i recently got a 4 year old german shepherd off a friend i have known this dog all his life?

Question

he had a problem with his hip the vet says its hip displacia & their born with it any thing i can give him 2 help ? he doesnt seem 2 b in pain and has cod liver oil everyday and pilchards

Answer 1

Hip Dysplacia is a very serious genetic condition. The first thing you must realise is that there is no cure for it, and so you must never breed from this dog, not even by accident.
If it gets too severe there is an operation to remove the ball of the thigh bone. The dog will have to go through major surgery and then learn to walk again.
If it is not too severe for now and he doesn't seem to be in pain, remember not to put any strain on the hip joints. Don't let him go up or down any steps or stairs, build a ramp if he uses steps to get to the garden. Don't over walk him, or expect him to run around. Don't encourage him to jump up.
Cod liver oil won't hurt but it won't do him any good either. Pilchards are way too salty, switch to tinned sardines in veg oil and drain off the oil.
See the vet and find out how severe the condition is, how long he can expect to stay healthy, and what you need to do to care for him.

Answer 2

Well done on giving this dog a home!

Hip displacia (not sure if I've spelled that correctly) is a genetic condition that responsible breeders screen for, to ensure that future generations do not suffer it. There isn't a cure as such, but there are some things you can do to ease the dog's suffering.

You're doing the right thing already by giving fish oil, and oily fish. These will help. You might want to try glucosamine too.

Hope it goes well, best of luck to you.

Answer 3

I have a golden retriever with the same problem but his dysplasia is very slight - there are different degrees to this disease and some breeds are more prone than others - g/shepherds being one of them. Vet told me best thing to do is to keep the dog lean, don't let him put on extra weight as this puts more pressure on the joints. Also I don't agree that cod liver oil won't do him any good - this along with glucosamine will help him keep his joint mobility. Don't let him loll around either - too much exercise is bad but so is too little - he needs to keep moving to prevent joints seizing up. Also no exercise = fat dog!!!
You're doing a great job - keep it up!! :-)

Answer 4

German sheperds are known for this genetic problem. I would suggest a consult with your vet to guage the severity of his displacia...He/she should then advise you as to any effective ways to help him Good luck

Answer 5

The best place to find answers about hip displacia is on the Champdogs forum, I'm sure they would be able to give you the best advice possible.

Answer 6

You need to find out what degree of dysplasia he has. His dysplasia can be from very mild to extremely serious. You need to find out from his vet what his diagnosis is and the vet's recommendation for treatment. The cod liver oil is good for him, glucosamine may help, but as this dog ages, his condition will worsen and he's going to need more help.

Answer 7

Glucosamine seems to help, shark cartilage also is very beneficial. They both can be purchased at health food stores. Also, some dog food is made with shark cartilage but I am not sure exactly how good this is.

Answer 8

my dog is a rotti and has the same metacalm is good or glucosamane which is same as cod liver oil but helps cartlige just told me short walks and no to let other dogs by it cos they get too excited my ***** is 9mnths

Answer 9

I'm sorry I don't have an answer to your problem - but I just wanted to say that the dog seems to be very fortunate having you as an owner, taking care of him.

Answer 10

I'm sorry, are you asking a question or making a statement? I'm happy that you have a new friend and sad he is in so much pain.