I guess I'm looking for guidance, personal stories, and thoughts on this subject. I am currently fostering a 10 month old lab for a service dog organization. I have reason to believe that there might be something wrong with her back right leg (maybe hip dysplasia). Some things I've noticed since she was baby... Weird gate/bunny hopping while running (she's done this since she was 4 months old) Low energy- a 20/30 minutes walk will wipe her out for the rest of the day. Cracking/popping noises coming from her back right leg/hip. Sometimes she doesn't want to put much weight on her right leg. I've tested this by picking up her back left leg and she'll immediately sit down/fall over She never sits completely straight/square. Her favorite position is the frog/lazy sit. Even when i try to get her to sit straight the right leg never is completely correct. Okay, I think that's pretty much it from what i've noticed. I have also talked to the organizations vet about this but they are still refusing to do an x-ray until she's 12 months old. She had to go for a procedure a week or two ago and was knocked out. The vet did a physical exam on her and said that "her hips feel a little loose". So, now I have to wait 6-8 weeks for her x-rays. I guess I'm just wondering what everyones thoughts are. Plus any similar stories/guidance. P.S. I am already taking some precautions. We are swimming more than walking right now and I don't have stairs so I don't need to worry about her running up and down those.
I dont really know much for the hip as Lucius' hips seem to be fine and he's 3 now. As far as laziness goes, Lucius was pretty lazy since we had him at 8 weeks so I'd say she's either really laid back or it is her hip.
My thoughts - this doesn't sound right at all. A puppy of 10 months should have more energy, and from your description there is clearly something not ok with the hips or right back leg. I would say, keep this puppy VERY slim. Keep up moderate exercise to improve muscle tone (but be careful; free swimming is not necessarily good for dogs with poor joints, walking/moving in water within their depth is much better); and keep talking to everyone about your suspicions. Eventually the service dog organization will have to listen to you. Good luck - I hope it is ok.
Hi @palindrome and welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear you are having worries about your foster. My girl Lilly has severe hip dysplasia - she was diagnosed before she was a year (our own vet thought it was her knee). A recurring limp was our issue - Firstly, a lot of dogs bunny hop, both with normal hips and dysplastic hips. - I wouldn't necessarily think fatigue is an indicator of hip issues. Is your girl slim or a bit overweight? Has your weather been a bit hot/humid. Both reasons for being fatigued, as well as a myriad of medical reasons - have you discussed this too with the vet? - Cracking/popping can certainly occur in dysplasia, others may comment on whether their "normal" dogs do this, I'm not sure. - Sloppy sits are pretty common across the board. THIS is a worry As hips are developing, you might find some looseness, hence why avoiding jumping and stairs during the development phase. Bones are not completely ossified in puppyhood, so there are some advantages in waiting until 12 months to ensure the x-ray shows what it is intended to do. You get a better idea of the actual positioning of the hip in the socket. I'm surprised that they didn't just do it whilst under anaesthsia. You are obviously concerned. I would agree you are doing the right thing just now. Fingers crossed.
Hey palindrome, I got a pup last year couple of months after we got her she was between 6 and 7 months just started being lame on her back left leg. Long story short after a couple of weeks of rest, anti inflammatory from the vets it was decided we would xray our girl only showed mild discomfort from being examined and the limp that appeared one day. Xrays showed hip dysplasia in both hips but the left clearly looked worse. By the time we got transferred to a surgeon and had extra xrays her hips you could clearly hear clicking and her sits weren't straight. In herself our pup was still wanting to play and run around but had started to cope with the dysplasia by standing with her back left leg always further under her body using more weight on her right always bunny hoped run aswell. The surgeon wanted to do a full hip replacement on her left side before she was 10 months old so that the bones would knite stronger to the implants making it a much stronger replacement. It also ment we had 4 weeks in a cage with lead wee walks and the use of a sling to hold her back legs up then another 4 weeks with just 5 to 10 minute lead walks then another 4 weeks just building up to a 20 min walk. She was only just let off lead this may and her op was in November. If your pup does has hip dysplasia it is a long job and I can't stress enough on doing exactly what the vet tells you to. It's heart breaking to watch such a young puppy not being able to be out socialing and playing. Hope this helps from a puppy mum who had to endure this. It's not easy but the end result is so worth.
Hi Palindrome My dog Duke who is 3 has recently been diagnosed with hip dysplasia in both hips. While the vet didn’t feel he needed a hip replacement at this stage, I was interested in your comment that you initially needed a sling to take him for a wee. Is that something you can do by yourself, or is it a 2 person job? I’m also struggling with Dukes exercise. I have been told that it is important to keep up his exercise to get good muscle mass to support his hips, but if he does too much he gets sore. He is on regular pain killers. IdeallyI would take him for hydrotherapy but my daughter has a disability, and it is difficult to organise planned outings - we just go for a walk wherever she isn’t feeling too bad. The other thing I am struggling with is when he is on his walks (more like sniffs) he will lie down and refuse to move. He has done this most of his life, but now I am not sure if he is in pain or whether he is enjoying the park and doesn’t want to go home.
