The Rimadyl will help to ease his discomfort and the glucosamine may help rebuild the cartilage within the joint that is destroyed as a result of the instability in the hip. Neither drug will reverse or improve the changes in his hips.
Hip dysplasia is a genetic defect- the animal inherits a predisposition for this from his sire or dam. The hip joint is like a ball and socket joint. The head of the femur is the ball, and the acetabulum (the shallow cup within the pelvis) is the socket. Hip dysplasia involves a poor fit between the head of the femur and the acetabulum. The excess movement within the joint results in the femoral head becoming too flat and/ or the cup of the acetabulum becoming too shallow. This causes pain, arthritis and eventually degenerative joint disease. In severe cases, the "ball" may completely come out of the "socket" (luxation). Large breed dogs like Newfies, St. Bernards, German Sheperds, Labs, and Golden Retrievers are commonly affected.
In severe cases (and if he already has arthritis at the age of 2 he may fall into this category), surgery offers the best hope for a good quality of life.
1. Total hip replacement- the affected ball and socket are removed and replaced with artificial metal ones.
2. Triple pelvic osteotomy- the acetabulum is cut and rotated to provide better coverage of the ball of the femur. This is usually done on younger dogs.
3. Femoral head ostectomy- the head and neck of the femur are removed. This is primarily done when pain cannot be controlled with medication and total hip replacement is not affordable by the pet owner.
In less severe cases, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and glucosamine/ chondrotin sulfate can be used to control discomfort. Weight control is exceedingly important, as excess pounds create more stress on the ailing joint. Swimming is an excellent, low impact exercise to help strengthen the muscles surrounding the joint and passive range of motion exercises help decrease stiffness in the joint.
I hope this information was helpful.