My 6-month German Shepherd has hip/elbow dysplasia. What now?

This X-ray shows she has poor hip conformation or hip dysplasia and hip arthritis. Unfortunately this is a common orthopedic problem in German Shepard dogs and othe large breeds. Most dogs respond well to weight loss if needed and dog arthritis medication prescribed by your veterinarian. By keeping her active and moving she will maintain her muscle mass which will support her hips so there is less bone rubbing, which will result in less pain. Giving joint supplements like Dasuquin or Cosequin can help in addition to Omega 3 or fish oil which will reduce some of the inflammation. Physical therapy with a rehab veterinarian is effective in maintaining her muscles and help reduce the limping. Hip dysplasia can’t be cured but it can be managed so Bella can continue to live an active life. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Bella.

Hello, sorry to hear about Shiro. He does indeed have hip dysplasia as is evident in his x-rays. This diseases does indeed require surgical correction, but only if Shiro seems to be in discomfort. Hip Dysplasia results in secondary osteoarthritis which in the long term can impact your pets ability to walk and overall comfort. There are two different procedures with regards to surgery, an FHNO were we remove the femoral head and neck or a total hip replacement were we replace the ball and joint with metal implants as they do in humans. Ultimately, the best contributor to decreasing osteoarthritis in dogs is by maintaining an overall low weight and lean body condition score. Obese pets with hip dysplasia tend to do worse. Now, with regards to surgery, it does not need to occur now, typically with either surgery, we want pets to be fully developed so that their bones are fully grown and they have developed all of the musculature. I would recommend asking your veterinarian to refer you to an orthopedic surgeon who may be able to better assist you with Shiro's hips dysplasia. Hope this helps and best of luck.

There are a variety of treatments for hip dysplasia depending on clinical signs. I would first perform radiographs to assess for comformation. There are surgical procedures that are performed in puppies prior to the development of osteoarthritis for severe cases, but they typically need to be performed before 9 months of age. I think the most important thing is to interpret physical exam and radiographs in the context of clinical signs. I have some puppies with a radiographic diagnosis of hip dysplasia who are asymptomic for years and other puppies with negative ortolani sign, minimal dysplasia on radiographs and severe clinical signs. So, don't jump into surgery if Gary is not showing clinical signs. For my puppies with radiographically confirmed hip dysplasia and clinical signs, I typically manage them medically as needed and start physical rehabilitation. I hope that helps! Good luck!

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Halo and your other dog are on a good quality, balanced diet there is no benefit to giving calcium. I'm assuming you mean that they are already on a glucosamine supplement. Glucosamine supplements vary in quality so make sure they are on a quality veterinary product like Dasuquin. Adding in an omega-3 supplement may also be helpful. Nordic Naturals pet products offers a good omega-3 supplement for pets. Finally, it would be a good idea to ask your veterinarian about Adequan injections. These injections can be very helpful managing hip dysplasia and are very safe!

It's possible he will need pain killers for the rest of his life indeed and those pain killers could give him an excellent quality of life, he could go back to normal as long as he is on them. i would recommend taking him to the vet ASAP in order to get it checked.

Bella can definitely have hip problems with her symptoms. With the X-rays provided it is not the most appropriate way to determine hip dysplasia. The best X-rays are sedated X-rays with the hind legs being extended straight and tilted slightly in. I would recommend when you spay her Bella you have them X-ray her hips at the same time to determine this. Once you have these X-rays if hip dysplasia is found, you can talk to a surgeon to find out what is the next step for Bella. Here is a link to a photo that shows you how the legs should be to evaluate hips. http://www.azpetscan.com/uploads/2/3/8/3/23831955/8701405.jpg?377 Thank you for using PetCoach.

Hello, sorry to hear about Rex. It does appear that he is having severe osteoarthritis of the elbow. This will directly limit his ability to move that arm and cause some obvious lameness. Unfortunately as seen by the radiographs, osteoarthritis is not reversible and thus managing his weight and activity will be the most fruitful with the goal focused on making him comfortable and not to make him not lame. There are some surgical procedures being explored that in the near future could offer a replacement of the elbow joint in dogs like Rex with severe elbow disease. I would recommend using joint supplements, anti-inflamamtories, and pain medications as necessary to keep him comfortable. Unfortunately, Rex may never be able to walk normally with how severe his arthritis int hat elbow is. You may discuss having Rex referred to an orthopedic surgeon for further evaluation and care. Hope this helps and best of luck.