Final Diagnosis: Hip Dysplasia

	Rottweilers are one of the top three breeds known to have a strong genetic 
predisposition for hip dysplasia.  This fact caused us to place hip dysplasia near the top of 
our original differential diagnoses list.  Dogs with hip dysplasia have a congenital defect 
that causes their acetabula to be too shallow and/or the femoral head to be of an 
insufficient size.  This shallowness can be seen on the radiographs taken of our patient.  
These defects may be exacerbated by diet and exercise, if the animal is obese or 
extremely active.  Increased motion or weight on the joint would increase the irregular 
wear and thus accelerate the subsequent degeneration.  
	Joint laxity is a common clinical sign seen with hip dysplasia which was 
demonstrated by the Ortolani sign in our patient.  This laxity leads to the subluxation seen 
on JocelynŐs radiographs.  These primary deficits in her joint formation thereby lead to 
secondary degenerative joint disease affecting the cartilaginous structures.  Surface 
cartilage is worn away by the abnormal motion in the joint and the femoral head 
subsequently becomes flattened in one or more areas, another one of our radiographic 
findings.  Osteophyte development as noted in the radiographs is another common 
sequlae in this disease.
	The pain found during the physical exam and in the patients history correlates 
with the inflammation that is known to accompany these degenerative changes.