Well...after noticing Djenga walking funny about 2 weeks ago, I got worried about her hips. I made a vet appointment, and took her in.

The vet tried to tell me it was just pano and didn't want to x-ray her. I insisted and she was x-rayed.

Here is the x-ray.

http://gsd.illusionfxnet.com/hips.jpg

The vet didn't really tell me anything. Just that the left was worse than the right, which I can see for myself.

Djenga is 7 months old now, she doesn't seem to be in pain, but she hasn't been herself for the past 2-3 weeks. She just sleeps all the time. She was back to normal again for about a week, but now she's lethargic again. She's never limped or bunny hopped or anything like that. She's always moved completely normally, except for that one day.

I was just hoping someone could give me a little more input on how bad her hips are...what rating do you think she would they get for OFA or SV? Would you consider each to be mild/moderate/severe?

I am guessing that I should give up on my schutzhund dreams with her?

I was also reading some posts in the archive on the board and one said that hips might correct themselves as the dog ages...is this possible? What about the possibility that this is a bad x-ray? I have been doing a lot of research and am just trying to hang on to a thread of hope here!

If not, I am thinking I will get her spayed and x-rayed again (at the same time) at 1 year so I can send them in to the SV. Is it a good idea to do it all at once so she doesn't have to be anaesthetized twice?

The vet told me that we had 2 options for sugery...one where they replace the hip joint, and another where they bring the hip into the joint, and cut the nerves in the hip so she doesn't feel any pain. Are these the right options? I honestly don't trust this vet, I am not going to do anything til I get back home again with vets I trust.

I'd really appreciate any advice...this is such a heartbreaker <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Just thought I'd add the whole x-ray, and not just a cutout of it, so you can see the rest of it.

hips 2

I also have a few other questions, hope it's ok.

I would like to take Cassie in to get her hips done. I was going to wait till we got home, but I am thining about doing it now. I know she has to be microchipped to get an OFA rating, and I'm assuming that she can't be microchipped the same day as the x-rays are taken, that I'll have to go in advance and get it done?

Also, how does the positioning look in Djenga's? I have 2 options of vets, but if djenga's look right, I'll take Cassie to the same one. The only problem is that they're a german vet and I'm not sure if they'd know how to send x-rays in to the OFA. Can I do this myself? Do I need any special paperwork?

The OFA site is down at the moment, so I can't check on there myself, plus I'm not sure if they'd have all the info I need on there. I can always send them an e-mail, but responses on here will probably be a lot quicker!

Thanks again.
Meghan

Her sire is FN with a ZW of 94 and her dam is 'a' normal with an 87---so she'd be a 90 or 91, an acceptable ZW if not great. They do the 'a' stamp at a year, and I would just do them if you are in Germany then.


I would not venture to say how these would go, the sockets are shallow though. She could be fine, there have been several HD dogs doing schutzhund in the US on a national level.

The right will pass but not the Left.
You have less than i/3 of the socket in the joint, they like to see 2/3 in the socket.
If your going to keep her I personally would forget Sch. You can track her, But I would discourage any jumping.I have a Lab Bitch with hips like this. I dont allow jumping and have always given lots of excercise to keep the muscles tight in the hips. She is now 12 yo and is doing fine.

Ron

I don't think the right hip is good at all (unless you have the xrays up backwards. The right hips should be opposite of my right when I am looking at the xrays) . The left hip is better but she certainly won't pass OFA. OFA wants at least 1/2 of the femoral head in the socket in order to be OFA Fair. But there are lots of other factors involved with certifying the hips not just femoral head coverage. It appears some boney growth has developed on the bottom of the right femoral head. Of course I am no expert and it could be a shadow. I see several other things about the hips that could be problems. But viewing the hips over the internet is difficult. Good luck with your dog. I would suggest you see an orthopaedic surgeon for a more professional evaluation.

Stubby is neither microchipped or tatooed, just registered with AKC and I sent in his x-rays no problem. A dog with clinical HD can lead a fairly normal life. Stubby has Moderate HD according to x-rays, but don't tell him that. I suggest keeping her on a regular excersise scedule (swimming is best if you can) and start giving her gluccosomine tablets. Learn to read your dog so you can tell the subtle signs of pain too. You know these working dogs would sometimes rather work through the pain than quit. It also helps to give them a baby asprine when they start to show signs of arthritis (some days are better than others).

I think that Europe uses a different chip system than the US. Check before you chip, or you may end up getting another when you come home. Obviously tattoos don't have this problem.

sorry for the double post

Tonya is correct- I read that on the OFA site after I had already posted. Dogs wihtout ID have a suffix of NOPI on their certification number though.

Also- my Giant Schnauzer was OFA mild in one hip and moderate in the other- and she lived to be 11 without being affected. She was kept lean and exercised regularly- and she never even showed signs- so it will depend on each dog. If I had it to do over again I don't think I would have treated her the way I did- like she was glass- she LOVED jumping and I wanted to do Agility when I got her- but after the hip x-rays I would not let her jump. In the end cancer got her- not the hip dysplasia.