Search forum
Back to German Shepherd Dog
Liked top 20
ForumsGerman Shepherd Dog > Knee Problems in 14 week old GSD (15 replies)
Knee Problems in 14 week old GSD by Learningbeforeleaping on 07 June 2012 - 02:16 |
We have a 14 week old GSD. She has been a "calm" puppy since we got her, happy to just lie at your feet instead of playing and running. Three weeks ago our vet told us that we has concerned about her hips, but wanted to watch her and see if she is in a growth spurt. |
by LOVE THY SHEPHERD on 07 June 2012 - 02:43 |
No, SORRY to hear that. Did you contact the person that u got her from ? This is not something I would consider a growth problem. I haven't heard of this and I've bred German Shepherds for over 20 years. I might consider taking her back, before u wait another 6 months or so and get really attached. There are so many pups to choose from, and good breeders that do health checks on their dogs and give a guarantee. Did u get her from a well known breeder ? Hjope everything turns out okay for u and her. |
LOVE THY SHEPHERD by Blitzen on 07 June 2012 - 03:30 |
Hips not good, but not yet dysplastic? According to what this vet has said about her knees, she has luxating patellas, more common in toy breeds than GSD's. The groove the knee fits in is too shallow to keep the knee cap stable. Google it. Given her age, I think you should get a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon. What you are seeing on xrays may well be normal for her breed and age; her growth plates wil not close for months. Some GSD puppies are very gangly and awkward at 4 months. |
Blitzen by Kimmelot on 07 June 2012 - 04:32 |
| Maybe its due to having laxicity of ligaments at her age. Right now she could look like her legs are spaghetti noodles. Long loose, stumbling over herself etc.That's kinda normal in some American showlines. She may be calm also just because of her breeding. Nothing to be alarmed about. I would give her a few months before you shell out half a million to the 'support the specialist' fund. Lots of human teenagers also are gangly, loose ligamented freaks. Long legs, huge heads, and they do weird things like sleeping alot.. Well they are growing right ? Whisper |
Kimmelot by brynjulf on 07 June 2012 - 04:44 |
| My advise is to take your pup to a vet familiar with GSD's . Sounds like you are being fleeced! Not yet dysplastic? What in heavens name is he talking about. Many vets will give you horrid advice regarding GSD. So sorry you found one of these uneducated bafoons........ |
by aceofspades on 07 June 2012 - 04:58 |
| This all sounds crazy. I wouldn't even consider having a hip X-ray on a 14 week old. The vet said they arent good but not dysplastic yet? That makes zero sense.
Find a vet who is intimately familiar with German Shepherds. Although I can't speak to the knee condition claimed by your Dr I do know that knocking knees and easty westy hocks are not unusual in GS pups and in themselves are not something to be concerned about. I had one male years ago who had horribly knocky knees and hated picking his back feet up and used to drag them. This was on and off from 4-8 months. I equated it to loose ligaments, awkward growth and reasonably normal development. All of the GS I have owned have had a point where I have seen at least a slight eatsy westy look to the hocks and I've never had a dysplastic dog yet. My one who dragged his feet lived to be 9 and he ran hard almost daily often on pavement. If he was dysplastic we would have known it. Hip dysplasia is not generally officially diagnosed until 2 years of age. Did you see the X-rays? Do you have copies that you can post here? I would trust the PDB members before my vet on the reading of a hip X-ray. I just had a dog done and while the X-ray was of sufficient quality l, neither then tech nor the vet could tell me what they were looking at. They aren't intimately knowledgeable with HD. |
aceofspades by Hutchins on 07 June 2012 - 05:17 |
| I would never even consider xraying a puppy that young, unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. Sorry but I don't think that is the case here. To xray a puppy at this age and say its has or does not have HD is not what I would base a decision on concerning the future of that puppy. Every case is different and I am sure that most people would agree, that age is way too young. I think I would try to restrict any rough play and limit my pups activities. Try to make that puppy comfortable and when she is alittle older, I would find another vet that is more experienced and has more knowledge with GSDs. Just my opinion! Good Luck with your baby! Keep us posted. |
by Blitzen on 07 June 2012 - 12:43 |
| If this puppy does have luxating patellas, and I stress the word "if", it could also be the result of loose ligamentation as Kimmelot has stated. The bottom line is this dog needs to be seen by an orthopedic specialist who doesn't take one look at a GSD and decide it has HD or worse. I dumped a vet who took one look at one of my aging GSD's and said - when I was in school we learned to answer "German Shepherd" every time we were presented with a genetic disease and asked which breeds were prone to that specific condition. We knew that 9 times out of 10 we would be right since this breed gets every disease known to the canine world. He misdiagnosed my GSD and 3 weeks later she was dead. |
by Mel62368 on 07 June 2012 - 14:03 |
| Could you get a short video of the pup walking? Melissa |
Mel62368 by Learningbeforeleaping on 08 June 2012 - 01:09 |
| Please excuse the quality of the video clip. If this doesn't show what you need I can try to get more and additional directions. http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h78/TD61804/?action=view¤t=060712004.mp4 |
by e c street on 08 June 2012 - 05:12 |
| Just curious as to what the siblings are or were like. I personally don't think the future of the pup is very promising. But if the pup winds up with bab patelas or hips, how does the breeder react to this. What is his/her responsibility. And what does this say about his/her breeding program? It looks to me like this is a bigger problem than appears on the serfice. What say ye? ecs |
by Learningbeforeleaping on 08 June 2012 - 12:56 |
| The breeder has said that if the puppy has hip dysplasia we will be allowed to keep her and receive a replacement puppy, however if it turns out to be something with her knees they would like her to be returned so that they can monitor her as they have never heard of this in a puppy they bred. They say the haven't heard of a problem with any siblings. |
by Blitzen on 08 June 2012 - 13:00 |
I don't understand why they want her back if it's her knees, but that's between you and the breeder. How do you feel about giving her back? |
by aceofspades on 08 June 2012 - 16:16 |
| I see a puppy walking. I don't think it would have even occurred to me at this age to take the pup in for X-rays. The pups tail is wagging which can throw their balance off too. I've seen them wagging hard enough to knock themselves right over. LOL. I don't know enough about knee problems to know whether they can even be diagnosed at this age. Logic tells me that any developmental issues such as knees Elbows and hips shouldn't be diagnosed as bad at such a young age. So much changes in that first 1-2 years of growth and right now you are heading in to THE most awkward growth stage now and will see a lot of funny movement. If it was my dog I would wait until closer to a year an in the meantime get it used to water and swimming. That is a great low/no impact strength building exercise. Someone correct me please if I am on the wrong train of thought. I've only raised 4 GS from puppies, am on my 5th right now so there are people here with far greater knowledge than I. |
by Blitzen on 08 June 2012 - 16:25 |
| She doesn't look abnormal to me either, Ace. |
by aceofspades on 08 June 2012 - 20:26 |
| Thanks for confirming my thoughts Blitzen. Like I said I'm only on pupoy number 5 so I have a long way to go to reach a level of experience that many of you all have, but when members like you come back and affirm what I think or say it helps me to keep learning.
I see an easty westy pup but nothing alarming and that it shouldn't grow out of. Just enjoy your pup and start to worry if his knees are knocking in 9 months. This is a fun and funny stage. |
Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!