Need advice on "surprise" genetic issues with our dog - Page 3

@jenni, I don't know what more to say to you... You don't see why we're upset?

1) our vet told us Monday that Blitz would likely have to be put down because of the severity of a multiplicity of ortho problems.  We love Blitz and are saddened that his life could well be cut short prematurely.
2) my son thought he had been told that Blitz had been xrayed and was clear.
3) he has serious spinal bone spurs that a dog of this age and experience (at least with us) shouldn't have (at least per the vet).
4) his stifle is seriously damaged (probably nothing to do with his breeding).
5) now a bunch of people are telling us that he was likely in a significant accident that we weren't told about and that certainly hasn't happened since we've had him.
6) the breeder says the dam and one step brother are OFA AND are actively being used for breeding; but they don't show up in the OFA database
7) Given that even a simple issue seems to end up with a $350 vet bill in this area, I imagine we're faced with a vet bill to get these problems resolved satisfactorily will be between $5,000 and $10,000.

I'm not out for blood.  We've never been faced with this situation before and posted to get advice.  I want to do the right thing.

Thank you for your offer to do the SV lookup.  I'll see what I can get to you back channel.  As I said, I don't want to expose the breeder until I know for sure that there is some action on their part that lacks in integrity and could harm future owners and pups.

Saroj

@Deb... "except for getting up on her loveseat. "  HER LOVESEAT... gotta love it!

Why would you PTS a dog who is not showing obvious signs if discomfort that is not aleviated?

I think your vet has overreacted big time. Save up for the surgery. From the accounts on here, it is very VERY successful
and prognosis is excellent. HD is not a death sentence. Keep him lean, limit repetitive high impact jumping, lots of free exercise
to keep up muscle mass (swimming is about the best low impact activity) feed nutrition

There would be wrong doing if the breeder had xrayed him, covered up the HD and sold him as a breeding dog. He was
sold as a pet for a pet price. If they did not have him xrayed, then there is no way of knowing about the bad hip. IMO it
is not genetic dysplasia. I believe it was caused by trauma or injury at some point in the dog's life.

I would still send the xrays into OFA. It gives a better snapshot of what a particular dog is producing. I think more HD
results should be sent to OFA. They give a better indication of the genetic health of our breed, good and bad. IMO

I can see why the news isn't happy, but I don't see anything that warrants your vet's reaction. So the dog may have been hit by a car. If you'd been told he was hit by a car and seemed "fine" would you turn him down if he was still the fantastic dog you describe in your posts? The dog has been passed around. This is typical of breeding-potential dogs. Sad, but true. WHO KNOWS what happened to him or where? It's likely that whoever sold him to the person you bought him from didn't tell them- especially if they didn't realize he'd been truly injured, or it was a very long time ago as you say he seems so athletic.

Maybe he was a little pup, got kicked by a horse or hit by a car, they xrayed and nothing was broken! They think he's fine...until he matures and there is joint damage and other resulting damage from some kind of trauma. By that time, they've sold him. Dogs are tough; you have no idea how he was injured or if they even knew about it, depending on when/where/how/why it happened. There is such a thing as innocent ignorance. Perhaps they knew and didn't tell the buyer. Perhaps they didn't think it was relevant. We can guess and secondguess all day long and try to blame someone, but I am really skeptical that the breeder you bought him from would intentionally not disclose that when she plainly said he'd never been xrayed, she was choosing not to breed him because she didn't like his conformation, and she sold him at a very fair pet price, especially for an intact dog. 

Would I tell someone if a dog was injured previously? Hell yes- but I am beyond thorough when describing a dog. I think I bore people on the phone sometimes, lol. And, I don't typically buy and sell them, so the ones I sell have been born in my living room for the most part and I KNOW about their lives. But this doesn't always happen and not everyone tells a dog's entire life story when selling them. 

I will look up those names when I get a chance. For now, look at the dog the way you looked at him before you took him to that alarmist vet. You'll both be fine, then;-). If you want to prevent "surprises" that may cost money, stay out of dogs, ROFL. Or get insurance. I have used both Trupanion and Healthy Paws and it's so worth it. 

And don't forget to get a second opinion. Take your x-rays to someone else and see what they say. I'm lucky to have a vet that made it his mission in practice to study HD and try to find a cure or a fix for it. He can look at a dog from across the room and tell you if its hips are bad before doing an x-ray. He's not an otho specialist, just a dedicated man. Find you a vet like him and you'll have years left with your dog. Good luck!! Oh, and yes...it is HER loveseat. No doubt about it. If the puppy gets up on it, even if she doesn't want on it herself, she wants him off. She will look at him, then look at me like, really? Can't you do something about this? LOL

@EuroShepherd - thank you for your detailed assessment of the situation.

Re: spine spurs, here are the vet notes:
1) Severe Hip dysplasia + ?? osteoarth. in right hip
2) Left stifle - swollen, buttressed, cannot fully extend [???? ant. ????
3) Spondylosis at: L1-2, L4-5, L7-8 (this last one isn't clear enough to be sure
Suspect torn ACL but scar tissue prevents more anterior tibial thrust than expected.
============================

Looks like there is a localized collection of spurs... but I'm just guessing... I am not medically savvy.

Thanks all for your kindness in responding... We aren't nearly as anxious and upset as when I first wrote and have a more balanced perspective about the situation.

The breeder kindly offered us $1,000 off on a new puppy which was very generous of her given the circumstances.  We won't be taking her up on it.  We have 3 dogs already and I'm sure Blitz has quite a few more years left with the right treatment.  Plus we need to focus on helping Blitz without any further distractions.  It sure is tempting though with all the postings of those darling GSD pups!

Saroj

I don't see the need to PTS a dog that is not in pain and is happy and active. I'd not even worry about surgery until he shows a need for it, but that is just my humble opinion.

Saca,

Your dog will not need to be put to sleep. Nor will he need a wheelchair any time soon...trust me. I've seen dogs much worse and they lived long good lives until the end. For example: My very 1st GSD had severe arthitis in both hips. My Vet. (at that time) told me he'd never seen such bad arthitis in a 4 year old and that he would need hip replacement with in a couple years. I put Bubba on glucosameane (sorry for spelling) and he lived until almost 10 years old. He died of natural causes, not from his hips.
Try not to stress too much. The specialist will clear your "what-ifs". I, too, believe this was an injury. He has multiple issues all with in the same side of his body (which includes his back). It all doesn't add up to be genetic. Also, remember, genetics are very tricky. 2 OFA Excellent parents could even produce non-passing hips. Another example: My 2nd GSD OFA'd EXCELLENT. His Father wasn't OFA'd, so we don't know what his were like, but his Mother failed OFA in one hip due to an injury. You see, so I think genetics are all a guessing game and the Breeders just do their best to test for everything they possibly can to help produce the best they  can. I'm not going to get involved in the part of what the seller told you...not worth it.
From the sounds of it, you are not out to attack the breeder/seller. You just want answeres that are the truth. We all have that right.  
Just focus on your dog....it will all work out in the end and I'm sure of it, that he will live a long, healthy life.

Brandi
PS: your dog is very handsome. Is there a way you can post a video of him moving? If not, no biggie. More pictures would be fine though...he's handsome.

Oh wow, after al this, the OPster is offered a credit towards another puppy and she refuses it.   Seems to me that the breeder is really a very ethical breeder especially since there is obvious alot of "unknown" involved.  Most breeders won't even consider warranties on puppies or dogs sold as pets, and at that one that has been through other hands since it left the orginal breeder.    KUDOS to the breeder.  

Glad it got all worked out.