My dog and hip problems...plz help!!!!!?

Question

ok so my dog is a choc. lab rotti mix and hes only 1 yr and 1month and 5 days old. But the way hes sits and how he gets up if hes been laying down i can tell hes gonna have hip problems in the future! and i dont want him to. Plus by the time he older hima nd i will be living on our own in college, and i know my parents prob. wont pay for surgrey if it gets bad or even for medicine, and being in college i prob. wont have the money for it. So is there something that i can do now that would prevent hip problems in the future. And i already walk him over a mile everyday and bring him swimming casue we live on a lake. So its not like he his loaded with fat that will make it even worse casue it will put extra weight on him but he does weigh alot cause hes pure muscle (hes knocked me down a cple. times when we were playing, its pretty fiunny actually), and he's body is bulky, so he wieghs alot. Plus i wouldnt want to put him down unless it gets really bad casue hes my baby and hes...

really protective over me so he would be a good watch dog when im away at college. So please tell me if theres something that i can do know that will prevent hip prob. in the future! thank u!

Buddha13- im jsut saying i think he will because the way he sits he is off to one side and his hips stick out and i know most big dogs sit like this but ive mostly seen in in dogs with hip displasia. When he gets up from laying down he does it stiffly and once in a wile (like he is right now) he limps and his movements sometimes will be like slow and just stiff, and no i never said i was a dog expert!

Buddha13- im jsut saying i think he will because the way he sits he is off to one side and his hips stick out and i know most big dogs sit like this but ive mostly seen in in dogs with hip displasia. When he gets up from laying down he does it stiffly and once in a wile (like he is right now) he limps and his movements sometimes will be like slow and just stiff,

Answer 1

Hey there! I am a Veterinarian Technician and currently own two dogs with bilateral hip dysplasia. Your first step should be an evaluation and x-rays of the hips by your Vet so they can determine the severity of the hip problem.

Have you had x-rays sent to a specialist (orthopedist) to determine if surgery is a good option? Like I told you, two of my dogs suffer from hip dysplasia: My Newfoundland needed surgery because her hips were deteriating, HOWEVER, my Saint Bernard was NOT a good canidate for surgery (dysplasia is too mild and the surgery option would actually be worse for him) so I keep a close eye on his weight and exercise lightly.

My newfoundland did require surgery to correct the hips because her dysplasia was what we consider "poor" in the veterinary field, she had difficulty walking, sitting, and was in constant discomfort. Surgery was her best option. However, GOOD orthopediac surgeons will NOT perform hip surgery on a dog over the age of one.

My other dog living with hip dysplasia, has a "mild" form and is pretty much what you described above! Surgery is not recommended for such a case (that is why it is important to have an evaluation by your Vet before getting upset!!), so here is what I do to keep him comfortable:

Weight management and moderate exercise! Do not let him get heavy!!! Keep him at a moderate, healthy weight. The more weight he carries, the more strain/pressure is put on the hips!

Also, keep him fit, but do not overdue it. I walk my Saint Bernard (11 months now, was diagnosed at 5 months) who suffers from Bilateral Hip Dysplasia twice a day for 30 minutes. Once in the morning, once in the evening. I do not push him at all. We have a leisurely walk. When I start to see signs of him slowing down or if he is starting to look uncomfortable then I immediately turn around and head home.

Good for you with the swimming therapy!!! Swimming is GREAT therapy for hip dysplasia. Obviously, again, do not overdue it.

It is important to try to avoid stairs with him all together. I know this is not always possible, but stairs should be kept to a minimum.

Hip Dyslasia is a degenerative malformation of the hip joint. Basically, the ball and hip socket do not fit snugly together, causing inflammation and lameness that usually require surgery and/or pain management (Rimadyl, Deramaxx) as age progresses.

If your baby ever does go on pain management medication, please be VERY very careful when walking/swimming because your pup will not show signs of being uncomfortable because they are on the medication. It can be compared to a person taking advil before a run. You don't feel any pain during the course of the run, but you sure will feel it once it wears off!! Your best bet is to not walk him over 30 minutes at a time and do not let him swim for more than 20 minutes.

You are doing everything right!! Good job! My best advice would to be to get your baby to a vet for x-rays and other than that... keep doing what you are doing! Watch his weight, exercise him lighty daily, avoid stairs, get him a comfy bed and try to encourage him to stay on carpeting (hardwood/tile is a lot harder on the hips). \

P.S. It is not a bad idea to start your baby on Cosequin (glucosamine suppliment for joints). Ask your Vet about it... I start my pups on it at 5 months because I have all large breeds prone to poor joints.

Good luck! Enjoy your dog!! :)

Answer 2

ok, what you need to do is strengthen the materials of the joints, bones and muscles aroung the hips. when you are at the pet store to get dog food, not walmart or some other store, look at the ingredients and what the food does on the bag. you want a food high in calcium and protien, calcium especiallyat a petsmart or petco, you can ask about hip problems, causes of the problems, and treatment through food and other methods.
keep him active though, because he is a lab and that breed needs activity. you are doing great with him now, and he is young so dont be too concerned about the looks of the hips now, labs dont stop developement till they are 3. keep him active and feed him a good food, nothing really cheap, witch is specialized for the breed. yes, there are some out there, made i think by purina, if not then by iams.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

We have had several dogs with these issues. Many vets will suggest expensive surgery, but if the dog is older they might suggest euthanasia. These are the VERY last resorts to consider, and don't do it right away. There is a drug called "meloxicam" i think that's it, and it's very good for arthritic pain and inflammation, give ONLY limited amounts, and with food, its really hard on the tummy and can cause ulcers. Also there are various good vitamin supplements at the health store, that work great for us, so 2 times great for Fido, look for bone and joint treatment. Finally don't give up on her she needs you now, you wouldn't put Grandma down when she got sick would you? No so don't do it to her, you can help her too, I had one where I took her out and held her up so she could poop, 3 months later, she could walk again, and was fine for another 3 years.

Answer 4

Lets start with - take him to a veterinarian for an evaluation.

Your vet can take X-rays to evaluate his hips (and knees) to see if he has the beginning stages of problems in these areas.

Keeping his weight normal will help.

Sounds like you are worrying about something that may not even happen.

If you can tell by how a dog sits and lays down that he is GOING TO have hip problems you should be a veterinarian yourself!

People harm their dogs every day trying to DIAGNOSE their pet's problems instead of spending the $ to see their veterinarian.

Answer 5

Purina has some treats the promote good bone and joint health in pets. You may want to look in your local pet store or grocery store even for this. Some dogs just genetically have hip problems or even lay down in a different way than you would consider "normal." Hip dysplasia is common amongst dogs, especially the bigger ones. Sometimes there is just nothing you can do. Surgery might fix it but also it would bring back problems later anyways.

Answer 6

You need to consult a vet that specializes in hip displacia. There are special food and meds that will slow the progression and make your dog more comfortable. If you have unlimited income take him to UC Davis in Calif. They have one of the best vet programs in the states. Like you said one of the best things you can do is prevent your dog from getting overweight.

If you can't afford the vet there are foods and over the counter meds that will help . Consult your vet first!

Answer 7

Talk to your vet, get hip x-rays done and then go from there. There are a lot of other things taht can have the symptoms you describe besides hip dysplasia..only x-rays can tell you for sure.

Answer 8

Discuss this with your vet.