Dysplasia is a crippling and painful disease that is often found in larger breed dogs including the Rottweiler. It is a multifactoral and severe disease that can be caused both by genetic predisposition and environmental factors.

The good news is that dysplasia is treatable. Early detection offers the best potential outcome, as younger Rottweilers have more options for treatment than older dogs do. From surgery to medication, there are several options from which to choose. Here’s a short list of treatment options that you can choose from if your Rottweiler is diagnosed with dysplasia.

Diagnosis

Your Rottweiler will have a greater chance of a 100% recovery if the dysplasia is diagnosed right in the earliest stages itself. Still, dysplasia is rarely diagnosable in Rottweilers younger than 24 months of age unless the onset of the disease is early and extremely severe. If you notice that your Rottweiler pup is experiencing difficulty or pain while moving, it is best to see your vet immediately.

Treatment Options

1. Surgery

For younger Rottweilers, the option of surgery can often be the best choice depending on the severity of the case. The most common surgical procedure to correct hip dysplasia is a full hip replacement surgery, which can cost thousands of dollars.

2. Prescription Medications

As dysplasia is a form of arthritis, many Rottweilers – especially older dogs – respond favorably to anti-inflammatory medications prescribed by a veterinarian. While anti-inflammatory medicines do not cure the disease, they do help to manage the symptoms and lessen the pain associated with dysplasia. The reason older dogs are not commonly offered the option of surgery is that their advanced age can make surgical procedures too risky to attempt.

3. Exercise and Physical Therapy

Physical therapy isn’t just for people anymore. Exercise, while important to all animals including humans; is even more important to Rottweilers and other dogs that are predisposed to physical ailments such as dysplasia.

Aquatic exercises are an excellent physical therapy option for Rottweilers with dysplasia as it lessens the stress on the joints affected by the disease while giving the Rottweiler more freedom to move and work the muscles. Other physical therapy options include a short jog in the sand, walking up and down hills, and even playing fetch. Remember to keep these exercise sessions with your Rottweiler down to about fifteen minutes each so as not to exacerbate the condition.

4. Nutritional Supplements

Years ago we might have never considered giving our pets vitamins and other nutritional supplements. In recent years however, research has indicated that in some cases this can be exactly what is needed to maintain your dog’s optimum health. Salmon oil, Glucosamine and Condroitin are all being used to help lubricate and maintain your Rottweiler’s joints and improve their mobility at the same time.

No single treatment option is right for every Rottweiler diagnosed with dysplasia. The only way to know which is the right choice for your pet, is to first see your Rottweiler’s vet and obtain a diagnosis of dysplasia. At that point you can actively discuss these treatment options with the vet and work together to come up with the best possible course of action for your dog.