DYSPLASIC DOG - Page 2

Bun Bun:

My first shepherd - Reno - ended up being dysplastic.  She was a pet, so didn't know about xraying back then, etc and she really showed no signs until she turned around 11.  The last 8 mos of her life was rough and I put her on medication to ease her pain.  She had good days and bad.  Bad was she couldn't walk for a day - and good was that she could walk after I assisted her up.  She lived just shy of her 14 birthday.  Have to admit it broke my heart watching her struggle to get up or walk.  The worst thing was coming home from work and finding her kind of stuck in a sitting position with her back legs pushed forward with her front paws between.  She would sometimes get stuck that way when trying to get up and would wait patiently for me to extracate her.   The pain meds helped, but toward the end she needed constant care.  My 6 year old gsd Libby was xrayed at age 3 and she shows mild in one hip.  I have her on glucosamine and am trying to get her weight down and keep her active.  Swimming also helps.  I tried this with Reno - but by then her hips were too far gone.  She actually sunk to the bottom of the pool the first time I tried taking her.  Her legs just didn't have enough strength to keep her up.  I made sure I started taking the rest of the gang young, and they all love to swim, so not an issue for Libby.  I am hope by keeping Libby active, on good food and keep her weight down, that I can avoid her hd becoming as bad as Reno's was toward the end.  It is disappointing news, but as others have stated, your dog can still have a long, healthy active life. 

Cheryl

hi bun bun, my gsd is almost 14 mos, a very big boy (not fat), 83 lbs and was diagnosed w/dyplasia ~4 mos ago. he is on glucosamine/chondrotin (me too) and seems to be doing very well. i really watch his weight so there's no extra stress on his joints and watch him to make sure he doesn't overdo it. we have a 20 mo bel mal mix and they can really  really play! but the vet and the surgical specialist we took him to say to let him play, exercise him so he builds good muscle and watch his weight. both vet and specialist say his dysplasia is prob due to his really rapid growth (as i said, he's a big boy) - nothing could stop that. we feed him rc large breed puppy, mixed now w/rc ger shep. we just take it one day at a time and i try not to "baby" him. he's young and strong and i'll do what i can to keep him healthy. btw, both parents and beyond had good or better hips - it can happen no matter what. we had him neutered, but he's a pet anyway, so we had planned on that to begin with. i do have a question for those who say to swim them. i have a pool, its a far drive for a lake for us. he's not real keen on the pool, but i'll use it for him. i rinse him off, but should i use something else to make sure his skin doesn't get dried out? good luck with your dog.

Use omega fatty 3 capsules. Swimming is the best thing you can do for him.

My Princess and Bree are both have dysplasia.  Found out when Princess turned 2 and then we got Bree from the same breeder because of it.  Bree also has it!  Both are fine and live a normal life.  Princess is now 7 and Bree is 5.  So far so good.

idoggie2, thanks i'll try the omega 3 tabs.  what is the dosage? i had him out at the kennel today and he's gone into "advanced" training status. luckily, he did pretty good - i can use some more intensive training! i was gonna ask them but i had to leave as soon as class was over (angus was NOT happy - he likes the play/socialization time), and i forgot. too many questions and never enough brain cells!.....k

angusmom, I sent you an email.

Thank you all for your helpful tips, he is currently not showing any signs of lameness and i want to keep it that way as long as possible.

thanks again

susan

My Zorba v Tiekerhook had mild on one side & mod on the other.  He showed no sign of pain until he was in his 10th year.  We then had his hip replaced & he was his old ornery self after only 1 month!