Good evening to all

Yesterday, I was told my 4 1/2 month old Lab has hip dysplasia and I am simply devastated. Just typing these words are bringing tears to my eyes. I know there are so many worse things my puppy could have, diseases and conditions that are guaranteed to end his life, and so I am trying to keep some perspective about this and be grateful that this isn't the very worst news in the world. Still, I am really upset.

My boy gets to come to work with me a once or twice a week and play with his best friend, a dobie. Yesterday, he came in from a play session limping, favoring the right leg. I am pretty fortunate in that I work for a vet so he palpated both legs on the spot, found them loose and painful, and said we needed to x-ray. They were able to get a good hip shot without sedation. I am also very fortunate that 3 other vets were there to examine the x-rays, one of whom is a highly-respected Board Certified surgeon, and everyone said his hips show dysplasia.

I guess the good news is that this is not a severe case (yet) and that if I do the right things with my dog now another x-ray at 1 year may look better. The bad new is...well...he is always going to have this and will probably have to live out his life with some degree of discomfort and pain.

This is the first dog I've ever had as an adult and the first that is all my own and I have spent untold hours reading this forum and watching Ed's DVD's in order to be the best I can be for my dog and to give him the best foundation and start in life. I guess I'm hoping I can get some advice and suggestions from the wise members of this forum (maybe a bit of moral support, too)as to what I can do for my boy.

I've had him on Salmon oil and Vitamin E since he came home at 6 weeks. He's been getting a Mega Pet Daily vitamin 1x/day for over a month and has been on the Grand Flex for over a month. He's fed a Leerburg-approved quality kibble and I want to switch him to Raw but don't feel I have enough education yet to do so responsibly. He is lean. He is not over-exercised.

I know swimming is the very best thing for him but the Pacific ocean is not the most practical option, nor is it the most ideal swimming environment. I don't have a pool but my contractor fiancee can easily build a tank for him to swim in and he may just do that. I've read on this forum that walking him uphill is good for hips and I've got plenty of gentle and moderate hills to choose from. Is that considered good exercise for weak hips? Are there other exercises that would be good for my boy?

I know this is long and I appreciate your patience. I'll buck up but right now, today, if there was an icon with a tear I would use it.

Thank you
Sarah

So sorry to hear - at that age are there surgical options? I think there are many more reasonable options if caught at such a young age.

Keeping him lean is good. Better than swimming is walking in water that is shoulder high and uphill walking - jumping is out (per our canine physical therapist).

You may want to invest in a visit to a canine physical therapist specialist to help you set up an excercise and range of motion program (then you can continue on your own). My female GSD is severely dysplastic - diagnosed almost a year ago yet still shows no signs other than bunny hopping on the run. I think her lean very athletic body and muscular structure have been very helpful.

We give a glucosamine/MSM/chondroitin supplement. I give ActiFlex 4000 and have been very pleased with it. We have also given Glycoflex III until I discovered the Acti Flex and both are very good. In one year, Cyra has had to take only 5 Deramaxx for discomfort.

I know how devestating it is and there were tears for about a month after we found out but it is not the end of the world and many dogs live a long relatively normal life with bad hips.

Thanks for your kind words, Nancy.

No one is suggesting surgery right now and all 4 vets believe that if I avoid jumping/leaping, slippery surfaces (guess who is buying a new rug this weekend)and just pay attention to how my pup is doing and feeling then things may look better in 6 months. The struggle for me right now (and it is MY struggle)is figuring out what we can do together that will let him be a puppy without further aggravating his condition. I don't want to take the joy out of his life by treating him like something that might break.

I am lucky that one of our vets is certified in acupuncture and massage and I have seen first hand how much good it does. So that is something we may be doing in the near future. There are several physical therapists in the area and that is an excellent suggestion.

It's good to hear positive stories. I see older dogs every day who have dysplasia and they are doing OK. I just need to keep remembering that.

Sarah,

I can definitely relate to how you are feeling; my 9-1/2 rott was diagnosed on Saturday with it also. You are right, it’s not the worse thing but that doesn’t change the heartache you feel upon hearing such a diagnoses. I guess the good news (if you can call it that) is that we know about it early giving us the opportunity to take corrective measures now.

How nice you get to take your pup to work with you a couple of days a week, sure wish I could do the same with mine. Good luck with your boy, and let us know how he is doing.

I am so grateful for this forum and the people that so generously share their experiences and advice. It boggles’ the mind to try and imagine how many of our furry friends have benefited from the vast knowledge of so many that contribute here and of course to Leerburg’s for providing this site.

Regards,
Peggy

I know you can relate, Peggy. I was reading your post and replies the night before I got the news (very nearly sent you a PM about acupuncture, in fact).

What's ironic(eerie?)is that before I read your post I was busy thanking someone else for advice they gave to another poster about a problem that I was just experiencing with the "out". I swear, it seems every time an issue arises with my pup and I'm ready to post a question about it...someone has just posted the very same thing...and now it's happened again. If I were superstitious I probably wouldn't ever open another thread

I am off to buy a rug this weekend, thanks to your post about the floors. I know for certain that our slippery floor is not helping his condition.

Thanks for your kind words, Peggy. Let's keep in touch

Warm regards,
Sarah

Does anyone have an opinion about rolling a ball for him to chase or playing tug?

We've already stopped playing tug because he's teething but is that something we shouldn't be doing with him? Is it OK to let him chase a ball. He's a Lab and he loves his game of chase but I'll stop that if it is going to make things worse.

How about playing with other dogs? He really loves his time with his "friends" (he hangs with the big boys...a Dobe, a Pit, and a GSD ) but roughhousing and a too-long playtime is what alerted all of us to the HD. Would brief play periods followed by long rest periods once a week be OK or should we stop that completely? He is never with more than 1 dog but they are adult dogs and he does get rolled over.

Thanks in advance.
Sarah

At the suggestion of the PT we tried NOT to play ball twice a day but Cyra was miserable and would go tearing through the yard anyway. As is the minute she is let outside she is spinning in circles and air snapping until I throw the ball. If she does not get in her fetch time she will start terrorizing the other dogs to play.

She now plays ball (and I throw it) twice a day about 30 minutes total. I would rather her wear out her joints more quickly than be a miserable little dog. She may wind up with a shorter happy life vs a longer miserable one. We do try to avoid sudden sharp turns and NO roughousing with the other dogs - they do play together but not that much - I cut it off when it gets very active. I know that a littermate of hers with moderate dysplasia is still doing agility. When you have a drivey dog.......

I don't throw her ball over the deck where she could slip or make the 18 inch jump off the other side anymore.

I would go easy with the tug I think that puts a lot of stress on the lower back and hips. But I guess some would be good. I will have to ask about that one.

I know some top agility dogs that have horrible x-rays showing hip dysplasia. Yet they are kept FIT and trim and are able to continue doing well in the sport. The key actually seems to be to let them exercise quite a bit, in the belief that the strong muscles and tendons will then be able to take alot of the stress off the joints.

The BIG thing is to keep the dogs well muscled and lean, so exercise is a must.

Additionally, they all supplement with glucosamine and chondrotin mixes AS WELL AS ESTHER C!!! Have you read any of the following articles?

Esther-C

More about Vitamin C

Exercise

How was this diagnosed? The growth plates on a 4 1/2 month old pup have not stopped growing. Even x-rays at a year of age are not necessarily accurate and the hips can improve (as long as they have not been spayed/neutered as hormones keep the bones healthy!!!). I x-rayed one of my old american line gsd's at a year and sent it for certification (place that certified at a year). They failed. Later on I re-xrayed and sent them again to be certified. They passed. This is also why often dogs certified in Germany and have a rating will often get a better rating by OFA.

Would love to stay in touch and interested in what you have to say about acupuncture, I’ve heard of it, but don’t know anything about it.

Good questions, I was wondering about the playing also. Buddy has never been that big on chasing a ball, 2-3 times was about all I do with him before he loses interest.. But I do find myself wanting to cringe when he does, not so much the running but the quick stops he makes as he goes to grab it. The game he loves is tug, wasn’t too sure that would be good for him either. Or the jumping around he does as he plays by himself in the yard, it's almost like I want to cover him in bubble wrap to try and keep him safe.

Putting the carpet back down has made a difference for Buddy, at least he is not limping anymore. I think with every little slip on the floor just kept his hips hurting.

Nancy you make a good point about "a shorter happy life vs a longer miserable one". It sounds like Crya is doing pretty good, how old is she? I am interested in learning more about the supplements you are giving, are they in addition to the Anti Flex and more about the exercise’s you are doing with her.


Thanks,
Peggy