I have been thinking more about hip dysplasia lately due to several recent threads. We have been so lucky to avoid it thus far with all our big dogs but i still watch closely.
Our new pup bunny hops down the 4 stairs on our deck, and sometimes down the full flight of stairs at our parents, but not everytime or for the entire flight.
When he goes up he does it normally and he seems to run normally, usually totally hunkered down and at top speed.
The only information i found was in regards to going up stairs not down, And the vet said his hips looked ok so far.
So is bunny hopping down them still a major indicator or is is only going up?
To the best of my knowledge and reasoning, going up stairs stresses, a dog's back end (which creates lift) and going down stresses the front end(acts as a shock absorber).
So if he's just having problems going down stairs it's more likely that there are problems with the dog's elbows or shoulders than his hips.
Edited to say: I don't know much about puppy development, though so I can't say whether a problem is likely or not.
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I don't recall ever reading that bunny hopping on stairs was a possible sign of HD. It would seem to me that a small clumsy pup with long legs might hop down stairs to feel more secure, and not because of a hip problem...But what do I know??
I do know that bunny hopping while running is a sign so that would be where I'd watch closely.
I did some more looking and I still could only find info in regards to going up the stairs, so Im guessing its not an indicator.
He seems to run normally but he usually hunkered down and going full blast. He does walk normally and going up stairs is normal as well.
He only bunny hops down them, and it doesnt seem like he does it to avoid pain or because he is having problems, he will launch of the furniture if dont stop him.
Every so often he will skid out, or run into something and pick a hind leg up and scream bloody murder, but I have gone immediately over and checked him, rubbing and moving all the joints and bones and nothing seems to bother him. he will also go right back to running around so I think it might just be baby puppy pitifulness.
He has another check up in a few weeks so i will make sure to ask her then.
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Bunny Hopping down stairs
#177025 - 01/23/2008 05:12 PM 
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