My first GSD and hip problems

[MyHans-someBoy]

Hi,
I just adopted a beautiful 1 1/2 yr old white GSD named Hans. He is at the trainer right now and will be going for x-rays this coming week. The trainer noticed that he seems to be favoring his right leg. I got him from a former police officer who said he had been vet checked for hip problems previously and did not find any. I am heartbroken to think he has such problems at such a young age. Does anyone have experience with hip dysplasia and is it possible to maintain a pain free life with just supplements and meds? Also, what supplements and meds have worked best for your dog? Any help would be much appreciated.

Angela


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[Mary Beth]

Hans could have just sprained something. I know how first dog worries are. My husky was my first and I had adopted her - one day she was limping real bad - of course, I thought the worse - turned out she had just sprained her toe chasing a mouse in the backyard - the mouse wasn't so lucky -) But to help your vet, you may want to ask the former owner for more detail - what vet checks were done and if the vet will release the records. For supplements, I give my Sting, Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet soft gels daily for his bones, muscles,skin,and digeston. I give him Arthoflex which I mix in yogurt (which he likes)that is for his bones and muscles -it is used for K-9 dogs.

[MyHans-someBoy]

Mary Beth,
Thanks so much for the response. He had previously spent a great deal of time in a kennel once the former owner got out of police work. Each time I saw him he was so worked up and happy at being out that he just pulled and pulled at the leash. Yes, he could have sprained something. He was dragging both me and the previous owner around the yard. You wouldn't think he could be very painful in the hips and do that, but then again, adrenaline can mask a lot.
If it is hip dysplasia, he is my baby now and we'll deal with it. I am just trying to find out the best way to do that.
I appreciate your help.

Angela





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[Good_Karma]

You cannot know for sure if a dog has HD unless you get x rays done. I would advise you do that as soon as you can. Until then, you really don't know what is going on.

I have a GSD mix who has severe HD, as well as elbow dysplasia. She has had one total hip replacement done (when she was a year old). The surgery went really well and has been the best thing we could have done for her. We have her on a combination of two supplements, Glycoflex 3 and Jointagen. There are lots of supplements out there, but this is the combination that seems to work the best for her.

She lives a great life in spite of her joints. If she could, she would tell you that there is nothing at all wrong with her.

[MyHans-someBoy]

Good_Karma,
Thanks for responding to my post. I am so glad to hear that your baby is doing well in spite of joint problems. Hans has had to spend a lot of time in a kennel the last several months and I was really looking forward to getting him out and really exercising him so he'd be happier and healthier. I'll just have to get him checked out ASAP so I'll know how to proceed. Hopefully, even if it is HD, I can learn how to best manage it.

Angela


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[huntergreen]

can you get your pups records from the vet who saw him before? if he spent that much time in his kennel, i would be thinking sprain. your vet will know more after examining him/her.

[MyHans-someBoy]

Huntergreen,
The only vet papers I was able to get so far shows what shots he was given and a rabies certificate. I doubt any X-rays were done. The former owner was a police officer in a very small town and actually purchased the dog with his own money, even though Hans was to be trained eventually as a narcotics dog and used by the department. The owner was the one who started him in his obedience commands in German. He was pretty rambunctious and unruly on a leash until I took him to a trainer who knows GSDs really well and said they have amazing recall. I am happy to report that Hans recalled all commands within the first 15 minutes of being with the trainer. I didn't realize he was favoring his right leg until the trainer mentioned it. He had just been too wild to determine anything about his gait until I took him for training. We will definitely get into the vet this coming week for x rays and I'll post the outcome. Thanks for your interest!

Angela



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[MyHans-someBoy]

Ok, took Hans yesterday to have hip x rays. The vet said, out of Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor- that he would rate the right one a Fair and the left one(which did have a little bit of a flat spot) a Good. This particular vet clinic will only release x rays to another clinic, so I could not have them to post. He does not think I need to particularly limit his activity. Hans weighs 76 lbs. and has a pretty long, lean frame. The vet felt he should be about 10 lbs heavier. The trainers I take him to say to keep him
at this lean weight of 76 lbs. and maybe drop a pound this summer. To me, and several other people , he looks kind of bone-y as his ribs are noticeable, especially when he twists around. I will try to post a picture in a little bit. I am afraid to put too much weight on him due to the hip issues. Any thoughts?

Angela


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[carmspack]

if the vet rated him good and fair , both PASSING and NORMAL then there is no " I will try to post a picture in a little bit. I am afraid to put too much weight on him due to the hip issues"

Fair does not mean iffy . It is within the range of normal , free of dysplasia . One clinic might have rated each side good , or possibly one excellent and the other good , or both sides fair.
The evaluation can be pretty subjective . Don't worry.

[jocoyn]

Angela, Have the vet send them to the OFA for a rating by a group of radiologists. The OFA fees are VERY reasonable.

Oftimes what a vet rates is "off" and the x-rays may not be properly taken. I know when I get Beau's done at two I am going to find out locally who does the best OFA shots, not just anyone. And if you pay for them they are yours. That is silly. Are they not digital radiographs that he could put on a CD? If not ask to see them again and take a picture with a camera.

I did not think a flat spot = good? IF they are truly good and fair get on with it, the hips are fine.