Hip Displacia

[courtnek]

Has anyone ever had a dog with hip displacia?

My female lab mix (Freebee) walks funny. She waddles! She is not fat by any means, but when she walks her whole back end swings from side to side. And sometimes, she will "stiffen up" and walk real slow coming in from outside....

Watching her walk makes me think either hip displacia, or arthritis. Labs are prone to the first and she's too young for the second....

Any ideas?

thanks much

Katy

p.s. I'll ask the vet when she gets her shots, but I dont like to bring it up because they'll want x-rays and stuff that may not be necessary.
I'd rather get some info first. thanks.

[courtnek]

No takers??? Even if you havent had one, do you have any info, web sites, anything? I dont want to have to do X-rays if not necessary because they are so expensive...I will if necessary, but I know from experience that doctors order tests just to cover their butts...

[bk_blue]

Sorry, I haven't had a dog with HD- but we have been told by the vet to keep BK fairly lean as he may have hip trouble when he is older. I guess because of arthritis in old age that affects most elderly dogs and because hip dysplasia is a serious problem in heelers/borders. Being a crossbred dog (ie. parents probably not screened for anything), it's hard to tell if he's got any serious problems with his hips, he's never had any problems and we hope it stays that way. He's always had a funny walk because his thigh muscles are so developed, and his weight fluctuates depending on how much energy he burns off destroying things. :roll:

I have seen a lot of Labs at the park that "waddle"- so maybe it's just a Lab thing...? 8)

[behle]

Our first saint, Wiley, had severe hip displasia that had been worsened by growing up in a crate or chained outside!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil:

When we got him he could not run, sit comfortably, get up and down without pain, and his walking gait was a kind of a shuffle. His shoulders were massive from accomodating his deficiency. Our Ben can lay down in a Sphinx-like position - Wiley NEVER assumed that resting position, instead always shifting his hips off to one side. In spite of some initial improvement, eventually his problems became so severe that the nerves in the base of his spine got damaged and he became paralyzed, refused to eat or drink, and we eventually had to have him PTS. That was a horrible experience. He was the product of excessively poor breeding and an unknowledgeable owner. Sweet temperment though and a Mr. Slobberface! :cry:

[Guest Anonymous]

My Rottweiler has Hip Dysplasia, even the best of breeders can produce a dog with hip dysplasia.
I assumed my Dog had hip dysplasia...she always seemed stiff in the rear, some times, especially after a long walk or hard exercise she would have a hard time standing up and would cry...the only way to know for sure is to have x-rays done, which I did...they will also tell you how bad the hips are. You can have surgery done if the hips are real bad, hip replacement or if they are not that bad you can supplement the dogs diet...I give glucosamine/chrondroitin, MSM, ester C; if you do not give the vet form of Glucosamine and give human grade you require vitamin c (ester c) to help the uptake of the Gluco. I also ensure my dog is getting alot of essential fatty acids especially omega 3 fatty acids for the inflamation from the hip dysplasia...this also helps with the arthritis which occurs when a dog has HD...give moderate exercise, no more fetch games where the dog is stopping fast on its back legs...swimming is a perfect exercise for a dog with HD...the infamation will get worse with play and lead to more degeneration of the joint...so a dog with HD will require more rest and restricted activity...but don't stop exercise, just choose exercise which will not stress the back legs too much.
If your dog is diagnosed with HD, the Vet may suggest Rymadil or Metacam for the inflamation; I only use this when my dog is in pain...and before the Glucosamine had a chance to kick in (whcih can take a few weeks)...these medications (Rymadil & metacam) can destroy your dogs liver.
If you cannot afford the x-rays, I would definatley start supplementing my dogs diet with Glucosamine/Chrondroitin, MSM, essential fatty acids, even if your dog does not have HD this supplement is safe to use. My Sister even uses it herself for her carpotunnel....it helps her alot...

[Guest Anonymous]

I forgot to mention about the exercise with a dog with HD...its important to be consistant with you dogs exercise...if you only take your dog for a 15 minute walk twice daily during the week, don't take it for a 2 hour hike on the weekend...and no jumping...keep the exercise steady.
I also forgot to mention that there are a few joint diseases besides HD which can cause stiffness or favoring a limb - particually after sleep or rest, inability to rise, reluctance to jump or climb stairs & noticeable pain...
1. Ruptured anterior cruciate ligament
2. Fractures involving the joint
3. Development disorders - Legg-Perthes disease, osteochondritis dissecans.
4. Cancer (one of my Newf's had bone cancer...the only sympton was favoring that leg...but this usually only affects older dogs)
5. Degenerative Joint disease (Osteoarthritis)
6. Inflammatory disease; such as Lyme disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis.
7. Degenerative Spinal Joint disease, Intervertebral disc disease, Cauda Equina Syndrome)
This is why it is very important to have the dog undergo a physical exam and possibly x-rays...I had x-rays done because I wanted to know exactly what my dog had (she has HD) and if it was some thing which required surgery which a Ruptured anterior cruciate legament definatley requires...I had a dog with a ruptured cruciate legament also, with surgery she was fine.

[courtnek]

Thanks everyone - that's useful info....

She always waddles, but her legs are really skinny too (I think that might be the GSP in her) but sometimes the stiffness is worse than others.
I'll have her checked by the vet.

Thanks again.

[Guest Anonymous]

Our 13 year old German Shepard was diagnosed with HP about 7 years ago. They recommended that we consider a replacement of both hips. We got a Doxy shortly after and the GS ran and ran with the Doxy. The symptoms all but vanished. Over the past month or so the GS (Heidi) has started walking with her back feet crossing eachother. Today during her bath she was having a real hard time. Help. We have been worrying about this. I know that she is old for a shepard but we aren't ready to loose her. :oops: :cry: :evil:

[bk_blue]

Nrama- we had a 16yo German Shepherd we had to pts last week; he didn't have hip problems earlier in life but when he was older he developed arthritis in his back end. We tried him on celery seed and it worked wonders for a little while, before his arthritis became too severe for anything much to work. You could try celery tabs and see how she goes, but you might want to see your vet first to check. :)

[Guest Anonymous]

The only way to know if a dog had bad hips is making an x-ray. That never lies. I saw dogs (presas canarios), jumping an running and once we make the x-ray we found that the dog has bad hips. On the other hand to know the grade of the dysplasia (mild, moderate or severe), and to know if is in both hips or if is unilateral is fundamental. I want to add also that a dog that move his rear to much not always mean dysplasia. I can tell you of one of our breeding females that by the way she walked we supposed she was dysplastic and once we x-rayed her she has hips A.
So I think an x-ray worth the money you will spent if that benefit to your dog. sorry but my mother language is not english but spanish.
Good luck with your dog

Valeria

[Rosebud]

:-?

My mother's GSD had severe hip dysplasia. She would waddle but she would also drag her back feet. When she got older it got worse, she actually couldn't pick up her back feet and she would sometimes drag them so bad they would flip over. I agree with everyone else on having tests done to confirm HD. glucosamine/chrondroitin is great for any type of ligament or tendon problem, my vet prescribed it for Rocco when he twisted his leg falling in a mole hole. He took the shot form once a month for 4 months, doesn't have any more problems with his leg and it's been about 3 months since his last shot.

Hope everything works out fine.

:angel:

[Luka-pop]

How old is Freebee? Depending on the age, it may be a typical lab problem. I know that shaking the butt when walking (waddling) is a pretty common result of hip socket problems. Some one may have already suggested this (sorry, I didn't have time to read all the posts - homework...), but while she's standing on all four legs, try picking up the back leg and turning the foot over so that the toes are curled up and the top (opposite of the sole) of the foot is on the ground. If Freeby immediately picks the foot up and fixes it, so that all four paws are in contact with the ground, it means that it's not so serious. Sorry, I'm the worst explainer of things... :oops: Hope everything works out fine. Could she have tripped while playing outside and maybe strained herself or somehing?

[Pennynewf]

Take her to your vet, he can tell you what her hips are like, it could be as simple as poor structure.
xrays are the most definitive way to say if it is or is not