Xray pic..Help Needed - Page 1

Hello all. I am new to this site and have been a long time lover of the GSD. I have a young WL male. He is just turned a year old. At about 10 months I got him xrayed. The Vet said his hips were bad. I am extrememly disappointed. I have been reading how important the dogs positioning is. Could this be the case in my dogs xrays? Both the sire and the dam had good hips. Is there a possibility that if his hips are bad now they might improve as he gets older? Thank you for your time.

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I would send them in and get an official expert opinion. I don't like the picture with missing or dark areas on the sides or the missing knee, but nothing looks super bad. 

In my novice opinion I  think the positioning is very poor and the xrays are not of diagnostic quality. I will be interested in what the more experienced have to say. 

Best guess is mild HD. The xray could be better positioned. You might want to have him done again with sedation.

TERRIBLE xray for many reasons.

That said, I see nothing terrifying on the joints themselves. I would redo them with a COMPETENT vet. 

This annoys me to no end- these vets who don't have any idea what they're doing or looking at telling people hips are bad to terrible- how many GSDs have been needlessly been put down or had surgery? I hate incompetence!!! 

Thank you all for your response. It is greatly appreciated. I will have him sedated and have the xrays redone. Thanks again.

Sita had moderate hips at a 9 month puppy, i changes her exersize plan, much less running on leash and much more swimming. At 2 years she passed with Good hips.

I also found the best vet for OFA xrays......the second set was sent in with excellent positioning, it make a difference.

Mtnman, Not a great xray BUT there MAY be some areas of concern. There appears to be some flattening of the femoral heads and the right hip ( left on photo) appears somewhat subluxed BUT as noted above positioning and a great xray can make a huge difference in wha you are seeling.

I would like to make a recommendation to you tho. Unless you are doing the xray to comply with a breeders warranty so you can return the dog, my recommendtion is AT THIS TIME do NOT redo the xray. It is really of no use. He will be what he will be at two and no xray taken now will change that. Especially do not redo it with anesthesia at this point in time. Anesthesia is very tough often toxic on the body and can take 3 mos to a year to fully clear out of the body. At this stage of his life the xray is voluntary not mandatory so why subject him to that. Take Sitas advice and be careful not to overstress the exercide BUT keep working him. Creating and maintaining muscle mass is the best thing for him regardless what his xrays end up showing. Listen to the dog, his eyes, attitude, energy and body response will tell you the level of exercise, work and training he can tolerate. Even if he turns out to have HD that does NOT mean he can not work. I have seen many many dogs w/ HD including one of my own whose hips were not even in the same zip code work successfully WITHOUT pain into old age ( 12 -14).

DO NOT SEND THIS OR ANOTHER PRELIM into OFA.  If they diagnose him w/ HD now it raises a huge hurdle for you to overcome when he is two - they don't like admitting they might have been wrong even tho the reality is youngsters can and do change because they grow and change constantly for the first 2-3 years of their life.

Finally if he is to be a sport dog, family companion, working dog and not a breeding dog then don't bother with another xray at all ever. Just enjoy the dog and listen to him about what he wants and can do.

Good luck please keep us posted. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.