Signs of HD? - Page 1

Hey guys,

I was wondering if everyone on here could help me out once again.

About 2 weeks ago I noticed that Shelby has started to bunny hop when she runs. I had vaguely remembered reading about that when I first got her (always be prepared right?) so I looked up some stuff on HD again. Bunny hopping was listed as a sign. I also noticed (after reading about the other signs and symptoms) that she stands with her hocks very close together, with her feet angled outward. 

Just in case, I was thinking of starting to do some back leg exercises to help with some more muscle tone (which isn't actually as developed as her front legs), but would you guys suggest maybe getting her x-rayed either now or in the next few weeks? She's 6 months old now.

Your pup sounds like she is cow-hocked. She may grow out of it, and exercise to strengthen her back legs won't hurt. HOWEVER, she may have panosteitis ('pano') a problem with the bones that is common at this age. Watch for signs of pain or lameness, and if you see that, take her to the vet.

Let me telll you a story aout hip dysplasia. I know a lady who paid $5000 for a German import from good lines back in the '70s. That was a LOT of money back them! She was training him for schutzhund, and he was doing the 2 metre scaling wall with no difficulty.

Then, someone wanted to breed to him, so she had his hips x-rayed.

The vet called her into the exam room once the films were developed.  "You've got to see this," he said. "These are just about the WORST hips I've EVER seen in all the years I've been practicing!"

HD is usually not symptomatic in young dogs. It's as the dog gets older, and the joints experience wear and tear that signs and symptoms begin to manifest. As for REALLY bad hips, like these, sometimes when the hip is completely out of the socket, and has nothing to rub against, there will be no symptoms. Or the dog just may have on heck of a high pain threshold!

I'll bet your dog has loose hocks, which are quite common at this age, as the pup is growing really fast. If there are no signs of lameness, don't restrict her activity, and she will likely grow out of it.

All puppies bunny hop.

Mine never did!

I think it's more common in America showline pups, due to the length of the back and upper thigh.

And again, it is NOT a sign of dysplasia, just a growth stage, where the puppy's muscles need to catch up with the rest of its body!

Along the same lines...  What are some suggested exercises to build up the muscles in the hips and back legs?   Multiple choices would be helpful, as the most obvious one, hill hiking, I am not able to do at this time.

Save yourself a lot of second guessing and just do a set of x rays now. You've already spent more time worrying about it than a set of x rays cost. Just take a set and you know what you have. You can deal with it at that point.

I agree with the X-ray, hen you have them done make sure they get the knees done also. Because this could easily be an ACL injury. It might not as as serious as a ACL tear, but maybe a streached or bruised ligament. And yes lots of puppies bunny hop. I was all freaked out with my new bulldog because she bunny hopped. That smoothed out after a few months. And i plan to have her hips certified soon.  (She is now just over 2)
Exercises that are good for puppies are swimming, running in loose sand, on grass. Normal puppy play.
But have your vet give her the once over and run some x-rays to make sure something serious hasn't developed.
Fry

Every puppy of every breed I've ever owed or bred has bunny hopped - none were ASL's.

I agree, have the dog xrayed but make sure the vet knows what he's doing and don't let him or her talk you into any sort of surgery or neutering until you get an opinion from OFA and/or a veterinary radiologist.



 

Thank you so much everyone!!

Like I had said, the main reason I was worried is because it was a newer development, and while she did have a small growth spurt (she went from having a super loose chest harness to one that she's filling beautifully in about 3-4 weeks), she has slowed down a little bit. She used to run beautifully- playing fetch was always the best because then I'd be able to see her run and how happy she'd always look :-)

Shelby's actually from 2 West German SL's. 

How about climbing stairs? We haven't had her do this too much, but would it maybe good for her to help build some muscle? 

I'll schedule an appointment with the vet to talk about the x-rays. There's definitely no worries of them talking me into spaying Shelby. There's no way I'll do that until, at the very minimum, she's done growing and maturing. I do like the vet that we go to at the moment, and so far I love the services that they have. I'll let you guys know what happens.

As a side note, how do you send in x-rays to get them OFA'd? Do they even do that for unregistered dogs? I've absolutely no clue about that.

Before getting X-ray, research and find a "local expert" vet for your x-rays. Positioning makes all the difference in the world.