Comparative effectiveness of two treatment methods for overweight dogs with hip dysplasia
Abstract
Hip dysplasia is one of the most common orthopedic pathologies in dogs, particularly affecting large breeds and animals with excessive body weight. Obesity significantly exacerbates the clinical manifestations of canine hip dysplasia by increasing mechanical load on affected joints and promoting osteoarthritis progression through biomechanical and biochemical mechanisms. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic analysis and compare the effectiveness of conservative treatment using autologous protein solution with surgical treatment via hip arthroplasty in overweight dogs with hip dysplasia. A comprehensive analysis of 50 peer-reviewed scientific publications from international databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus) covering the period 2000–2025 was performed. The analysis revealed that conservative treatment with autologous protein solution demonstrates significant efficacy in dogs with mild to moderate hip dysplasia when combined with weight loss programs, showing improvement in lameness scores of 45–60 % and reduction in pain assessment within 28 days post-treatment. Surgical intervention via total hip replacement or acetabular augmentation provides more definitive results in severe cases, with success rates of 85–92 % in restoring limb function, although it carries higher risks of complications in overweight patients, including increased rates of luxation, implant loosening, and delayed wound healing. Weight loss prior to any therapeutic intervention significantly improves outcomes, with dogs that lost 15–20 % of body weight demonstrating 40 % better response to both conservative and surgical treatment. Obesity not only increases biomechanical load on dysplastic joints but also promotes systemic inflammation through adipokine production, further accelerating cartilage degradation. Treatment selection should be individualized based on dysplasia severity, osteoarthritis degree, body condition score assessment, age, and owner compliance with rehabilitation protocols.
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