Hip dysplasia is a common disorder among medium to large breed of dogs. According to statistics, 19% of German shepherds will develop dysplasia at some point in their life. If you own a German shepherd and can already see signs of hip dysplasia, doing these things can help your dog live through it as pain-free as possible.

Here are 3 ways to help your German shepherd fight hip dysplasia:

#1 Weight Control & Exercise

Weight can cause some problems for dogs with hip dysplasia. German shepherds typically weigh between 36 to 40 kilograms for adult males and 28 to 32 kilograms for females. Having this much weight during intense physical activity can cause more wear and tear on their malformed hip socket and joint. This only gets worse as your dog gains more weight from inactivity and/or over-eating.

For dogs with hip dysplasia, weight management is a must. Try cutting down on your dog’s carbohydrate and fat intake. Check the label and switch to high protein. Unlike carbohydrate, excess protein is not retained in the body. Weigh your dog regularly. Measure everything your dog eats. Keep your dog’s weight down, but not too much that your pet looks gaunt.

Give light to moderate exercise to your dog like walking and running for short distances. German shepherd is usually hyperactive, so try to limit their playtime and avoid intense or strenuous activities that will put too much strain on their hip joint and socket.

Balance rest and physical activity. Don’t let them sit too long to avoid weight gain.

#2 Provide Hip Support

Another way to limit the effects of hip dysplasia on your dog is to use hip braces. Hip braces work great if you’re able to detect hip dysplasia early on. They keep the hip socket and joint from coming loose and help slow down the progress of hip dysplasia.

Hip braces are inexpensive and easy to use. A typical hip brace consists of a strap which is attached to the dog’s shoulder and back and a pair of leg brace joined together at the top and attached to the strap. The brace is then wrapped around the dog’s legs.

In time, your dog will get used to the hip brace. Use it on your dog before playtime. Associate it with something your dog enjoys like going outdoors and playing catch. Pretty soon, your dog will get accustomed to it as a part of his daily habit.

#3 Chronic Pain Management

You can find lots of pain medications for dogs over the internet, like Tramadol and Rimadyl. Consult your veterinarian on which pain medication to use for hip dysplasia. Don’t attempt to self-medicate with synthetic drugs as they are known to cause side-effects to your dogs. Tramadol, for instance, is an opioid pain killer specifically made for dogs. But it can also make your dog lethargic and can trigger seizures if your dog already has one.

A much better alternative is to use natural products such as CBD oil and dog treats infused with CBD. CBD is much safer and doesn’t have adverse side effects. Clinical tests show significant improvement in pain management. Many people, including some celebrities swear by it.

So why does CBD works in dogs as it does in humans? It’s quite simple. Dogs also have an endocannabinoid system (CBD receptors) pretty much like ours. In other words, “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” CBD is as potent as a pain killer for dogs as it is for humans.