So my dog has hip dysplasia - Page 1

I just found out this morning that my 2 year old female show dog has moderate hip displasia. I'm extremely sad having been training her for her schutzhund 1. I am extremely sad not necessarily for myself but because I love her so much and now knowing that she won't be able to have that same fire she has in her eyes when we go onto the field. This turned out to be genetic 5 generations back or somewhere really far back in her pedigree. I just had to vent because I'm utterly dissapointed and sad for my dog. Thx. Sorry for spelling errors typing on my phone.

I completely understand your sadness and frustration. I cried all the way home when one of my was diagnosed with elbow dysplacia.....she's still symptom free.

After the same thing happened to my, now I typically do preliminary x-rays at a year just to check - its before any real training begins. If your dog isn't in pain, continue the training, or maybe a less physical job will still be good for it.

Therapy dog, rally, or if it has a good nose it could be taught to detect skin cancer.........

I am sorry to hear that.

I dont understand why everyone thinks thats a death sentence or the end of your fun on the Schutzhund field?  Keep training, keep having fun... I personally wouldnt do the jumps, just train the retrieves to go around them.  As long as the rest of the routine is good, then you pass!  The protection phase is totally do-able espcially at the club level.  Tracking is just walking basically.  Just make sure you keep the extra weight off.  Swim the dog to build the muscle strength.  Dont push the dog to the point of being exhausted.  Oh, and SPAY/NEUTER the dog!  Dont need an oops litter w/ bad hips.  Good luck and have FUN!

BMartin is right, it is not a death sentence, and you just have to learn the dog's limitations. One of my long gone boys was moderately dysplastic and got SchI.  I gave up the points on the A-frame and he went over the jump, but then came back around..and I learned a lot from him.  To the day he died at almost 12 , he never showed any symptons.  Kept his weight at 78lbs., no repetitious jumping, had him on Aniflex complete for horses, a good raw diet, and just use common sense.  But for me, the most important, I loved my dog and he wasn't going anywhere title or not.  Good luck....don't give up on her yet. 

I agree: this is a disappointment, but not a death sentence. You may need to make some adjustments to avoid aggravating the condition, but you can still continue with training and titling. We can all sympathize and sympathize with you. Some of us are,or have been,there. We all sweat out the OFA and/or "a" stamp, holding our breath until we get that certification. Many dogs with a moderate rating never develope clinical signs or discomfort. BMartin gave very good suggestions. I would add making sure to warm up the dog before working, and perhaps beginning massage/chiropractic etc, prior to any discomfort developing.

I agree with what every one has said above.  I found out my showline female I was training in schutzhund had severe hd.  We continued to train - just lowered the jumps and took my chances on the field at trial.  In her SchI she did do the jump (but pushed off) and she did do the Aframe - not fast or pretty. She only got an 87 and I couldn't have been prouder of her.   In our attempt for the II she did go over on the way out but on the way back - she ran up to the jump, stopped, looked up and then ran around it.  Did the same on the Aframe. 

Good luck with your dog and as long as she enjoys the training and you don't see it aggrevating her condition, then continue to do so.  I ended up retiring mine in December as I started noticing the driving was causing her some problems.  I do take her out with me occassionally to our club and she gets to run the blinds and take a few bites now and then. 

Cheryl

There's no reason why you still can't achieve a SchH title if the HD is on the milder side. There are many therapeutic exercises you can do with your dog that will strength all around the joint, and plenty of supplements are out there to keep infammation to a minimum.

I have a dog that was rated OFA moderate dysplasia. She completed her UD at three years of age, did PPD work, and was trained a rigourous obstacle course that actually went a long way to strengthen her muscles. She did tons of natural obstacles, in her youth she could fly up the steepest rock wall like a spider or balance on the tiniest pedestal. I live on the water so in good weather/low bacteria count we swim regularly. We fuss backwards every day around the yard and I help her walk sideways in either direction. These things were suggestioned to me by a top rehab specialist. I started her in rally and she completed her RE at 7 years old with mutiple 1sts and a few perfect scores.

At 8 and a half she is doing very well. She cannot hold a sit stay for than a minute or so anymore and in very cold weather she has a slight arthritic limp. But she is happy, healthy, playful and active. Barring any unforseen health issues I expect her to make it to 10+. I bought her in hopes of breeding her, she was multiple times VP1, excellent drives, great anatomy....so I was heartbroken. I know how much it sucks. But not keeping her was simply not an option. Life handed me lemons so I made her my AKC dog instead and I learned a ton from her.

And who's to say she won't have that fire? My gimpy girl still gets that evil grin when she thinks she's getting a bite. Don't lose heart, she won't!

Thank you to all who have sympathized with me. It has been tough to deal with and we will continue to get her sch 1. I agree as long as she doesn't show any symptoms I'll be happy to continue working her. I just hope she doesn't start showing syptoms at least until old age but I do appreciate all the advice and support.

One little bit of advice, Try giving it Hokamix Joint powder on the dogs morning feed, It will not cure the problem nothing can but it will help the Dog to stay the way it is without getting worse of that i am certain, Sorry to hear it with your Dog and i can imagine how you feel, I to am waiting to here the results of my Gina, It takes forever money paid a long time ago but the waiting is not nice, That is the one thing i do not like about these dogs, but the Joints must be Certified that is priority with me regardless of the waiting and the end result
Steve1