Asko: 8.5 month old male GSD, Working/import bloodline

About a month & half ago on two different occasions, strangers pointed out that my GSD's swaggering gait was a "sure sign" of CHD. The first stranger I blew off, but the second person's comments got my attention. About this time I began noticing the "bunny hop". Upset, I took Asko to the Vet for x-rays & he concluded he was positive for CHD. He pointed out on the x-ray what the signs were and his explanations seemed logical. I do not believe this vet has experience with working line GSDs. The x-rays were forward to the surgical specialist in town who also agreed with the vet. Since then I've talked to the breeder, read the Frawley article on X-ray Positioning and searched some of the discussion boards. Know I think the initial screening may be a "False" positve. The x-ray example Frawley used of the dog which tested "False" positive at 9 months looks very similar to my dog's x-ray at 8 months, from what I remember. -I am working on getting a copy but the vets waiting for specialist to send them back to his office. The breeder wants to wait until after 12 months and re-xray then. Oh yeah Asko also has pano, which showed up as lameness in his front right leg about 2-3 weeks ago. I currently searching for places to swim him.

MY QUESTION: Asko still does the bunny hopping & swaggering gait. Has anyone seen a non-CHD dog do bunny hopping & sawggering gait as puppy. Or is this, combined with the -x-rays the nail in the coffin. How much glucosamine should I supplement daily?

Princess Weasel had the strangest gait I have seen in a pup. I was sure she was going to xray as one of the worse cases of HD ever recorded to man.

Her hips are wonderful. And yes, she did bunny hop on occassion.

Hi Drew,

I use this for glucosamine and follow the directions on the bottle:

http://www.leerburg.com/49-b.htm

I also give 2000mg/day of vitamin Ester-C, which you can buy cheap at Costco. Jenni Williams told me about Ester-C and referenced this article:

http://www.belfield.com/article5.html

My dog does have HD and using these supplements, along with monthly injections of Adequan, has really helped his condition.

And yes, I would still give the Ester-C and Syn-Flex even if he had perfect hips.

I second what Sarah said about the supplements. Your pup can take between 2000-2500 mg of Vit C daily, but you should work up to that dose in a week or two to "bowel tolerance". A high dose out of the blue can cause diarrhea.

Vit C is important for the connective tissue health for the overall structural development of your GSD. Give it everyday, pups and adults.