Poor Dieting Can Cause Hip Dysplasia in Large Breed Puppies

A fellow of the American College of Dentists, Dr. Mike Sagman practiced cosmetic dentistry for over 35 years, restoring the smiles of hundreds of patients. As founder of review and reference website, The Dog Food Advisor, Mike Sagman gives guidance to dog owners on commercial diets to keep dogs healthy.

The dietary needs of large breed puppies are very different from those of small breed puppies. Failure to meet these needs may lead to skeletal disorders such as elbow dysplasia, osteochondrosis, and hip dysplasia.

Hip dysplasia in dogs is characterized by the malformation of the ball and socket joints in a dog’s hip. When the ball and socket don’t meet as they should, the joint rubs and grinds rather than sliding smoothly. Gradually, the hip may even lose its function. 

Large breeds are more susceptible to hip dysplasia because they grow much faster. This fast growth means that their bone structure must develop much faster, increasing the risk of improper formation.

To reduce the risk of their pets developing hip dysplasia, pet owners should avoid overfeeding puppies as this causes puppies to grow too fast, leading to skeletal issues. Pet owners should also avoid putting large breed puppies on excessively high calcium diets as puppies have a problem regulating their intake of calcium. A 1.2 to 1.8 percent calcium content in dry food is recommended by the American Association of Feed Control Officials.

Best Friends Animal Society’s Fix at Four Campaign

After serving as a captain in the United States Army Medical Department Activities (MEDDAC), Virginia dentist, Dr. Mike Sagman, operated a private practice focusing on restorative and cosmetic dentistry for nearly four decades. A passionate animal welfare advocate, Dr. Mike Sagman actively supports organizations such as the Best Friends Animal Society.

Since its founding over 30 years ago, the Best Friends Animal Society has remained the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the United States. In order to help minimize the number of homeless animals in the country, the organization runs the Spay and Neuter Education Program.

The Best Friends Animal Society considers spaying or neutering as one of the best gifts owners can give to their pets. They also see it as a gift to the community, as the procedure helps alleviate overcrowded shelters and discourages killing. 

In order to raise awareness about the procedure’s benefits, the society launched a national marketing campaign a few years ago. Called Fix at Four, the specially designed campaign encourages owners to spay or neuter their pets by the age of four months. Since gaining traction, Fix at Four now counts television stars Eric Stonestreet and Linda Hunt among its supporters.