Juvenile Pubic Symphysoidesis

Preventing Hip Dysplasia – Effectively and Economically
The veterinarians at Companion Animal Hospital now offer early age screening for hip dysplasia and, if needed, a procedure called Juvenile Pubic Symphysoidesis (JPS), which reduces the chance of osteoarthritis occurring later in life. This procedure may prevent your “at risk” puppy (see table below) from developing the pain and disability associated with hip dysplasia as well as prevent the need for expensive and uncomfortable surgery to correct the problem later in life. While no one can guarantee the outcome of every case, this is the most promising procedure for the prevention of hip dysplasia in years.

How It Works
Your puppy would be dropped off for an overnight stay at Companion Animal Hospital, the same as with a routine spay or neuter procedure. After he or she is anesthetized, the hips will be x-rayed and palpated (examined manually) to see if laxity exists.

If the hips are normal (ball-and-socket joint sufficiently tight), then JPS is not needed and your pup will be spayed or neutered unless you are planning to breed or wish to wait.

If the hips are loose (significant laxity of the ball-and-socket joint), then JPS is indicated and your pup will be spayed or neutered at the same time. Puppies spend one night with us just to keep them quiet and so we can evaluate them the morning after surgery. If significant hip laxity exists then spaying or neutering is mandatory. It would be unethical to eliminate the outward signs of hip dysplasia without removing that pet from the breeding gene pool.

What is JPS?
Juvenile Pubic Symphysoidesis is a minimally invasive surgery performed at 16 weeks of age on puppies at risk for developing hip dysplasia. Puppies are screened using x-rays and palpitation (feeling the hip joints). Puppies with excessive hip laxity are spayed or neutered at the same time JPS is performed.

Why Does it Work?
The puppy's pubic bone has a cartilaginous center line (symphysis) from which the pubis (the floor of the pelvis) grows side-to-side. By causing this growth area to close prematurely (stop growing), the pubic bones remain short while the rest of the pelvis continues to grown. This umbrella-like growth allows the acetabulum (socket of the hip joint) to rotate outward and thus cover and encompass the femoral head (ball of the hip joint) much more effectively.

How is it Done?
If x-rays and palpatation show the hips to be normal then JPS will not be performed and neutering/spaying will be done at owner's discretion. If x-rays and palpatation confirm the presence of excessive hip laxity then the puppy proceeds directly to surgery where neutering or spaying and JPS are performed.

A small incision is made on the abdomen under the pubic bone to expose the symphysis. The symphysis is then heated using electrocautery with a fine needle tip. This causes the growth to stop in that one area of the pelvis only. Just as with the spay or neuter, the puppy can go home the following day. There is no need to restrict activity and discomfort from the procedure is rare.

• Hip Dysplasia is one of the most common orthopedic problems diagnosed in dogs.
• Hip Dysplasia causes pain and lameness in puppies as well as older dogs.
• Hip Dysplasia is a hereditary laxity (looseness) in the ball and socket joint of the hips which leads to arthritis and pain.

How Well Does it Work?
Veterinarians at North Carolina State and Wisconsin have studied the procedure in 45 dysplastic puppies. After two years of follow-up, 44 of the pups have had no sign of hip dysplasia either visually or radiographically. In a majority of cases the original laxity was significantly improved based on palpitation and x-rays and there have been no adverse effects.

A number of veterinary schools currently offer this procedure due to the excellent promise of reducing the discomfort and lameness associated with hip dysplasia.

Remember… Puppies must be less than 16 weeks old. Make Your Appointment Soon!