for many it is enough for years. Weight control, a change in how the dog is exercised, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy, adjustments at home, prescribed medication when needed, and consistent daily joint support.

Surgery

Several procedures exist and which is appropriate depends heavily on the dog's age and the state of the joint. Some are only options in young dogs before arthritis sets in; total hip replacement is generally considered for adult dogs where comfort cannot be maintained any other way. These are referral procedures.

Costs vary widely by practice, by region and by whether a referral centre is involved, and hip surgery in particular sits at the expensive end. Ask for a written estimate covering the procedure, the imaging, the follow-ups and the rehabilitation, and check your insurance policy for limits and for exclusions on pre-existing conditions before you commit to anything.

Medication

Prescription only in the UK, and chosen by your vet based on your dog's blood results and other conditions. Dogs on long-term treatment are usually monitored periodically. Never give human painkillers; ibuprofen and paracetamol are dangerous to dogs.

Living With It

These are the daily choices that decide how the next ten years go, and they matter more here than in almost any other joint condition, because hip dysplasia responds so strongly to muscle and to weight.

• Keep him lean. This is not optional. Nothing else on this list comes close in effect, and it works within weeks.
• Do not rest him. Hind-end muscle is what holds a loose hip together. Regular moderate exercise builds it; rest loses it faster than you would expect.
• Hydrotherapy is particularly worthwhile here. It builds exactly the muscle a dysplastic hip needs without asking the joint to carry the weight. Ask your vet for a referral.
• Grip on floors. Back legs splaying out on laminate is both painful and frightening for a dog with loose hips.
• A ramp for the car. Jumping up loads the hips hard, and jumping down loads them worse.
• Warmth and a supportive bed, away from draughts, big enough to stretch out fully.
• Daily joint support, given consistently and judged over months.

The full routine, including what to track each month, is in managing arthritis in dogs.

Common Questions

What is bunny hopping in dogs?

Running or climbing stairs with both back legs moving together, like a rabbit, instead of alternating. It is one of the most characteristic early signs of hip dysplasia, because moving both legs at once takes some of the rotation out of the hip. It is worth mentioning to your vet even if your dog seems otherwise fine.

At what age does hip dysplasia show up?

Signs can appear from around five or six months in badly affected dogs, but many are not noticed until middle age, when the arthritis that followed the looseness starts to be felt. Both patterns are common.

Can hip dysplasia be cured?

No. Surgery can dramatically change comfort and function for some dogs, and conservative management keeps many others comfortable for years, but the joint itself cannot be made normal again.

What is a good hip score for a dog?

Lower is better, and the number only means something next to the breed mean, which differs a lot between breeds. When choosing a puppy, look for parents at or below the mean for that breed, and with the two hips reasonably balanced against each other.

Should I still walk a dog with hip dysplasia?

Yes, and this matters more here than almost anywhere. Muscle around the hip is what compensates for a loose joint, and it disappears quickly without use. Change the shape of the exercise to regular, moderate and on even ground rather than stopping it.

Can I treat hip dysplasia at home?

You can do a great deal at home, but it sits alongside veterinary care rather than replacing it. Weight, sensible exercise, grip on floors, a ramp and a good bed all make a real difference. A dog in genuine discomfort needs a vet, not a home remedy.

Related Guides

• Managing Arthritis in Dogs: A Practical Guide
• How to Tell If Your Dog Has Arthritis
• Elbow Dysplasia in Dogs: Signs, Diagnosis and Living With It
• Dog Limping on a Back Leg: Causes and What to Do
• How Do I Know If My Dog Is in Pain? 12 Signs to Look For

This guide is general information for dog owners and is not veterinary advice. Hip dysplasia can only be diagnosed by a vet, and treatment options should be discussed with your practice. Woofio Hip & Joint Chews are a complementary pet food that supports joint health and normal mobility; they are not a medicine and are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any condition.