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by WestDog1 on 31 December 2007 - 18:12
Looking for opinions please. If you had a young dog, with obvious (upon x-ray) HD in one hip but not showing symptoms yet would you continue with training? If it wasn't for the HD, I have no doubt this dog would go far. He's awesome in tracking, obedience and protection. He will need FHO, at the least, in the future. I'm torn though whether we should continue as I don't want to do anything to make the HD worse. I'm totally devastated about this but want to keep him happily working for as long as it's safe to do so.
Does anybody out there work a dog with HD?
by Emma2004 on 31 December 2007 - 18:12
I know some people who works with dogs with HD; the dogs have very strong muscles and that¿s very important for the hips. They do tracking, obedience and protection, go swimming with the dogs and they must run near the bike. Jumping do they not do often; two of these dogs were on higher competition.
by Shelley Strohl on 31 December 2007 - 18:12
Onyx worked till he was 10 yrs. old with mild dysplasia in one hip, moderate in the other. He showed no clinical signs, doubtless held together with strong muscles. He was about 10x SchH3, 10x FH. If we hadn't x-rayed him we would never have known he was dysplastic. It was a heart-breaker I couldn't breed him, but we had a ball competing nonetheless. I started him on Rimadyl and Glyco-Flex at about 10.5, due to his arthritis, but lots of dogs have arthritis at that age and it was not specific to his hips, more his lower back. He lived to a ripe old age of 12.5 with overall great health.
Link to Onyx's page: http://www.frauengarten.net/Memorial.html
God bless my baby boy.
SS
by Shelley Strohl on 31 December 2007 - 18:12
I swam Onyx a LOT.
SS
by yellowrose of Texas on 31 December 2007 - 18:12
Swimming is good as it gets yes go on with the training , just dont jump him out of trucks that are high and off cliffs or any such....normal training has been done by hundreds of HD know or not known gsd's and even some high competition dogs.....just take his cue if he starts showing you any limp...just dont worry ,,,,be aware....Lots of swimming for all pups is good for the hip joints....
by firethorn on 31 December 2007 - 19:12
I've known many good tending dogs that worked well into old age with less than ideal hips. Luckily dogs don't read the x-rays. The secret is to work consistently to keep the muscle tone up and the weight down.
Susan
by B.Andersen on 31 December 2007 - 20:12
I have a dog with the worst HD I have ever seen.No sockets at all. I seriously thought of putting him down at 8 months of age. He is now two and I do SAR work with him and he is doing very well and is quite pain free.I have him on Vitamin C and glucosomine and try to keep him from jumping and he keeps himself lean. They are all different.
by Two Moons on 31 December 2007 - 22:12
My dogs have not shown hip problems till way up in they're years as many older humans do.
I think activity is the key to keeping them healthy. Not over work and stress, just being active.
As long as there is no pain. I would never put one down because of a bad X-ray. I think everyone here made good points, especially about swimming and suppliments. I say keep him happy, give him a good life, and when the time comes be compationate.
You have to decide how much and how hard to train. Depends on your priorities.
good luck and yes happy new year.
by K-9mom on 31 December 2007 - 22:12
Keep the Hip muscles built up well and you will share a wonderful career with your dog. Swim him when you can and jump only when needed, otherwise, you should have no problems. I had one dog get an FHO surgery and I regreted it everyday thereafter as she was worse a year later after the surgery than she was before the surgery. I have had a couple dogs live until old age after long Agility, Obedience, and Tracking careers who Vets told me to do surgery when they were pups.
by WestDog1 on 31 December 2007 - 23:12
Thanks for the advice and reassurance. I feel better about sticking with training.
Happy New Year to all!
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