UW veterinarians develop hip solution

Madison, Wis.-A team at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine hasironed out a technique to alleviate the pain and poor conformation of hipdysplasia in dogs, the school reports.

The technique is designed to report results at an earlier age and atless cost than previous methods. To date, more than 50 dogs have been testedwith no significant side effects. The surgery is now offered to any interesteddog owner through the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital; however, itis not yet available at a national level until further clinical cases areconcluded.

The new procedure reduces the instability and pain of the dysplasia byaltering the angle of the dog's hip joints at an early age.

The surgery, known as Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis, uses electrocauteryvia a groin incision and fuses the pubis, which changes the hip's growthpattern.

"The advantage is that this surgery can be done at a very youngage," says Dr. R. Tass Dueland, an emeritus surgeon at the UW-MadisonSchool of Veterinary Medicine. "We recommend between 12 and 18 weeks.By 24 weeks, the 'window of opportunity' has closed."

Dr. Kyle Matthews originally tested the procedure in guinea pigs at NorthCarolina State University. Dr. Dueland and his team then pursued modifyingthe procedure for dogs.