Hip dysplasia in dogs – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Book a vet visit

Book a vet appointment if you think your dog has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. Hip dysplasia is a painful condition in which one or both hip joints develop abnormally while a puppy is growing.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Let your dog rest somewhere calm.
Keep fresh water available.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Hip dysplasia is a painful condition that causes one or both hip joints to develop abnormally while a puppy is growing. [1]^[1] It can cause pain, swelling and eventually arthritis. [1]^[1]

Signs

Bunny hopping
Limping or lameness
Stiffness
Difficulty getting up or lying down
Painful hips
A wobbly or swaying walk
Difficulty jumping or going up or down stairs
Less interest in walks
Skinny hips

Causes and risk factors

Bernese Mountain Dog
German Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Newfoundland
Rottweiler
Labrador Retriever

How vets treat it

Surgery
Anti-inflammatories
Pain relief
Hospitalisation
Medication
Rest

Breeds prone to this

Veterinary charities list these breeds as more likely than others to get this condition. Each breed page lists the inherited conditions documented in the breed.

What the experts say

“'Bunny hopping' ; Limping/lameness ; Stiffness ; Difficulty getting up and lying down ; Painful hips ; A wobbly or swaying walk ; Difficulty jumping or going up or down stairs ; Less interest in walks ; Skinny hips ; Some dogs”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

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Common questions

What is hip dysplasia in dogs?

It is a painful condition that causes one or both hip joints to develop abnormally while a puppy is growing. [1]^[1]

What signs can hip dysplasia cause?

Signs can include bunny hopping, limping or lameness, stiffness, difficulty getting up or lying down, painful hips, a wobbly or swaying walk, difficulty jumping or using stairs, less interest in walks and skinny hips. [1]^[1]

Can any dog develop hip dysplasia?

Any breed of dog can develop hip dysplasia, but it is much more common in some medium to large breed pedigrees, including Labradors, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, Bernese Mountain Dogs and Newfoundlands. [1]^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages