8mo Hip X-Rays. Opinions? - Page 1

This is my 8 month old female Shepherd. I am not a happy camper right now.  What are your thoughts on severity and future prognosis? I've never x-rayed a puppy and seen the results at 2+ years .

The positioning is WAY horrible. I would not pay for these xrays. I'd like to bet, that if positioning is correct, she would probably good Good. The right hip (left side of the xray) is being pulled out of place and made to look much worse then it is . I don't think they're bad hips. I've been wrong before, but I don't think they're bad. Do not send these in to OFA. They need to be retaken.

Melissa

I am not a pro on the positioning, but I would have been bitching at my vets and refusing to pay for this.  was your dog sedated or awake?  Do not use this same person for the next x rays.  Also at 8 months has she had her first heat already?  why did you x ray her now?

Darcy

Normally I make an appointment and wait with/for the dog while they get x-rays.  That way I can "encourage" them to take better positioned x-rays.  They bitch and moan about it but usually get the job done okay.  This vet is the only one I know of that will even try without sedation.  But since I had to drop her off that morning and pick her up at the end of the day, there wasn't much "encouragement" I could do when I arrived. I also found out she had been sedated.  They said no matter what position they put her in, her hip was laxed.  I have not noticed her go though a heat.

Melba, I wondered if her knee, being positioned so medially, would be enough to pull her hip out.  Or if the underlying pathology and laxity was allowing it to be pulled out.

Prognosis for who? The vet? His/her career? Not looking good. 

Aren't you a medical student, if not done w/school already? Did you pay for these? I sure hope not. I'd think you'd hold them to a higher standard with your education. You're much nicer than I if you didn't read them the riot act.
 


 

She was sedated and that is what they got?  I would be a very ugly customer.  sometimes ya gotta ask, "really? is this the best you can do?"  God help me when I get my puppy's prelims done.  but, I am going to the same place that her breeder went to get xrays.

Darcy

I would have the dog x-rayed again by a different vet. Why are you opposed to sedation? I'd be surprised if this dog has normal hips, but it's worth taking another x-ray I think. Good luck.

Blitzen, don't know who youa re adressing with the sedation question.  I ask simply because I think it makes a difference.  Also, the owner does not know if she has had or was in heat at the time of xray.  I asked why she was x rayed and did not receive an answer.  I x rayed a 6 mo male for a reason....  he was laying down and not playing.  he already had arthritic changes at 6 mo of age.  He turned 14 yo in March.

Darcy

Find a club or breeder near you and ask them where they take their dogs for xrays.
This is about the worst xray positioning i've ever seen, there is no way anyone can tell anything form this.

Dont throw the babe out with the bath water just yet. The pelvis is badly twisted, and the leg pushed upon and pulled/ twisted inwards. This is how one can dislocate a hip quickly; its physics, the rules of lever (levels?) or what ever you call it in english. It doesnt look to me like she was sedated; the picture series looks more like she struggled quite a bit, therefor the continuous bad positions.