18/09/2026
🐾 HIP & ELBOW DYSPLASIA IN THE BOERBOEL — IT’S MORE THAN JUST GENETICS 🐾
Hip and elbow dysplasia are subjects that every Boerboel owner, breeder and prospective puppy buyer should understand.
Because the Boerboel is a large, heavy, rapidly growing breed, joint health deserves attention from the very beginning of a puppy’s life.
One common misconception is that dysplasia is simply a matter of whether a dog has “good” or “bad” genetics.
The reality is more complicated.
🦴 WHAT IS HIP & ELBOW DYSPLASIA?
Hip dysplasia occurs when the hip joint does not develop and fit together properly. This can result in instability, abnormal wear of the joint and, over time, arthritis.
Elbow dysplasia refers to developmental abnormalities of the elbow joint. It can cause pain, inflammation, lameness and degenerative changes.
Both conditions have a heritable/genetic component, which is why responsible breeding and health screening are so important.
However, genetics are not the only factor influencing how a dog's joints develop and perform.
🧬 GENETICS MATTER — BUT THEY AREN'T THE WHOLE STORY
A puppy can inherit a predisposition toward joint problems, but the environment in which that puppy grows can also influence its skeletal development and long-term joint health.
Factors such as:
✅ Nutrition
✅ Growth rate
✅ Body weight
✅ Exercise
✅ Type of exercise
✅ Flooring and surfaces
✅ Trauma or injury
✅ Muscle development
✅ Overall physical conditioning
can all influence the stresses placed on developing joints.
This is especially important in a Boerboel because rapid growth and excessive weight can place enormous mechanical stress on immature bones and joints.
That does not mean dysplasia is simply caused by poor feeding or environment. It means that joint health is multifactorial, and responsible owners should address the factors they can control.
🍖 NUTRITION — DON'T OVERFEED THE GROWING BOERBOEL
One of the biggest mistakes with large-breed puppies is trying to make them grow as big and as quickly as possible.
Bigger is not necessarily better.
A puppy should grow steadily and maintain an appropriate body condition rather than being pushed to maximum size.
Feed a complete, balanced diet appropriate for large-breed growth, and avoid indiscriminate supplementation.
More calcium, more vitamins or more supplements do not automatically mean stronger bones. In fact, inappropriate supplementation can interfere with normal skeletal development.
Your veterinarian can help determine the appropriate food, feeding amount and body condition for your individual puppy.
⚖️ KEEP THAT PUPPY LEAN
Excess body weight means greater mechanical loading on developing joints.
Keeping a growing Boerboel at an appropriate body condition can reduce unnecessary stress on the hips and elbows.
Don't feed according to the goal of producing the biggest puppy in the litter.
Feed for healthy development.
🐕 CONTROL EXERCISE DURING GROWTH
Young Boerboels need exercise — but they don't need to be treated like adult athletes.
Avoid excessive:
❌ Repetitive jumping
❌ High-impact running
❌ Forced long-distance running
❌ Repeated stair climbing
❌ Abrupt twisting and turning
❌ Hard-impact activities when the puppy is still developing
Instead, encourage controlled, age-appropriate movement, allowing the puppy to build coordination and muscle naturally.
Free movement on suitable surfaces is generally preferable to repeatedly forcing a young puppy through strenuous exercise.
🏡 THE ENVIRONMENT MATTERS
Consider what surfaces your puppy spends time on.
Constantly slippery flooring can make it difficult for a growing puppy to maintain traction and may contribute to awkward movement.
Provide areas where the puppy can move safely with good footing.
Also remember that injuries during growth can potentially affect developing joints, so sensible management and supervision are important.
🏋️ MUSCLE SUPPORTS JOINTS
Good muscle development helps support the skeleton.
The goal isn't to create an extremely muscular puppy through intense training.
The goal is healthy, functional development through appropriate nutrition and controlled activity.
🩺 DON'T WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A PROBLEM
If your Boerboel shows:
• Persistent or recurring lameness
• Difficulty getting up
• Reluctance to exercise
• Bunny-hopping gait
• Stiffness
• Pain after exercise
• Abnormal movement
• Reluctance to climb stairs or jump
don't simply assume it's a phase.
Have the puppy evaluated by a veterinarian.
Early assessment can be valuable, particularly when there is a concern about developmental orthopedic disease.
🧬 AND THIS IS WHERE RESPONSIBLE BREEDING COMES IN
For breeders, joint health should be part of a much bigger picture.
Health screening of breeding animals is important, and breeders should consider hip and elbow results alongside pedigree, conformation, temperament, functional ability and the overall health history of the bloodline.
But a hip or elbow score should also not be treated as the sole definition of a dog's quality.
Likewise, a dog with good radiographic results is not automatically guaranteed to produce puppies with perfect joints.
Responsible breeding is about reducing risk — not promising perfection.
❤️ THE BOTTOM LINE
Hip and elbow dysplasia are complex conditions.
🧬 Genetics matter.
🍖 Nutrition matters.
⚖️ Body weight matters.
🐕 Exercise matters.
🏡 Environment matters.
🩺 Veterinary care matters.
📋 Responsible breeding matters.
We cannot control every factor affecting a Boerboel's joints, but we can control many of them.
So let's stop looking at joint health as simply “genetic” versus “not genetic.”
The better approach is to understand that genetics create part of the picture, while growth, nutrition, weight, exercise, environment and management can all influence the outcome.
A healthy Boerboel isn't created by chasing size alone.
We should be breeding and raising Boerboels for soundness, functionality, longevity and quality of life. 🐾❤️
This post is intended for general education and does not replace veterinary advice. If you are concerned about a puppy's joints or movement, consult your veterinarian.
