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After careful analysis, our top recommended dog food for hip dysplasia is VICTOR Purpose Performance.
This is because it contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin which are both incredibly beneficial ingredients for joint health and mobility. It’s also contains essential fatty acids that have an anti-inflammatory effort on stiff joints.
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Hip dysplasia is a hereditary joint condition that affects many breeds. The diagnosis of hip dysplasia is usually made with an examination and radiographs taken by your veterinarian who may suggest medications and complementary therapies to help your dog. The right diet can make a real difference too, so here are some things you should look for when deciding what to feed your dog with hip dysplasia.
There are some diets formulated specifically for joint health, containing ingredients such as glucosamine and chondroitin which are often derived from green-lipped mussels. These antioxidants can help maintain healthy cartilage and may improve your dog’s mobility. Inclusion in the diet in this way saves you from having to give your pet separate supplements.
Omega-3 fatty acids are often found in ingredients such as fish oil or linseed oil. High concentrations of these can help act as natural anti-inflammatories, soothing sore and stiff joints. As a side benefit, they will contribute to good skin and coat condition in your pet too.
Keeping your dog at a lean and healthy weight will mean less pressure on affected joints. If your dog is overweight or prone to weight gain, then consider a diet that has reduced calories. Otherwise, ensure you are feeding the correct amount for your dog’s ideal body weight by weighing the food out properly.
All of our dog food suggestions are carefully selected by professionals. We extensively research the products to check if they’ve been approved by governing bodies before making recommendations. You can read more about our stringent review standards here. And remember, always consult your veterinarian first, before changing your dog’s food.
VICTOR Purpose Performance Formula, one of the best foods for hip dysplasia, offers exceptional nutrition at a price point that is easily affordable. This high quality diet prioritizes a protein-rich formulation to support strong and healthy muscles from its plentiful amount of amino acids.
This particular VICTOR offering contains three different meats: beef meal, turkey meal, and chicken meal to ensure an excellent foundation for the nutritional needs of active dogs. Glucosamine and chondroitin have been supplemented as a vital help for joint health and to thwart hip dysplasia.
Considered one of the best dog foods for hip dysplasia, it’s hard to go wrong with feeding a dog VICTOR Purpose Performance Formula.
Nutro Ultra Weight Management Dry Dog Food is a premium level diet that assists dogs with achieving an excellent body condition to prevent hip dysplasia and other joint problems. A diet that focuses on lean meats, Nutro Ultra Weight Management’s primary ingredient is chicken, a lean meat that is full of amino acids to support a healthy body.
Lamb and salmon are also included in this diet to provide additional omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to encourage strong joints and boost coat and skin health. A grain-inclusive diet, each ingredient was selected for its high fiber ratio, assisting dogs with maintaining efficient digestive processes.
Fruits and vegetables round out this diet through their high antioxidant profile that promotes the development of a strong immune system to fight disease. Nutro Ultra Weight Management, rated as one of the best foods for hip dysplasia, contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
The powerhouse supplements glucosamine and chondroitin have been added to this diet to boost joint health.
Dogswell Happy Hips Chicken & Oats Recipe Dry Dog Food is a diet that has been carefully designed to support healthy hips and joints in dogs. The primary ingredient in this excellent quality food is whole chicken, a protein that is both lean and chock full of amino acids to support healthy muscle development.
A diet that includes both whole grains and fruits and vegetables, Dogswell Happy Hips contains plentiful servings of fiber and antioxidants to encourage good digestion and boost immunity. To provide support for joint health, glucosamine and chondroitin play an important role in this recipe.
Dogswell Happy Hips, one of the best dog foods for hip dysplasia, is free from corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
For one of the best dog foods for hip dysplasia, it’s hard to go wrong with Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight. A high protein diet, Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight includes both dehydrated raw meat pieces and kibble to ensure maximum flavor for dogs to enjoy.
Chicken is listed as the primary ingredient, a flavorful meat that contains all the vital nutrients dogs need to fuel a healthy body. L-carnitine has also been supplemented to boost metabolism and assist with weight loss and maintenance.
This diet contains no grains, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-products, artificial colors, or preservatives.
CANIDAE PURE Weight Management, ranked among the best dog foods for hip dysplasia, offers all the nutrition dogs need from their diet to thrive. Based on a limited ingredients list, CANIDAE PURE Weight Management contains just nine foods, all of which are of exceptional quality and support optimal health in dogs.
This diet contains no grains and is also free from corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. It has been fortified with a proprietary blend of probiotics, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids to provide a real support for joint health.
Hip dysplasia is a condition of the bone that most commonly affects large and giant breed dogs. However, small to medium breeds can also be plagued by this life-altering condition. Hip dysplasia is most often inherited: however, inappropriate or excessive exercise can also lead to the development of the disease.
Hip dysplasia occurs when the ball does not fit into the hip socket correctly. When this occurs, bone rubs against bone causing further deterioration of each joint and bringing with it excruciating pain.
Among the breeds that are known to be prone to hip dysplasis are:
Hip dysplasia most commonly is hereditary and is passed to a puppy from its parents. Unfortunately, passing OFA hip scores does not mean that a set of parents cannot pass down hip dysplasia to their children.
However, even in dogs with excellent hips, hip dysplasia can develop if bone growth during the puppy years occurs too rapidly. Foods that are too rich in protein or that contain the incorrect balance of calcium to phosphorus can lead to growth spurts that the musculoskeletal system cannot keep pace with. As a result, the puppy becomes at greater risk for developing hip or elbow dysplasia or other problems associated with the bones.
Though there are some common symptoms dogs with hip dysplasia may display, some dogs do not show indication at all that they are suffering from this condition. Dogs are masters at hiding pain, and thus, it is sometimes not until the discomfort is extreme that a dog will begin to show signs of the disease.
Among the most commonly seen symptoms of hip dysplasia are:
Another condition that often accompanies hip dysplasia is arthritis, an inflammation of the joints that causes great pain to dogs.
There are several different things that can be done to treat dogs suffering from hip dysplasia. Treatment options depend on the extent the disease has begun to affect the dog. Other determining factors in assessing the most effective treatment options are the dog’s age and size.
Though diet can play a role in helping to prevent hip dysplasia, some dogs reach the point where surgery is the only option for relief from pain and the restoration of mobility.
By far, the best course of action is to prevent hip dysplasia from occurring by feeding an appropriate diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and encouraging regular exercise. Anti-inflammatory drugs can be prescribed for dogs suffering from pain related to this condition.
The best dog foods for hip dysplasia can assist dogs with maintaining a healthy body weight, a vital support in preventing the development of this painful and debilitating health condition.
Maintaining a healthy body weight is critical for dogs with the potential for developing hip dysplasia. Since dogs that are allowed to eat at will can easily gain weight, free feeding is strongly discouraged.
Experts recommend consulting the bag of food selected for the dog for a starting point as to suggested serving sizes. These will need to be modified to reflect the dog’s weight, activity level, and appetite until the correct portion has been found.
Adult dogs require a high quality diet that contains a minimum of 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat while puppies do best on a food comprised of 22 percent protein and 8 percent fat. Care must be taken to only feed puppies a puppy food that contains the correct amount of calcium to phosphorus to prevent rapid bone growth from occurring, a leading cause of the development of hip dysplasia in large and giant breed dogs.
The best dog foods for hip dysplasia include joint supports such as glucosamine and chondroitin.
The best dog foods for hip dysplasia are properly nutritionally balanced and contain top quality ingredients that have been carefully selected for their high nutritional value. Ingredients such as artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives should be avoided as they contribute nothing of quality to a dog’s diet and are common allergens for many dogs.
A lean animal protein is the preferred foundation of any diet for dogs with the potential for developing hip dysplasia. Whole meats are the premiere choice; however, meat meals are also an excellent option for concentrated protein. By-products and plant-based proteins such as corn, wheat, and soy are not of sufficient quality to be suitable for dogs in need of support to maintain healthy joint function.
Carbohydrates are an important, though lesser, part of any diet for dogs. These can be derived from whole grains, fruits, or vegetables. The main role of these items is their emphasis on dietary fiber and antioxidants to encourage excellent digestion and a healthy immune system.
Healthy fats are a vital part of any diet for dogs. They assist with joint health but also support excellent quality skin and coat and provide dogs with the fuel they need to remain active. Healthy fats are best taken from animal sources such as chicken fat and oily fish.
No diet for dogs that are prone to hip dysplasia is complete without the addition of glucosamine and chondroitin to boost joint function. Prebiotics and probiotics are also valuable additions as they encourage good digestion.
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for hip dysplasia:
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