Need Your Expertise - Page 1

We have a 5 mo. old pup with a sloppy rear, so we had his hips x-rayed.  Hips are fine, but they want us to take him to a Neurologist.  They feel that he may have issues with his spine.  Has anyone ever dealt with anything like this?

Thank you for your help.   

I can not tell you exactly what is going on with out seeing the dog move but it "could" be that the dog has alot of angulation and does not know how to handle it. What I tell people is to walk the dog about 2-3 miles a day to strengthen the hindend. The dog is at a age that is not the best time to judge the dog.He needs time to grow, strenghten, and have the rear time to strenghten.

I really have had good luck with walking the dog. I notice a dog that does not know how to handle the rear bunny hops alot, will not trot but instead pace or run but in time when things adjust and strengthen it works its self out.

Just my pat experience.

Jill Straley 

Good advice Jill.  The pup needs time, not a neurologist.

Thank you for the help.  Our biggest concern is his rear toes (the 2 middle ones) are worn down to nothing.  His rear is definetly dragging and moving from side to side.

You can get some booties, like what huskies wear for the long distance runs, for his hind feet for when you are out exercising.  Or make them.  I have a bootie pattern I can scan in and email to you.  That would save his poor little toes.

Veronica

Is this normal for the rear toes to wear down?  I have never seen it before.  He definitly dragging the rears. His rear swings from side to side, just looks horrible.  That is why we checked hips, but they are good.  So..........we are clueless.

The rear toes being worn down is a big concern...

I think a spinal/neuro specialist is in order, a board certified one of course...

They can do a spinal/neuro physical and then procede with x-raying the area of concern. If it was me I would be making an appt, ASAP.

Darlene

Vom Herrenhaus German Shepherds

Why don't you advertize him on this site.  You can say he is the "third cousin to the dog that bit Asko von der Lutter's great grandson's half brother Chunk vom Poopula" .  But don't tell anybody there are concerns with his health.  I bet you will get a million calls for this incredible dog.  The dog that is so driven he has worn his feet to the bone.

Honestly, I would say screw the specialist and the neurologists.  You need to be talking to your breeder!  Any breeder who has integrity and is in it for the advancement of the breed should replace the pup at once.  Do it now before the thing is one, then two and you have major bills and a broken heart.   I apologize for the joke above, but you asked if I have ever dealt with this and I have not and will not.   If I have something wrong with my car and it is under warranty, I don't fix it out of my pocket, I TAKE IT BACK.  It is true that the pup may strengthen and be O.K., but your breeder should be aware of the problem.