When should an x-ray be done on the hips - Page 2

I have certain vets that I basically only use for taking x-rays and reading them...I trust them and they are very good at reading x-rays...I have other vets that I use for everything else....I this puppy is for "pet" only then you have other options...when the GSD begins having problems...Ask your vets about those...but it would help with the discomfort of HD...if it's too bad then the best thing to do is to move on...I have x-rayed many dogs and like my vets to read the results...but I also want to view them myself...If I can help you me...you can contact me...

~Bob~

QMan - they really do not have a clue what is in store for them in the future.  The wife is a tri-athlete and was hoping after he turns one that he would be here running companion - now I believe that is impossible - is that correct.  Dogs with HD can exercise - but the form of exercise is walking or am I wrong..........and can dogs with HD have surgery to correct the problem?

You can do a prelimary at the age of one year, to know what is going on with the hips.

I got my dog's done at an University. The man who has been doing it for over 25 years gave me his professional opinion. He said they were good and I sent them to sv for rating, she is over 2 years old.

You can get the opinion at the age one, from  the ofa or sv professional.  The final word is the ofa or sv.

At the age 2 is when you actually get the rating score on the hips for breeding purposes.

If you are taking a pup at 6 months and they are not positioned correctly, they will not look right nor be able to be correctly read.

I have heard people taking puppies to have an ideal. But, would not recommend this at such an early age.  Sedation can  be harmful

to little ones.(risks).

You must take a dog to a place that is certified and knows how to position them. Not every vet is experienced, I know. Sure they are taught, but usually don't do enough to be really good at it.

I got my recommendation to go to an university in my state because she took two of her dogs there and they were passed as ofa good and the man there was honest and said they looked great.  She said highly recommended and they had plenty of staff to position dog very correct.

My dog came out bouncing and happy. Dog was not fully sedated.

  Hope this helps.

Exercise question-

Had vet tell me on old dog long ago with severe HD , no continous, no long walks, no trotting, too hard on dog

. A dog is

going to want to be beside any owner with happiness and pride.

But, they are not able to tell you every step hurts them.

So, I retired my dog from it all. She passed away from cancer at 9 years.

She was hurting alot and the best thing I should of done is put her to sleep at 5 , but it was hard to let her go.

I miss her still to this day.She died 2 1/2 years ago.

Renz,
Personally I would send them off to OFA.  It's only $ 25.00 and if your vet does not have them positioned right and a number of other things then OFA can spot this and make adjustments or tell you if the X-rays need to be redone. You get alot for that 25 bucks. JMO

And I would never keep a pup with bad hips if this is the case...Hip surgery is not a guarantee, and why, having already taked its tummy, nuetered it, and taken x rays at 6 mos old....wow   I purchase a pup to be a working companion and this poor pup is gonna spend its life recovering from surgery, antibiotics and pills.......as soon as I find out that this pup is really bad on one and poor on the other,,,I would ask for a replacement.....no excuses.......this pups start in life is not what a gsd is suppose to be......I think 6 mos old for all this is a little  bit young  , IMO...

I think I would find another vet.....

Hi Renz...Yes you are right...if a GSD has HD then it depends on how bad it is...but you don't want to have the dog put too much pressure/stress on the joints...Hips...so it would most likely be out of the question to have the dog run with her...But if a dog has HD it is possible to have certain operations which would cut the amount of pain down if not completely out...But he/she would not be able to do strenuous exercise...I would have a qualified vet...one that's able to read the x-rays well...to look them over and see what is really going on...and if the worst is the outlook for this pup...the best for the pup would be to either put it down or find it a home that is suitable for it's condition...Then the folks can go about looking for another dog that would suit them better...I would suggest if these people want a dog to run with and do high exercise levels of activity then they might look into getting an older dog...like a year or more...and has already been x-rayed and ok'd for what they want...I'm afraid that one of the downfalls of our breed is having hip problems...and to avoid that with a puppy can sometimes be difficult...

~Bob~

Anesthesia has come a long way and most spays and neuters are preformed between 4 and 6 months of age for average pet owners, young pets actually recover quicker than older pets.  When Isoflourane is used (anesthetic gas) pups knocked out at 9 am are usually standing/wagging tails as if nothing happened by 12 or 1 pm.

Renz, while the tacking only does involve a few stitches, you still have to make a pretty large incision in the abdomen to get to the stomach, that is what I ment by major abdomenal surgery.

Total hip replacements can be done, only one hip can be done at a time however, but most dogs I have seen do really well with the procedures.  I would definatly have the xrays evaluated by a radiologist/orthopedic surgeon to see what they think.  Also, the procedures are very expensive, so it all depends on what the new owners are willing to spend and how attached they have grown to the pup.

I have heard from several people that Lauckland AFB tacks the stomachs of all their GSDs. 

Matt:  Current thinking on bad hips is to encourage certain types of excercize because it helps the hips & keeps dogs out of pain.  You can submit to OFA at 4 months, you don't have to wait until 1 year.

I dunno but I think I would look for another vet. This one sounds like he/she was just padding his wallet suggesting so many things be done if just a neutor was asked for.

As for tacking my vet told me they are tacking GSD's now with arthoscopic surgery (probably spelled that wrong). Also with Willow my old girl that just passed in June this year. She was diagnosed at 3 with severe hips. My husband took her everywhere and anywhere with him. She showed no symptoms until about 8 years of age. She was put on pred at 10 years and began to act puppy like again. My husband felt it was quality time not the quantity of life that count. She was a happy girl all her life but would have been happier if she didn't have to live with my other female....