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Hip dysplasia affects approximately 14 percent of the canine population, and in certain breeds — bulldogs, mastiffs, German shepherds among them — rates climb staggeringly higher. It is one of the most discussed orthopaedic conditions in veterinary medicine, yet the conversation tends to begin and end with surgery. What this thesis asks is whether the story is more nuanced than that. Katlyn Sutcliffe examines canine hip dysplasia from the ground up: the anatomy of the coxofemoral joint, the interplay of genetic predisposition and environmental triggers, how the condition is diagnosed and scored, and which surgical options are currently available in Canada. But the core inquiry sits further downstream — in what happens to the body around a dysplastic hip, and whether osteopathic manual therapy can meaningfully intervene. The mechanics of the condition paint a vivid picture of cascade. As the femoral head loses congruency within the acetabulum, cartilage degrades, muscles compensate, and the pelvis and spine begin to distort under the strain. Dogs may shift weight dramatically onto their forelimbs, developing overdeveloped neck and shoulder muscles while hindlimb muscles quietly atrophy. This is the territory where osteopathy operates — not reversing the structural abnormality, but working with the whole body that has reorganised around it. Sutcliffe draws on techniques including myofascial release, osteopathic articular balancing, craniosacral therapy and functional technique, mapping each to specific presentations seen in dysplastic patients. The role of fascia in restricting lymphatic drainage, and therefore amplifying inflammation and pain, receives particular attention. The thesis does not overstate its case. Direct clinical research on osteopathy for canine hip dysplasia remains limited, and the author is clear about that. What she builds instead is a well-reasoned theoretical framework — one that leaves the reader genuinely curious about what a formal study might confirm.
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