Back legs slipping on 1yo dog?

[Mooch]

Hi all

I've noticed hex has been falling over a lot more than he should
it's like his back leg gives way and slips out from under him when he runs and turns a corner (not even running fast, sometimes just a trot) He just goes "flop" and gets up and runs off.
kinda like a little puppy falls over quite a bit but he's now over a year old.

Today when it happened he gave a very surprised sounding yelp - got straight back up and trotted off. He's not lame but he often paces or sort of trots with his front legs and canters with the back legs. If he does trot 'properly" he is even and steps out nicely.

He had hip X-rays when he was 4 month old and they looked crap - but they were positioned so badly it's hard to get any idea of if there is actually a problem. When he went to the ortho specialist for his elbow I got him to have a look at that X-ray and he said he wasn't concerned yet seeing as there was no signs of lameness and he had a feel of the hip and said it wasn't loose.

But now I'm wondering if this slipping over is a sign of HD?? My other GSD plays in the same area, runs hard and turns on a dime, she's never fallen like that.
This dog makes me worry so much, he is gonna be the death of me

[Mooch]

Darn I really hoped someone had some words of wisdom for me Oh well....I always seem to be asking the difficult questions LOL

[MichelleMc]

When he stands do his back legs ever cross?

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[MichelleMc]

The reason why I asked about his back legs Crossing is because my dog does the same. He has hip dysplasia and nerve damage. He stands that way because of the nerve damage. And his hind legs give out. More as he has aged.Now my German Shepherd of 14 years old And still going. He pulls himself up on the bed and gets in the car. If he doesn't have hd you might ask about nerve damage. Just a thought.

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[Mooch]

The only time they cross is more when he's moving sidewise, otherwise he stands pretty square, perhaps a bit cow hocked

[Zeeva]

I'm no expert by any means...but does it hurt when you palpate? How about can you feel for any lumps?

If his hips looked like "crap" in the X-rays do you mean he has hip dysphasia? Can the symptoms begin showing up any time?

I know I'm asking more questions than answering just to give you something to think about.

Remember, it's late/early here. I'm sure more people will answer later...it's a toughy though.

Hang in there...

[Mooch]

The xray made his hips look bad - the local vet said they looked like a "dogs breakfast" but the ortho vet didn't think they were bad. I'll see if I still have the picture

He does not seem sore at all it's just like the leg buckles under him at times - it's so difficult to describe
I don't know much about X-rays




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[Mooch]

That x ray was at 4 month old


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[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

You probably want to take him back to an ortho vet to have his knees checked and then if they are okay (as much as they can tell re the knee and all its parts) if needed ask about hip and spine x-rays. Spine just to get a baseline. Was there something wrong with his elbows?

[gagsd]

My first thought was spine.