HELLO, I am hoping someone can help me out with my current situation. I had my 10 month old lab Bear in for his neuter today. The vet suggested I wait until the dog is physically mature at a year to 18 months. I took her advice and had his hips xrayed to see if he had issues that keeping him intact will help with. Well, he ended up not being neutered today and we woke him up from anesthesia. One of the hip views was questionable and they were able to get the hips to pop out of socket while performing a certain test. They said letting him fully developed is the smart thing to do. One of his xrays were fine,it's when they turned the knees into the midline they were questionable. Is this a diagnosis of hip dysp lasia or not? Can his muscles mature and tighten up the Hip? This was the major issue I was avoiding by spending a good buck and getting him from a breeder who pennhips his dogs before breeding. I lost my last lab to hip problems and my family can not go through that a gain
Hi and welcome to the forum What was your vet's opinion about the degree of movement in his hip joints? It kind of sounds like the vet was suggesting a 'wait and see' approach. If you don't think you got enough detailed info from your vet then it might be good to make another appointment just to talk about the results (without your dog there). Beforehand, write down all the things you want to ask (like how serious or non-serious does it seem, how likely is it that his joints might improve, what kinds of things can you do now to encourage good joint development). That might put your mind at ease a bit? At the moment you're naturally worried about what the future holds. I can fully sympathise with that. But it might be much too early to worry. Things might be fine and your dog won't necessarily have a problem. Even if there is an issue there, dogs can cope pretty well with a mildly loose hip joint. And, yes, muscles and ligaments are very important in keeping hip joints stable. I would try not to think of the worst (the worst usually never happens) and just try to get more time with your vet.
Welcome to the forum @Bearhaug . Sorry you are having worries with your boy. I second Rachael's advice above - go back to your vet and pin him down a bit. Hips are still definitely developing at that age, and delaying neuter is a good approach. It may be worth Bear (or just his x-rays) being viewed by a specialist orthopaedic vet if they haven't been already. Whichever way, reducing stresses through joints including hips is a good idea, so reducing jumping, sharp turns, stair usage off lead, and included in that, too much ball fetching, would be prudent. Increasing on lead walks gradually including up hills, and considering hydrotherapy swimming all to strengthen the muscles would be a good idea. My 7 year old Lilly was diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia at around a year old, but has been treated conservatively (and successfully) with the right kind of exercise, ant-inflammatory tablets when needed, and by maintaining her weight. Again, as Rachael says, this may not actually be hip dysplasia per se, or if it is, it may not cause long term problems. Your vet should definitely be your next port of call. Let us know how you get on jac
Thank you so much for the advice. I am a worrier by nature so I'm hoping I am just stressed over nothing. I love my veterinarian and She knows the history of my other dogs hip issues. It is a twelve doctor practice so I had five doctors feel his hips and look at the xrays. All of them agreed to wait. I asked bluntly if the hips are bad and if he has hip dysplasia. They didn't think the hips were horrible just questionable on one of the views. They said it was not hip dysplasia yet but it possible could be in the future so the best thing would be to let him grow more. The one vet that does all the orthopedic things actually got back to me late last night to answer some questions I had. She calmed me down a bit because she really thinks they will tighten up in the next 8 months.she told me at Bear's visits over the last few months she thought his hips felt tight and could not get a "pop" from them. She examined him 2 different times on my request just cause I was paranoid. Yesterday,Bear was under full anesthesia and that's when she was able to tell they were "a little loose". I guess them feeling tight when awake is a good thing, a sign that he just needs more time. I guess we shall see. They told me to bring him in anytime I want her to examine him and answer more questions. She said keep him swimming and thin and he will be a happy boy
I hope nothing comes of your worries. I'm the same as you: a worrier by nature. I am impressed your vet said to leave your dog intact while he grows. It does seem the trend now, to let a dog fully mature before neutering. We delayed our boy's neuter due to the benefits of late neuter... and eventually decided to leave him intact. He's 5.5 yo now. I hope it all turns out well for Bear. Your pup still has a lot of growing to do to become a nice strong adult dog!
Hi and welcome, not a lot of advice to give but just wanted to say it sounds like watch and wait, coupled with a conservative approach to hard exercise and stress while building up his muscles sounds like the sensible way to go.
Oh man you guys....thanks again for replying. I just had to reread them because I was having a "worry night". Not because Bear was acting any different but because my kids where playing with him ( 11 year old boys) and I keep on having to yell at them because they keep running with him over the slippery tile. Then my husband gets mad a me because he feels I'm over reacting over every little thing Bear does and I'm keeping a 10 month old puppy in a bubble. He really feels like Bear will be fine. I can't talk to him about it because I get really emotional ( yes...I cry very easily,lol). This wait and see is the best approach but my mind can't shut it off. I found out it was called an ortalani sign ( when hips popped in and out) I'm wondering if googling all this is confusing me more. I am thinking about getting pennhips done on him so maybe I can get more of an answer either way or is it gonna score bad because an ortalani sign is already present? Do I spend the money? Is it worth the fight with my husband? I'm sorry guys. No replies are needed to this post, I just really needed to get my thoughts out. I can't keep stressing over this. I'm ruining the present to worry about the future
Ach I'm the same as you! I wish I could give you the magic formula to stop worrying and just enjoy. My boy is now 5.5 yo and if I could tell myself to go back 4 years and say, "Don't worry, he'll be fine," I would! My father always used to say, "All your worries come to nothing." He's no longer around, but I'm guessing he was a worrier, too, if he knew that to be the case! Although to us he was larger than life, living life to the fullest, with not a worry in the world. Maybe it's that: Fake it till you make it! Perhaps you could let your kids play with him, but make sure it's on a carpeted or grassed area so that his legs don't slip. It does seem a pity that 11-year-old boys and a puppy aren't having fun. If you can find a way to manage it, you might be able to make it work for all of you.
This. He's too young to get hip scored. They need to be at least a year old. Seriously, don't worry! You could be expending all this energy and stress over absolutely nothing. Have him checked out again when he's older. And until then just enjoy your happy, energetic young dog
Thanks everyone. No more googlelife is a gift and I'm gonna try my hardest to enjoy my days with minimal worry!
Hey everyone, just thought I would update you on Bear ( and my) progress. I did step away from Google and it help. My husband asked me one night why I was focusing on the one bad thing about Bear and ignoring and taking for granted all the perfect things about him? A light bulb went off,he was right. Bear has the true lab personality and ,in my opinion, is amazing. I just love him! In November he started limping and holding up his rear leg. My heart sank, but I didn't stress out too much, I just had the feeling of " ok, we will do what we have to do today,and go from there" . We took him to the vet and 3 different vets could not get him to show discomfort, he wasn't even holdi g his leg up anymore,ugh. They offered an xray but I opted for pain meds and rest . Next day,he was worse, went back to vet and they thought it was a foot issue not hip or knee so we took xray of foot. Turns out he had a carpet staple inside his foot,went through paw pad and showed no signs of it. So, he had surgery and the post op cone of shame was a nightmare. I regretted not neutering him at the time but i wasnt ready to retake hip xrays. Well, one month to the day of this surgery, he sliced his paw pad completely off during a training exercise in the fields. Surgery needed again with the cone again,well I neutered him,got the xray and really not freaking out about it. Xray were sent out to radiologist and very mild changes due to mild hip dysplasia. A weight has been lifted just for the fact that at least I know and even though he does have dysplasia we will deal with it when it comes, if it every really does give him issues. Our vet said he can be symptomatic today or not until geriatric, only time will tell and I don't care, he's my baby. Life throws curveball all the time, at least I have bear to get me through them
You and Bear have been through a lot! Floor staple. Slicing off paw pad. Wishing only good things for you guys from now on!
Gosh! You have been through the mill! We do tend to focus such a lot on a diagnosis of HD, that it is very easy to forget that a lot of dogs can manage really well, and with good management can stave off a lot of the changes associated with the diagnosis. Casper is 9 in a couple of weeks, he has a diagnosis of mild HD in one hip and moderate in the other. He also has a diagnosis of AS in his lower back. Well, he is a seriously fit and healthy dog, full of life and mischief. He is very flexible, active and is often mistaken for a much younger dog! Actually I find myself wondering when will he slow down? We have taken a multi-modal approach, physio, managing exercise, good nutrition, weight control and Yumove Advance. We do have NSAIDs, but on a PRN basis (as needed...) we rarely use them, for sure there will be a time when we need too, but for now we are OK. He was neutered at 5 years old, so already had a good muscular base to work from. We just needed to build up strength and flexibility in certain muscles to help support his hips and back. Good luck with Bear, he sounds like a wonderful character!
Poor Bear , what a roller coaster he ( and you ) have had ! Like @Beanwood , I am also coping and managing a dog with join problems, knee in her case but her hips aren't so good either . We are also going down the route of no surgery for now, with our Vets blessing , we keep metacam at hand but she rarely needs it , we keep weight in check and also give Yumove , which does help to build the muscle which in turn helps to carry poor joints . I`m so pleased that you had your light bulb moment and hope he continues to do well !
Oh my goodness, what a rollercoaster! Good luck to you from now on, and keep us posted how you and Bear are doing.
