Is my older dog's trouble walking due to arthritis or hip dysplasia?

Legally, I am not allowed to give you a diagnosis, but based on the x-rays you posted, I suspect that your vet told you that Sly has significant hip dysplasia and arthritis in both hips. I'm sure that came as a surprise to you since Sly is only showing some limping after resting. Dogs are very stoic and do not show us pain as we would expect. Since you have just started Sly on a glucosamine and chondoitin sulfate supplement, you certainly could wait and see how he does on that, but I suspect you will need to add some additional supplements or medications to resolve his limping, so don't be afraid to talk to your vet about those. We frequently use fish oil, MSM, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and many other drug combinations for arthritis. I also highly recommend physical rehabilitation and acupuncture. Although we expect our dogs to cry in pain, most dogs with arthritis pain act exactly like Sly and only limp after getting up. Our goal with treatment is to get them to the point that their pain is so well controlled that we don't notice them limp at all. I hope that helps! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It could be that Buddy is suffering from arthritis, and that's causing him to limp in pain. Arthritis is common in older dogs. I would take Buddy into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose if he is suffering from arthritis, and can give him some pain meds for it. Rimadyl (an NSAID) is a good drug to give to help with the symptoms of arthritis. I also recommend giving him glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate supplements. They provide the necessary nutrients for cartilage repair and function. Use of them helps relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis, and you can use it in conjuction with Rimadyl to help maximize relief from his symptoms.

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.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sugar. She appears to have significant changes to both of her hips indicating severe arthritis. She also appears to have some mild arthritic changes in her left knee. Hip dysplasia is a congenital disorder where the hip joints do not develop properly leading to arthritis later in life. So this is the potential cause of the changes in her hips. I hope she is able to start pain medication to help with her mobility.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Chlorella! There are few possibilities: severe arthritis, Lyme disease, a slipped disk in her beck, degenerative myelopathy or even a spinal tumor. Hip dysplasia is something the dog is borne with and it can get worse over time. It usually isn't sudden. I think you should get her in for an exam this week! I wish you the best!

For such a young dog, I recommend to have Boogie examined by the veterinarian. Dysplasia is something that tends to get worse over time and if you take appropriate action now, you may be able to avoid or slow this down. He will need an exam and radiographs to begin figuring out your options. At home you can put Boogie on an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for pets. A joint supplement would also help. Lastly, a prescription diet for joint health will also be beneficial but they cannot fix the dysplasia. Here is a link with further information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/hip-dysplasia-in-dogs-diagnosis-treatment-and-prevention/ I hope this helps.

I would be worried about Spike. Things that come to mind are a disc that has ruptured into the spinal canal, a fibers clot, a blood clot, a tumor or somehow acquiring an injury. I would recommend to take him into the veterinarian's asap to get him checked out. The doctor may want to do an x-ray or may recommend referral to a neurologist based on what they find. Best of luck with Spike!