Canine
hip dysplasia (CHD) is a hip disorder affecting dogs, usually larger
sports dogs or hunting dogs, though it is still possible to be found in smaller
dogs, as well. 
CHD is one of the most common skeletal diseases seen by
vets. Heredity does have a lot to do with CHD. There are certain breeds of dogs
that are more prone to canine hip dysplasia than others. Multiple genes are
involved in the inheritance of hip dysplasia, and many other factors influence
whether or not it develops, such as body type, size, growth rate, and nutrition.
There are a few things you as a pet owner can watch in order to try and avoid the most adverse effects of canine hip dysplasia. Studies have showed that overfeeding, and dietary supplementation for maximal growth, has been shown to increase the chances of hip dysplasia in young, growing, large breed dogs. On the other hand the early development of CHD can be delayed, and its severity diminished, when the growth rate of pups is kept normal. Do not starve a puppy! Just make sure that if the puppy appears to be increasingly fat, to either increase exercise or decrease food to a normal appropriate level. A high quality, meat-based diet is absolutely necessary for growing pups; just don't feed so much of it that the pup becomes overweight.
There are early signs to CHD. While only a trained veterinarian can give a
true diagnosis, a few signs to look for include the following: difficulty
rising, stiffness in joints, rising using front legs only and dragging rear,
short stride in rear legs, reluctance to exercise or climb stairs, rear limb
lameness, soreness in hips, or waddling rear limb gait. If your dog is showing
one or more of these symptoms, it is a good idea to see a vet. Even if it turns
out not to be Canine Hip Dysplasia, the vet will be 
able to inform
you of what canine foods or canine
medicines you need to help your pet. Always be on a look out for these
signs. It is not uncommon for some dogs to not have noticeable problems until
they are ten years old or even older. The onset of CHD signs may be gradual or
sudden.
A dog that is very active, particularly doing things such as climbing stairs, jumping in and out of trucks, running with other normal dogs, or long hunts through varied country can all cause additional trauma and increase future discomfort for the dog. All this is obviously worse in a fat dog than in one that is actually healthy. In a dog without CHD, these exercises are just that, and not painful to the animal. It is in the large breeds that had a genetic tendency to Canine Hip Dysplasia that these exercises can cause further hurt.
If the veterinarian confirms that a dog has danine hip dysplasia, there are various surgeries that can help, including full hip replacement. With the way technology has advanced, many of these surgeries are incredibly successful and may return a degree of youth to your pet that you did not even believe was possible. Always consult with a vet at the first signs of Canine Hip Dysplasia, and just remember that proper prevention can pay great dividends in comfort to your dog as he/she ages.
