Hip pain is a constant source of discomfort for dogs. It is one of the most common dog vet visits, and unfortunately, it can be a very tough pain for some dogs to endure.
When the hip is damaged or forced to rotate in place due to disease, it can become inflamed and painful. This can occur either at surgery, when it is replaced or repaired, or post-operation.
If this pain is not treated promptly, it can become progressively worse and may even lead to euthanasia. Treatment includes intravenous (IV) drugs such as hydrocodone or acetaminophen, plus lifestyle changes such as avoiding stairs at all costs during recovery.
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Use a heating pad
When you have a overheating dog, do not apply direct heat to its hip. Instead, use a heating pad.
deflect the heat away from the hip and onto the skin around it. This allows your dog to cooler down more easily, and lessens the likelihood of pain or infection.
To use a heater, simply place it on your dog’s hips until it gets warm. Then slowly remove it to let the leg cool off more quickly. Heater pads can be purchase online or in most pet stores.
Your dog should be consistent about using them- if your dog does not use one side of the hip slightly more than the other, then they are not using enough of the hip to get as much heat.
Give them a warm bath
Most dogs suffer hip pain when they are in a position where they are forced to stay in the same position for a long time. This is called painful immobility.
This pain can occur in a bath, so it is not entirely foreign. Most bathtub sizes have enough water to comfortably bathe a dog. If your dog does not have a bath every week, he should still receive one. A quick bath can help relax your dog and give him more pain relief.
But if your dog gets his baths regularly, this cost-effective method of pain relief is for you to give him a warm bath each week.
Apply a rub containing menthol or camphor
This can be done either as a wrap or as a sheet. If done as a sheet, use it to cover up the hip area while you do your exercise.
Either way, this can help if your dog is experiencing hip pain or discomfort. By wrapping the hips area in the rub, you are giving yourself and your dog more relief!
By using a rub containing both menthol and camphor, you are not only giving yourself more relief but your dog too. This is due to the chemicals being synergistic in helping relieve pain.
This is very important to know as some veterinary offices do not stock cremes or gels because they are unable to tell if it is Menthol or Camphor that is used. This can be hard for a patient to find out if it is realmentharpencyhol or not.
Give them a small dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen
This can help reduce pain and inflammation in their hip if it is hurting. If you have a hip that is not supposed to hurt, then do not give it any pain meds- even if it is only a small dose- because you may make it worse.
If your dog has other hips that are not painfull, try ibuprofen or lesser amounts of acetaminophen. Or give them a small amount of diazepam (Valium) to help relax them and prevent any pain or stress from happening.
Neither of these medicines will help prevent arthrosis, but they can reduce the pain slightly.
Massage the area gently
If your dog is experiencing pain during a hip replacement, try to avoid running into the same problems with the replacement.
Your dog should be able to walk at a steady pace without fear or confusion for them. If they are not feeling comfortable on a daily basis, then it is better to consider alternatives.
Massage looks similar to other treatments like acupuncture, so be careful not to discriminate against it. It can make your dog feel worse before they get better!
The best way to massage a hip replacement is on the inside of the leg just above the foot. Start with light pressure and work up until you can get more support from your dog.
Set up ramps for them to crawl up and down
A hip is a large, strong bone in your dog’s leg. When it is affected by hip pain, you can set up a series of ramps to get them onto the waggy bed, sofa, or Waggenpaw table.
Set up the ramps in a way that allows them to lie flat on the floor with their hips down and out. This way, they will be supported as they move with and without the support of another person.
Make sure they have enough space to move around freely on the floor without worrying about falling over. A sofa or chair can be used as a second set of rails to help support more movement.
Once they are on the floor, start moving around with them until they find what feels comfortable and safe.
Keep them off hard surfaces and let them walk on carpet or soft surfaces as much as possible
The hip is a very mobile part of your dog so keeping him on his feet is important. If he needs to go potty, he can do so easily on his feet.
If you have a hard surface such as tile or stone, you can help prevent this pain by using an approved wipe or cloth to protect the area. Keep crating for short periods of time until your dog becomes comfortable with you and each other.
When meeting other dogs, be careful not to overplay or approach too quickly because of the pain your dog may be in. Keeping a sense of self-confidence is important for this type of meeting and safety measures.
Never leave your dog alone for any reason without taking them out and about to make them feel more comfortable and safe.
Switch their food to one that is easier to digest
It’s common for dogs to have trouble with the protein and carbohydrate content of their food. This is due to the fact that some foods are more difficult for our dogs to digest.
Some foods are higher in fat, and others are kibble, which means it is more difficult for our dogs to absorb the nutrients in it. Some pre-made dog meals are made of all different kinds of food, making it even harder for your dog to manage it.
The best way to switch foods is by using a new brand at least once a week until your dog gets used to it. Then gradually increase how often you feed it until you get into the patterns of feeding each type of food.