LoveToKnow Dogs:AllComments

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Comments

Hi Sue,

I found your original question at Dog Neutering and Spaying and answered it there. Best wishes for your pet's recovery.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My shizu had surgery 5 days ago on both hips..first 2 days when I carried her outside, she could relive herself with great difficulty. Now she refuses to even try to stand on the legs, and has not relived herself for 2 days. The left leg appears to be withering and useless. What is wrong and what should I do? Is there some kind of therapy I can use? Should I give her a laxative? It is Friday. Can I wait another 2-3 days before trying to contact the Vet? I am worried about her. Please advise. Thank You.

-- Contributed by: Sue

Hi Tracy, and welcome.

I'm sorry to hear your little Papillion has been experiencing such pain. Malformation of the hip joints might be attributed to dysplasia or arthritis. Since you've had your dog under a vet's care, you should speak to him/her directly because your dog's diagnosis should be listed in her chart. That's the quickest way to get accurate information.

Thanks for your question, and I do hope the vet can bring your dog some relief.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Luis,

This does sound a lot like the beginning of some kind of joint problem. It may be a temporary condition since your puppy is still growing, but you will need your vet's help to get a proper diagnosis. I recommend you write down exactly what you've observed, and when your dog experiences the pain such as after exercise, upon waking, etc. The vet can determine if the pain is located in the hip or perhaps even the knee cap, and decide what kind of treatment is needed.

Thanks for your question, and I hope your puppy will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

We have a nine month old Min Pin/Chihuahua that started limping at about the end of November and she walks fine sometimes and we start to throw her toy and she jumps for the toy then like 20 seconds later she starts to limp on her left rear leg and mostly limps on the left but sometimes her right could this be hip displasia or just a sore on her leg and when she is limping we try massage her leg and she yells she is about to be 1 years old plese help us with what to do

-- Contributed by: Luis

I have a papplion she has problems with her hips thay keep coming out of joint I she has had one op to chizzle the bone in the top of her leg so it its in the joint she still has the other leg to do could this be hip dysplasia

-- Contributed by: Tracey

Hi Valerie,

A vet would really need to evaluate whether your puppy has dysplasia, but it does sound as if there might be some joint or bone problem worth exploring if your puppy has been limping this long. I think it would be a good idea for your mom to make an appointment with your vet.

Thanks for sharing your situation, and I hope your puppy will regain normal use of her leg.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My 5 month old puppy suddenly started limping on the 9th of October.She won't put any weight on one of her legs.I checked between her toes and paw pad and here seems to be nothing wrong with it, she doesn't yelp in pain when I massage her leg, except that she starts to growl when I touch her hip.I told my mother that it could be hip dysplasia and explained what it is, but she said shes too young to get it and thought I broke her hip or something on purpose,but I would never do that to her.This lady that knows about dogs said that she agrees it could be hip dysplasia too.Also, I notice that her father has hip dysplasia, because he hops when he runs so I guess it is inherited.

-- Contributed by: Valerie

Hi Tiffany,

I'm sorry to hear about your little Shih Tzu's dysplasia. Technically, there is no actual miniature version of the Shih Tzu. There are just some breeders who have bred down in size below the ideal set in the AKC standard. There are risks to altering a breed this way, and health problems are common in these situations. Shih Tzus typically don't suffer from dysplasia, but if your dog was actually born with a malformed ball and socket, dysplasia might be prominent in your dog's breeding line.

You might want to ask your vet if it would be alright to supplement your dog with glucosamine and chondroiten. These supplements give the body what it needs to build more cartilage, which in turn might make the join a little less painful. In any event, you should still consult your vet about your dog's refusal to eat when the MSM is in his food.

Thanks for your question, and I hope there is a way to help your dog feel better.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My dog was born with Hip Dysplasia, but his breed is not on the list. He's an 8 lb. minature Shih tzu. I never heard of a minture shih tzu until I got him. He's 10 years old. The vet keeps saying there is nothing that can be done, but put MSM in his food, which he hates. He won't eat just to avoid it. When he gets hungry enough he eats. But he he could go two days without eating. Is there something better I can do?

-- Contributed by: Tiffany

Hi Eileen,

Do you know what the exact outcome of the OFA certification was? They range:

Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor

I'm kind of guessing that this female falls in the fair to poor category, so your best option would be to discuss the OFA results directly with the owner's vet. This way you can get an idea of what you'll face through the years and whether you're prepared to take on the responsibility of caring for a displastic dog.

That said, I don't want to discourage you. Some dogs that receive only a fair rating often go on to lead basically normal lives, or only display mild joint pain. Just try to be fully informed before you make your decision.

Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I am looking for a companion dog (a lab). A reputable breeder in my area has a 2 year old female that was to be used for breeding but did not pass the OFA certification. It was diagnosed at 2 years old with "mild hip displasia and normal elbows". Its dam had Excellent hips and the sire Good hips. I am trying to assess the risk of getting a pet that become disabled. Any words of wisdom for me?

-- Contributed by: Eileen

Hi Randy,

It would be best to have your dog's leg problems diagnosed by the vet in order to find out which medication, if any, will be beneficial. Sometimes physical therapy is more appropriate. Your vet is the expert you need to make this call.

Best wishes for your dog's health. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, well i have a large mixed breed dog of rottwiler and isrish wolf hound. he show some signs of leg problems, such as weakness in the lower legs, and lack of willingness to walk even short distances,25-30yrds. however he shows great willingness to chase anything that moves. i have been useing leg braces, and that seems to help. would there be anything that i can give him to help

-- Contributed by: randy

Hi Mike,

I'm not a vet, but this does sound like your dog is periodically having mild seizures. My advice is to keep a diary of when these episodes happen, how long they last, and exactly what happens to your dog at the time. Make an appointment to have your dog examined by your vet, and show him/her the diary. This will help your vet zero in on a diagnosis, whether it's seizures or something else.

Thanks for your question, and I truly hope everything will be alright.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi Emily,

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks to purchasing a dog from a pet shop is that you never have contact with the original breeder. In fact, most of these puppies do not come from a true breeder, but actually from a puppy mill where concerns about the quality and health of the puppies produced are not any greater than the concern and care provided for the breeding animals. It's all a shameful bid for profit, and the animals endure a lot of abuse.

Yes, dysplasia is passed on genetically, so there's a good chance that your puppy's family members either have it to some degree or will pass it on if they are bred. As for AKC, they are only a registry. They will only take action on issues surrounding parentage. They do not get involved with health issues other than providing education.

As you can see, your options are quite limited. The best you can do is try to provide this pup with the health care he needs, and follow up with the pet shop that sold him to you. It might be worth your time to seek legal council to find out if you have any options for recouping the cost of the surgery.

Thank you for sharing your situation, and I do hope your story eventually has a happy ending.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

Hi, our 12 year old Dog showes sometimes a symtom we can't figure out what the cause may be. She is breathing out in very short intervals through her nose with her mouth closed and her intire body seemed to cramp up and she looks somewhat scared. One episode may last from 30seconds to 2 minutes. After it is over life goeos on as usual.

-- Contributed by: Mike Knauf

Hello, I have a one year old black lab and a 6mo old choc lab. The older dog is in good health and appears to have great hips, the younger dog has severe hip dysplasia. We had a surgical consult yesterday for this, it was determined that he is not a good candidate for the Triple Pelvic Osteotomy because his hip sockets are so severely malformed. They are suggesting either a total hip replacement, both sides, or a Femoral Head Excision. Both options are very expensive, the total hip replacement will cost approximately 9k up front, the excision will cost from 3200 to 5400 depending on which doctor we use. This is an awful situation that i would not wish on any dog ever, unfortunately from what i have been reading this is pretty strictly a genetically triggered malformation and that either one or both parents must have the gene to cause this. Is that true? If it is I am very concerned as my dog is one i purchased in a pet store, who got him - AND his brother - from an out of state breeder. When i called the pet store they have advised me that they will refund our purchase money, after i provide do...entation to support the diagnosis and have him neutered. But she stated that the other dogs owners have not called them with concerns, and until they do SHE WON'T CALL THEM!! My concern about this is that this brother may be a genetic carrier of this disease, or may have it himself and his owners simply not aware yet. Also there was no discussion of what will happen with the breeder. The parents of the pups are ACA certified, or AKC i'm not sure as we haven't been concerned about registering him. Is there a mechanism in place to advise these registry agencies about potential genetic illness in breed lines, or is it simply up to the breeders to be responsible and stop breeding, or test, either parent?? I know this is a lot and you may not have all of the answers i'm seeking, but thank you for your time anyway.

-- Contributed by: Emily

Hi Sally,

Unfortunately you can't have your puppy X-rayed for OFA certification umtil she's about 18 months old. This is the most precise way to diagnose joint health. However, an experienced vet may be able to feel the joint to see if it seems to be working correctly, as well as observe your dog's movement for any signs of stiffness or limping.

Hopefully your puppy will get a good bill of health. Best wishes.

-- Contributed by: Kelly

We are in the process of adopting a 7 month old Irish Setter from a shelter, she is very thin, was kept by people that lived in an apt & she had never been outside, how do we check for hip problems when there are no records of her health? We have had 2 setters before.

-- Contributed by: Sally Ware

Hi Ann,

The ability to lie in this position might be a good indication of decent hip health, but I wouldn't rely on it in place of OFA X-rays and certification. There are varying degrees of dysplasia, and some are not apparent to the eye. Hips rate as either excellent, good, fair or poor in that order. By breeding dogs that "look" good, it's possible to perpetuate a minor hip problem that degenerates into a large one for future generations. Better to X-ray and know exactly what you're dealing with.

Thanks for your question, and I'm very glad your dog received a good rating. :)

-- Contributed by: Kelly

I was told by my labrador's breeder that puppies who lay down like frogs, with both their back legs spread out flat behind them, will not have hip dysplasia. We gave a "backyard lab" to our son once and she could not lay like this, and did develop hip dysplasia. We bought this breeder's lab and she eventually OFA'd with "good hips" and still lies like a frog. Most of her puppies do also...so I am wondering if my breeder is right? Is this posture fairly reliable?

-- Contributed by: Ann

My brother's Golden Retriever, who is approximately 11-12 yrs old, has had much difficulty walking on his hind legs for about 2 weeks. For about a month or so before that, he became hard of hearing & also has difficulty seeing. In the past 2 days, he has not eaten anything and has had very little to drink. He INSISTS on going outside at night (whines until let out), and it is fairly cold outside, although not dangerous to a healthy animal by any means (and he always sleeps inside unless he happens to be out--doesn't cry to get out). He has been incontinent of urine & feces a few times in the past month or so, and last night, my brother heard him crying & went to the inside porch to see that "Bop" had had a large BM and was walking in circles around it. We are taking him to the vet tomorrow afternoon, but I would like to know what you think anyway. The first vet who saw him when his legs first started to give way told my brother that it was probably an injury, just to watch him for a while. Tomorrow will be a second opinion (which I had already suggested), and the appointment was made today, in light of the new symptoms. Thank you for your help. Laurie Pritchett

Hi Laurie,

I'm not a vet, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. I think that all of these symptoms might actually add up to a neurological condition. At nearly twelve years old, this dog might also be experiencing some senility issues in addition to the physical symptoms. I'm glad your brother has an appointment for a second opion because I do not believe a back injury accounts for all the symptoms and that the situation needs a closer look.

Best wishes that something can be done to help your brother's dog. Please let us know what you find out.

-- Contributed by: Laurie

hi my dog just had an operation a part of his joint bone was remove and now limp walking can massage help him recover and be able to use his leg again? is it adviceable to let him ware weights on his himp led to touch the ground and to be able to touch the ground and use his legs again? how long does it takes for a dog to heal when its bone is cut? thanks

Hi Kodachi,

These are all questions best addressed to your veterinarian as part of the follow up care process after the surgery.

I do believe that massage is beneficial for healing because it increases the circulation, delivering more oxygen which helps the cell regenerate. Your vet should have also given you an estimate on healing time, as well as an indication of when he/she wants to do a follow up exam to make sure the healing is progressing as expected. Don't hesitate to give your vet a call, and best wishes that your dog recovers quickly.

-- Contributed by: kodachi_an

I have a 10 year old yellow lab part Rhodesian Ridge Back. She has been yelping a lot this past week and today is walking around with a crooked tail. What is going on?

Hi Darlene,

It's difficult for me to say exactly what's going on. The problem could stem from an injury, or it could be neurological in nature. What I can say is that it sounds like your dog's condition is becoming more serious, so it would be best to take her to the vet right away before things get any worse.

Thanks for your question, and I do hope that everything turns out alright.

-- Contributed by: Darlene

Hi my name is Steven Gonzales my 10 year old Dachshund is not able to move his hind legs and it started to happen last night and he also looks scared when he is trying to move. Do you think you know what is wrong with him? What should we do to help him?

Thank You! Steven Gonzales

Hi Steve, this could be a neorological problem or a spinal injury. I recommend you make a vet appointment right away.

Best wishes for a good outcome.

-- Contributed by: Steven Gonzales

We have a 9 month old German Shepard. She is showing some signs of dysplasia. The vet took a look at her and says there are definately signs but wants to hold off a bit on the x-ray. He explained the different degrees of dysplasia and the possible needs for the future which we will be able to determine when the puppy is older. We also have a dachshund who had back problems and through lots of physiotherapy which I was able to do one her myself with proper counseling from a dog therapist we were able to get her walking (and even running)again. I was wondering if you know of any kind of physiotherapy that can be done with the German Shepard that can be done while she is still young to help the joints develop correctly.

Thank you,

Amy Jo

Hi Amy Jo, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I don't. This is a deteriorative joint disease. You could supplement your dog with glucosamine and chondroiten to help replenish the cartilage in the joints, but how helpful this would be depends on which OFA rating your dog receives after the X-rays have been reviewed.

Thanks for your question, and I hope the problem turns out to be a mild one.

-- Contributed by: Amy Jo

I've just looked through this site, since I want to knit one mof my dogs a sweater. Just wanted you to know how impressed I am with the information quality. Of course, I had to review your breed sites and enjoyed reading about my favorite breed (I have two) - GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTERS!!! Thank you so much - loved it!!

Hi Lisa,

I'm glad you're enjoying the site. There's quite a lot of information here, so be sure to come back and visit.

By the way, did you find our article for Free Knitted Christmas Dog Sweaters Patterns? There are some really cute ones to try.

Thanks!

-- Contributed by: Lisa
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