Hip Dysplasia in Dogs Linked to Improper Diet

Hip dysplasia in dogs is a common condition in which the hip joint becomes malformed. The disease typically appears before a dog turns 18 months and can lead to severe arthritis and lameness.1

This video by Dr. Karen Becker shows how proper diet can help prevent this crippling condition.

Doesn’t a High Protein Diet Cause
Hip Dysplasia in Dogs?

Although there are many who still believe high protein can be a health problem for puppies, more recent studies tend to disagree.

The rapid growth which causes skeletal disorders (like hip dysplasia) in larger breeds is now believed to be more appropriately linked to genetics2 — and made worse by excessive dietary calcium3 or overfeeding during the puppy phase of life4.

For more in-depth information about this controversial subject (including references and footnotes), you may wish to visit our article, “Best Puppy Foods“.

In large breeds, be sure to look for puppy foods with comparatively lower calcium content.

Footnotes

  1. Wikipedia, “Canine Hip Dysplasia
  2. A Hedhammar, Canine hip dysplasia as influenced by genetic and environmental factors, EJCAP, Oct 2007, 17:2 (pp 141-143)
  3. Richardson, Skeletal diseases of the growing dog: Nutritional influences and the role of diet, Canine Hip Dysplasia: A Symposium Held at Western Veterinary Conference, 1995
  4. RD Kealy et al, Effects of limited food consumption on the incidence of hip dysplasia in growing dogs, JAVMA, Sep 1992, 201:6 (pp 857-863)
Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap