Need X-ray opinions - Page 1

I took my 14 mo GSL female to the Vet today and we discovered one hind leg was mildly atrophied compared to the other so we took a hip x-ray. My Vet called the joints "sloppy" and gave me some suggestions to help build up her rear and is going to re-take the x-ray between 1 and 2 months from now. What does everyone think of this x-ray?

Beth

My opinion.... have them re-taken with the dog straight.. these are nearly oblique...

Horrible positioning, have them re-done before sending them in.

I agree with above, they need to be re-done.

These x-rays are not being sent in and we are retaking the x-ray in a month or two and I know the positioning is not the best. I'd like to know what everyone thinks of what can be seen in the x-ray.

Beth

Bad positioning impossible to tell if one size is atrophied or the dog is not flat and the legs are not positioned correctly.  I might go to a physical therapist for animals and pay $150 for an exam .. no xrays but a physical evaluation with measurements and somebody that knows what they are doing.  Is the dog tracking straight when she runs??  A dog favoring one hindquarter will put more weight on the good leg and kinda run in a tripod position on the good leg and take pressure off the bad leg.  Has the dog been injured in a back leg??  A muscle injury in some of the large muscles in the rear legs can heal incorrectly and two muscles that slide across each other can adhere and cause the dog to be uncomfortable on that leg which can lead to atrophy.

Dear Beth,

Even for your own evaluation (i.e. not for the purpose of sending to OFA), these radiographs are far too obliqued to make an accurate diagnosis of dysplasia. It is quite possible that the hip configuration is still normal; just not possible to tell based on these films. All you can say is that the dog does not have obvious signs of arthritis at this point.

Daniela

bubbabooboo She has not been lame at all, the muscle atrophy was found just on general examination. There is a definite difference between the musclature of her hind legs.

Beth

iF i WERE TO look at these x-rays and guess a grading I would say mild - moderate;  but given the quality and positioning I would not want to do that at this time.  I would retake these at 24 months, I would not even redo them in a month or two as they will probably not change in that short of time.  It's takes time to rebuild and condition. 

I would swim  this dog 3-4 times per week or hydrotheraphy if you can,  if not soft sand conditioning or like a dirt tract around a highschool.  Whatever you have available to conditon this girl and retake at the 24 month stage.  How close to season in or out was she at the time these x-rays were taken?  Just wondering.  BOL  Nan

I think your dog may have a transitional vertabra, which can make it nearly impossible to get the positioning correct--largely because the pelvis actually develops in a non-typical manner because of the torque on the bones while the dog is growing up. I would ask for a reference to an orthopedic speciallist and take this film in for the orthopod to evaluate.

I had a dog show a TV last August and learned a lot from consulting the orthopedic specialist--it was well worth the time.

Christine