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Malformation of the hip joint, particularly the way the hip ball fits into the hip socket, can result in development of arthritis due to damage done to the surrounding cartilage. The incidence of hip dysplasia in Havanese is one in ten, so make sure that this is one of the tests that is done on your puppy's relatives. Dysplastic dogs may, or may not, show clinical signs of lameness, since like humans the degree of immobility may be less in a very fit dog. Treatment depends on the severity, but may require surgical intervention. There are a variety of surgical procedures available ranging from femoral head removal to total hip replacement. Conservative treatment may include administration of chondroprotective drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs, and acupuncture. |