HD= hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia (canine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
It's an orthopedic disease that can cause crippling arthritis in dogs, can result in lameness.
The presence and severity of HD can be determined via x-ray.
Certain breeds are more prone to it than others. Genetics play a role, but it can be exascerbated by environmental factors (obesity, activities that are hard on the joints). So if you have a breed that has a high incidence of HD, then you need to pay close attention to your dog's activity and exercise so you don't make the problem worse.
OP: You mentioned that your dogs are lab mixes. Labs (and most other large-breed dogs) are one of the breeds prone to HD.
http://www.labradorforums.co.uk/hips.html
http://www.workingdogs.com/vchipdysplasia.htm
According to the last website:
Hip dysplasia is most common among larger breeds of dogs, especially German shepherds, rotweillers,
Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, mastiffs, and Saint Bernards. It can also be seen in smaller breeds such as the cocker spaniel and the springer spaniel; mixed breeds may suffer from it as well.
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