My 7 month St Bernard's hips crack a bit when he walks. Can this simply be the result of growing?

Question

He shows no signs of limping either. Is it normal or should I be concerned.

Answer 1

Good heavens - gotta love these online veterinary diagnosticians. No xrays, no exam, no nothing and BOOM - hip dysplasia.

Must say in 43 years of training handling and showing I have encountered innumberable dysplastic dogs - some so bad that they had to have hip replacements before 12 months.

Not once, not one single time did I ever hear their hips crack as they moved.

Now if you hearing a noise when he moves, that should be checked. I have heard hocks (the part of the back leg where it first bends comiing down from the hip) creak and crack. That is usually caused by dry joints - typically arthritis. He is too young for that so he may being having something going on with the growth plates in the hocks. They don't close and finish growing for several months yet in these large/giant breeds -usually between 15-18 months.

Sometimes they can chip part of that fragile new soft bone growth in a hock or leg joint just rough housing and romping. Sometimes it resolves itself, sometimes the chip needs to be removed.


Hock and elbow and ankle growth problems are very common in the giants like Newfies, Pyreenes and Saints. They usually resolve themselve as they reach maturity.

If you really are hearing it high in the hip and not down in a hock, it could be in the lumbosacral area up on top of his back between the hips. Chip, misalignment.....

I would definitely pop him into his vet.

But dysplasia based on a noise...... don't see it.

Answer 2

sounds like your baby has some hip displasia & with a young dog you should not hear sounds when he walks, the best way to find out, is go to a vet and let them take a few views of his hips to see what they look like, hip certification is done @ 2 years but we have xrayed many a young dog & found the hips already to be bad, esp in Danes, St. Bernards & Mastiffs, limping would be a sign if it was affecting only one hip but if its both hips, then you would not be able to tell as easy, by thinking this was his normal gait.. good luck

Answer 3

He's really too young to be x-rayed, but vets could detect dysplasia if it's severe. If it was severe, however, this dog would be in pain and limping. Were his parents OFA certified for his dysplasia? If so, I wouldn't worry too much at this age. Large breed puppies go through some really weird growth stages. You also should not be supplementing him with anything at this age - you don't want a giant breed puppy like a saint growing too fast, it damages the joints. Just feed him a good quality food and give him oil in his food daily for his skin and coat.

If you think his hip's getting worse, you should have your vet see him for your own peace of mind.

Answer 4

I would have an xray done the next time you are at the vets. That's not normal. I hear cracking on my lab who has had elbow dysplasia and has arthritis. This is not good for a 7 month old puppy.

Answer 5

as saint bernards get older they develop hip dysplasia. some dogs show signs at a very young age ...so it is possible that your saint bernard may have this...i would take him/her to a vet just to make sure!

Answer 6

Yes, you should get it checked out by the vet. Big dogs are known for having hip problems. Best wishes to you and the pup!

Answer 7

If it's hip dysplasia you want to get a hold on that immediately. It will make your dog's life very painful if left untreated.

Answer 8

It is a gooid idea when you get him neutered or when he is two to get the hip x-rayed. That way you know and can treat accordingly.

Answer 9

sounds like hip displasia. you should have your vet check him out and maybe get some join maintenance supplements.

Answer 10

your best bet is to get him checked out by a vet