Compensation in weight distribution in the dog with bilateral hip osteoarthritis

With risk factors related to weight, breed, whether spayed or neutered, and age,osteoarthritis accounts for at least 80% of lameness and joint disorders in companion animals. Because of the constant physical demands they face on a daily basis, sporting and working dogs are particularly susceptible to joint damage, and the breeds most frequently used for these purposes are more prone to developing hip osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis, when it occurs, involves a series of antalgic adaptations on the part of the animal that are reflected in both static position and gait. These are compensatory mechanisms most pronounced at the level of the pai...