hips question - Page 1

question, if a dog successfully shows in germany at age 2 and gets an sg placing, that must mean his hips tested good at one year, right? if all the dogs in his family are show-winners with good hips and he appears medically unsound when shipped to the states, and a vet says he has hip dysplasia (no x-rays done), could he actually have it, or would it be possible he had a dislocated hip causing similar symptoms? just wondering for a friend.....dog has been neutered.

I would be wsnting to seek another vet that did the clinical picture, and then gave a diagnosis of a problem. We have some vets in the UK that see a GSD either lame, favouring one foot, almost anything that causes movement to be involved and declare HD without ther necessary X-ray. This is not good practice. If the dog was medically unsound, there are many avenues to go down rather than go right to H.D. Mo - Mascani

Hey ratlady - go and have a read down the posting of Correct Age puppy !!! - its giving advice re vets and H.D. too. Mo

I don't know that most vets are able to make a visual diagnosis without x-rays. I had a vet tell me she thought my dogs ACL was ruptured but x-rays showed ACL fine, it was HD. Wwhen I got a young adult about 2 years ago acceptance of the dog was contingent on a full set of x-rays (including back) and a complete blood and health work up.

The dog can get a show rating without having its hips x-rayed...it just can't get koered. There is no reliable way to diagnose HD without an x-ray. Good hips on family members don't mean that this dog can't have HD..I would have an x-ray taken.

NO ONE can make an accurate determination of hip dysplasie merely by watching a dog move, or by manipulating the hind legs. Only through a radiographic examination can this be determined. I usually don't say things this way, but anyone who says otherwise is full of hooie! There are several clinical signs associated with hip dysplasie, but that is all they are-clinical signs. Until the dog receives a radiographic examination that is scored by certified specialists at either the O.F.A., S.V. or similar agency there is no proof of the existence or nonexistence of hip dysplasie. I follow with the advice of some others here-find a veterinarian who will use the tools available to make an accurate diagnosis. Regards and Good Luck, Bob-O

Bob-O, That made me a bit more relieved. I have a pup that will be turning 2 soon so I've decided to wait on the x-rays until then. But I'm on pins and needles when I see her run because I don't know if she is doing the "bunny hop" many associate with HD. Compared to the other GSDs she doesn't extend her back legs fully when running... her left one in particular. This isn't a sudden development but has been more noticable the past month... I would say ever since she was a pup her trot wasn't as fluid... but nothing you would ever notice without looking for it. German working lines BTW... I'm not talking about an American gait. The "bunny hop" that is a warning flag for HD: Are we talking about a very noticable hopping run? This looks more like a dog favoring one leg (her left), but it doesn't go away. And, it doesn't cause any problems or slow her down... except maybe shortening her stride a bit.

Amysue, the "bunnyhop" is characterized by the dog lifting both rear feet at the same time in very parallel fashion and returning them to the ground the same way. The theoty is this: that the dog affected by hip dysplasie must do this to avoid pain while running. All dogs are either "right-footed" or "left-footed" i.e. just like us they have a favourite limb that moves first. Some dogs are just a bit clumsy-especially when young. Some never have that "perfect" gait that is so valued in both the German and American show ring. Me? I would have her hips evaluated to answer your questions. The gait quality can be improved a bit by training. You may remember some time ago a video link was provided of a nice GSD male moving at the speed of the "flying trot" and making it perfect. That is the "look" that so many strive to obtain. I wish I could remember the link to that post. Regards, Bob-O

Thanks Bob-O! I'm probably just being an overly concerned mother ;) I will have the x-rays once she turns two for sure... maybe sooner.

again, you are all scaring me with this incompetancy of these vets! You need both an xray and a vet that can do a good physical examination to have an accurate diagnosis. My one female while working sheep will rarely break into a trot. Kinda wished that she would, since she does have a pretty little gait. She just loves to run run run. But I do get a kick out of watching her change leads every few strides, kind of like a race horse would. I forget the term for what they call it. Don't see it as much with my male as he will actually trot while patrolling the border. :)