Perthes disease in dogs

Leggy-Perthes disease in dogs is more common among representatives of small breeds . For large dogs, this disease becomes a sentence - quite healthy in other respects the individuals have to simply put to sleep due to the fact that they completely refuse their hind legs.

What is this - Perthes disease in dogs?

In fact, the disease is a necrotic process that develops in the head of the femur and gradually leads to the destruction of bone and joint. What is the cause of the disease is not fully understood. Presumably, the fault is genetic pathology, which is more common in pocket dogs .

The development of the disease occurs according to this scenario: for an unknown reason, the blood supply and innervation of the epiphysis of the bone is disturbed, which causes the bone tissue to quickly and irreversibly die off. As a result, the hip joint becomes modified, loses its integrity, becomes painful.

Symptoms of Perthes disease in dogs

Depending on the stage of the disease, its manifestations change. All stages are united by the fact that the dog is quickly tired, the mobility of its hind limbs changes, and limp appears. And if the dog limps on the front paws, this is not Peters' disease, since it affects solely the hindlimbs, or rather the hip joint.

The disease begins with the fact that, after running a short distance, the dog stops and presses its hind paw. Gradually, the pain intensifies, changing the behavior and mood of the dog. When the disease is in full swing, the dog can become aggressive, does not tolerate touching its hind legs, it does not want to move. When the disease completely overcomes the pet, the atrophy of the limb comes, it becomes shorter.

Treatment of Perthes disease in dogs

Completely cure the disease is impossible. You can only relieve the pain, making it easier for the pet to die. To do this, apply massages, warming up, injections of painkillers, anabolics. In severe cases, if there is a fracture of the neck of the hip, only surgery can help.