PennHIP (Hip Dysplasia Screening)

At Advanced Vetcare, we take hip dysplasia very seriously. As our pets age, they become more immobile, and we seek to give them as many healthy years as we can.

Some common dog breeds that are predisposed to developing hip dysplasia are Golden Retrievers, Labradors and German Shepherds among many others. As such, we recommend that testing be carried out at 16 weeks of age to allow early intervention in the event of high hip dysplasia risk.

What is hip dysplasia?

It is a gradual degenerative condition that affects the ball-and-socket joint in the hip, eventually leading to pain and stiffness as your pet moves. Due to the socket not properly covering the joint, this leads to progressive cartilage loss and the unnatural wearing of the joint. Hip dysplasia may eventually lead to arthritis and while it is more common in dogs, it can also be present in small cats.

How do I know if my pet has hip dysplasia?

PennHIP is the most effective hip effective screening method for both dogs and cats. Pets that are older than 16 weeks can be tested for the risk of developing hip dysplasia. This is valuable information that can allow for early intervention to prevent or reduce the severity of hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis in the later stage of life.

Depending on the severity of the disease and joint arthritis, your pet may be displaying varying symptoms of joint pain:

  • Limping that gradually gets worse
  • Difficulty in climbing, jumping, running or rising
  • Expressing pain when touched in the hip area
  • Decrease of thigh muscle mass
  • Stiffness or decreased range of motion in rear limbs
Can hip dysplasia be treated?

We adopt an approach that is both conservative and progressive. If the results for PennHIP indicate a high risk for hip dysplasia, there are two possible courses of action we can take.

For dogs under 20 weeks of age, we will most likely opt for a Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis (JPS). Find out about our procedure for JPS here.

For dogs above 9 months, we can proceed to do a hip replacement. Find out more about our hip replacement method here.

Other options are also available and we strongly recommend consulting a trusted veterinarian surgeon.