Hip X-Ray @5months - Pointless or Insightful? - Page 3

I always prelimed my puppies at 6 months before I started to show them. Most stayed the same when they were redone at 24 months, but I used sedation for hip xrays as I think it makes a big difference in some dogs. However, if there is any concern and a vet can do a decent xray on a wide awake puppy, why not take a look keeping in mind that if it's a close call the positioning and exposure must be perfect. There may be a need to redo the dog using sedation.

DDRCzechfan
Stop carrying your puppy! Come on girl, let him be a puppy!

Are these puppies so fragile that they cannot navigate a few stairs?
In all the years we have had dogs, we have never carried them
up and down stairs. If that is all it takes to blow out your pups
elbows? He didn't have them to begin with.

Seriously, let him be a normal puppy. Walk him lots, find some
nice deep sand if you can, or plowed dirt, great for tightening
ligaments. But don't 'baby' him.
He has four legs, let him use them

Is the goal to baby a pup so he will pass, then perhaps
he will fall apart when you start really training?

I'm betting no matter the outcome of xrays he will
always have a home with you, so hold off until he is
perhaps 9-12 months (at 12 months you can 'A' Stamp),
and continue doing what you are doing with him now.
Let him learn and train him every day the same.
Obviously you aren't doing anything crazy and physically
demanding with him as he is a puppy, so don't worry
about tailoring a training program yet for him due
to joint concerns.

Work him lightly as you would any puppy, use
common sense, and keep him lean, fit and
well muscled. Every time you get the urge to xray
him before 9+mos, go track him or do some other
training

Thanks Workingdogz and Blitzen and most others,

He excells so far in obedience, haven't even tried tracking (Bitework and Obedience are my specialties, but not so much on the tracking part) but we work with the tug daily, he has such a beautiful bite. Full, deep, and confident. I tell you, he's a joy!

The only one who implied he would be "given up/replaced/sold/etc..." was TwoMoons, which is utter nonsense and a big ASSumption. 

He'll always have a home with me, no matter what, good hips, bad hips, whatever, he'll always be my son, and always have a home with me. Some call it a far too deep emotional attachment, but the fact that he's furry, walks on all fours and has a tail means nothing to me. He's as much my own child as any human child ever could be.

He's my baby, through and through 

Kid loves the water, though these were from a long time ago, before he got so sick. We haven't been back since.    Guess I'm going to have to buy a kiddie pool for our yard, that way I know what the water is, and won't worry that he'll get sick.



Ahhh, my husband has such a knack of taking horrible pictures of ME, but wonderful pictures of Beau!