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My puppy appears fine, but is there any way to know if he's likely to develop hip dysplasia later in life?

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My puppy appears fine, but is there any way to know if he's likely to develop hip dysplasia later in life?

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Hip dysplasia in dogs is one inherited disease that everyone wants to eliminate. A painful, crippling bone disease of the ball-and-socket joints, hip dysplasia is most common in large breeds of dogs. Treatments for the condition exist – but they are more successful if the dysplasia is discovered early. That’s where screenings come in:

When a puppy is four months old, a veterinarian can x-ray its hips to determine whether or not it is likely to develop hip dysplasia. This not only allows for early treatment – it helps breeders identify carriers of the disease before they pass it down to future generations. So if you’re buying a puppy, ask if its parents have been checked for hip dysplasia.

– Dr. Larry McDaniel, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series

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