Is my 6-month German Shepherd's trouble walking due to hip issues?

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.

Poor Bella! I'm so sorry that she is having this problem. We most commonly see Legg-Perthes disease only affecting one hip, but it certainly is possible that she has both hips affected. There isn't any way to diagnose Legg-Perthes disease except x-rays. I would recommend having your veterinarian examine her to determine if her pain is coming from her hip or another location. If it appears to be her hips, they can then take x-rays to determine what is going on. I am attaching a link to a handout on Legg-Perthes disease below for you. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2529 Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Bella feels better soon. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Yes, having the narrow based stance in the rear legs and some instability is something I would be concerned about. German Shepard Dogs can have hip dysplasia and lumbo sacral problems. If the parents were OFA certified to have good hips then Nova may just be in a clumsy growing phase. Nova is too young to have definitive X-rays to diagnose hip dysplasia. A preliminary hip X-rays can be done at six months, usually when the dog is spayed as they need to be anesthetized to get good hip radiographs. When she is asleep they can also feel the hip to see if the joint is tight or has laxity. Many dogs can live a normal life with hip dysplasia if they are kept fit, lean and do not do excessive jumping or rough housing. Leash walking and obedience training is good exercise as it helps her control her legs and leg movement rather than just letting her run around and play all the time. If the instability and narrow rear legs continue as she grows you may want to go see an orthopedic specialist to get a second opinion and diagnosis. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Nova.

Hi there. If Lilly used to jump onto the bed easily and now seems to be struggling more, this is definitely concerning for a medical problem of some kind. She may have hip dysplasia, a problem with her knees or back. or some other type of joint problem. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam when you are able to. He/she can do a complete orthopedic exam to see if she is painful anywhere and check her range of motion, and may also recommend x-rays or other testing if needed to help determine what's wrong.

Hello. I am sorry that Zara is hurting. Sometimes German Shepherds can have something called "Hip Dysplasia" and can have severe arthritis and abnormal hips and this can cause pain and trouble walking. I recommend you have her checked by your vet, who will likely perform x-rays to check her hips. Your vet can also help you get set up with joint supplements as well as pain management for Zara. Good luck with her!

I would consider at his age a referral to a veterinary surgeon to discuss any surgical options particularly for his hips. This might delay the onset of arthritis in the future. Depending on what's causing his elbow dysplasia surgery may be an option there as well. You could also get the advice of a surgeon as to which is more likely to cause issues the elbows are the hips. I would also recommend starting him on a joint supplement now and potentially omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. All supplements and physical therapy are great surgery might be your best bet at long-term comfort.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. There is severe hip dysplasia present in both hips, I am afraid. The left hip id also subluxated and I suspect it is causing more discomfort than the right hip. Hip dysplasia is a disease that dogs are born with. Arya must have had it sine a puppy but most likely it was not as severe as now. Spondylosis in the lumbar spine is usually a result of infection of intervertebral disc. Typically, it is an accidental finding in dogs that do not cause mobility problems. However, CT scan of the spine would give more detailed information about the severity of spondylosis.