Hip Displaysia

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by prasac on 15 November 2021 - 12:11

HI all, I am sure this is not the first time someone has posted about Hip Displaysia. I am here to request opinion of expert breeders on the board & vets (if any). I brought a golden pup home sometime about 3 months back who was healthy with good bones & has been well taken care of. However, recently we observed some rabbit hopping while running in the grounds & laziness in our 5 month old pup. Went to a vet for an examination & got the x-rays done. The vet suggested that he has grade 2 hip displaysia. I want to share the x-rays here hoping to get a second opinion.

by Johnson K9 on 15 November 2021 - 12:11

I am sorry for the puppy and you. For the age, those are horrible and will not get better unfortunately with age. Have you talked with the breeder?

by Klossbruhe on 15 November 2021 - 13:11

I am not a vet, but have worked with one who was a GSD breeder for several decades as a sport consultant. From the scans of the xrays you posted, it is not entirely clear where the hip bone ends. But it does appear that the joints are not flush with the bones and fairly far out.

While HD is not a death sentence by any means, it should be closely monitored to make sure your dog is not in pain. Some dogs have no pain for most or all of their lives. Others have pain almost from the start which can be easily managed with the correct prescription drugs. Avoid jumping activities. I would not take the dog biking and if possible walks should be done on grass or gravel and not pavement. Good luck.

by TIG on 15 November 2021 - 16:11

Fyi bunny hopping is not a sign of HD. Known dogs with great hips who also did it,

Yes xrays don't look good but 1. Quality not great 2. Dog much too young for final determination - he is nowhere near being full grown. My old vet was an ofa evaluator. He would not even do a preliminary b4 age 8 months.

While I agree with much advice given, I believe it goes too far. You need to help him develop AND keep muscle mass, Walking esp uphill or in sand, swimming are both excellent.

If both hips are equally bad most dogs do not experience pain since they are balanced. Some young dogs in growing spurts will need temporary assistance with pain medicine. Suggest mild doses aspirin or tramadol. Again most do not need this.

Also suggest the use of SAMe Goes on sale at Costco every 3 mo. Cost about $15 a month. Great for bone pain, Kept me up & walking for 10 years. Have used it on old arthritic dogs with no problem. SAMe can have a loading period meaning you have to give it for 3-6 weeks b4 seeing improvement.

Good luck. Also know that a good active life is still possible. My best herding dog who lived to a healthy 14 had hips that were not even in the same zip code.

by Hundmutter on 16 November 2021 - 03:11

Can co-oberate what TIG posted; had a bitch X-rayed @ 2 years, awful bloody hips. UK system scored 29/31=60! Never went 'off' them, never any pain shown, always retained good muscle tone, was excellent gaiting in conformation Shows where she started, went on to Obedience competition. Obvs never bred. Showed bit of ataxia when she reached 13/14 years; but then so did my 3/3=6 male when he got to double figures.

by ZweiGSD on 16 November 2021 - 12:11

My first GSD had (as Hundmutter phrased so well) awful bloody hips. Didn't slow her down a bit. However, due to an intestinal disease she only lived to 8 so I have no idea how it would have affected her in her later years. Like others have said it's not a death sentence and they can have normal lives.

Also, I would not neuter. Keep him intact for the hormones

by JJ Vonstancillkennels on 18 November 2021 - 12:11

how do you apply photos up so I can get an opinion on my dogs X-rays...

by Sunsilver on 18 November 2021 - 14:11

You click on 'enable editor that allows images 21', then you can upload the images from your computer.

by Jenni78 on 20 November 2021 - 20:11

Positioning is so bad it's impossible to tell, even if the dog were old enough for meaningful prelims, which it isn't. Given the vet's thinking that bunny hopping in a 5 month old is a sign of HD (it isn't) and thinking these are suitably diagnostic of a darn thing, I'd get a new vet and re-shoot when the dog is a year old. In the meantime, keep the puppy LEAN. Feed a large breed puppy food with appropriately controlled calcium levels, swim or walk on sand, hills, and in general try to help the pup build muscle. There is no significant remodeling at this point, and the angles are so bad we're not even getting close to the same view of each hip, so I'd hold off on the panic.

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