How to tell if my 8-month-old Golden Retriever has hip dysplasia?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. So sorry that Baxter has this issue. The right hip has severe dysplasia (the x-ray is not marked so I am assuming it is the right one). The other hip looks OK. The only way to fix this is with surgery - either a FHO procedure or a total hip replacement. You need to speak to your vet about options. There is no medication to reverse, cure or stop the progression of this disease. Surgery will definitely be needed.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Roscoe. These could be signs of hip dysplasia. The first thing to do is have him seen by a vet for x-rays. This will confirm if he has hip dysplasia. If he does, the vet can discuss treatment options for him such as pain medication and joint supplements. I'd take him into the vet this weekend or Monday. I hope this helps!

Looks like mild hip dysplasia of the left hip. There also seems to be narrowing if the medial joint space in the right knee but this could be due to positioning. It would be easier to give you advice if you could give us more information about Milo’s clinical signs and what diagnosis your vet gave.

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!

That is possible. It is best to have Dace examined by your vet. X-rays are usually performed to determine if there is hip dysplasia present so that preventive measures can be taken to help protect the hip and keep it healthy. If Dace was from a breeder, asking if they have records of any dysplasia tests, etc can also help.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Hip dysplasia is an orthopedic condition that sometimes require surgery though some cases can be managed with medical therapy and physical therapy. In most cases though, surgery is needed at some point. With the knee issue, you may be referring to patellar luxation which also most of the time requires surgery when it is severe enough though comfort can be improved with pain control and anti-inflammatory medications. I recommend that you have Coco evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Leo. The pictures came through a little fuzzy, his femoral heads appear to sit well within the pelvis on both sides. This is giving him adequate coverage. Typically x-rays are repeated at 2 years of age to be sure the hips are still good. I hope this information helps!