HD x-rays

[rommel's mom]

We had Rommel x-rayed at about a year and the vet said he had HD. We don't understand because he can out run other dogs and has no problems at all going up and down stairs or any exercise. I was wondering is it a good idea to get a second opinion on x-rays, I know we humans do. We just want to know for sure I guess, am I crazy for doing this. I took him the first time to a local animal hopital, I was thinking of taking him to Iowa State University to be tested again, is this stupid? He is now 2.
Thanks

[sophie's-mom]

Contact a club in the area, find out if they can recommend a vet. Some are better than others.

I know that I couldn't get a good x-ray here in my town, the population just doesn't check for such things.....don't know, don't care....not sure.....but a vet that sends to OFA often would know how to place the dog better. A good placement is going to give a more accurate rating.

In my opinion.

Good Luck.

[Rott-Wiley]

Did your vet say what grade of HD your dog has? Usually x-rays aren't taken until the dog is 2 years old unless a problem is suspected. You may consider getting another set of x-rays taken and this time by a vet that can give you more feedback then just saying your dog has HD.

[Judi W]

Many dogs have HD and show no or little symptoms until they reach about 5 years of age or so when the arthritic changes start causing enough pain that the dog responds to it.

[poohbearsmom]

My dyplastic boy can run faster than either of his parents. He's able to leap tall couches in a single bound. He can turn on a dime. He floats like a butterfly when trotting.... and when he walks, there's an ever so slight gimp.

Mild in the left - flat ball joint. Moderate in the right - flat ball joint, and shallow hip socket. This, from xrays taken at 7mos of age. We will get OFA's done at 2, and submit them, for the record. It will be interesting to see the changes that have occured since his first pics were taken.

CHD does not necessarily mean the dog is an out and out cripple. As Judi said, many dogs do not show symptoms, or if they do, they are mild. The therapy you start now, can help ease the severity of changes as he ages, so look into various choices. (Adequan, Glucosomine/Chond/MSM/C, etc...)

Did the vet show you the xrays, and explain them to you? Did he show you a set of "normal" hips on film, as well as an example of really bad hips? This can make it easier for an untrained eye to see what's going on.

If it makes you feel more comfortable, get a second set taken... but, remember, it's hard on the dog to be put under for these procedures, so you might want to wait until he's 2, and of the age to OFA.

Sometimes, it's hard to accept this condition, especially when the dog gets around quite nicely.... MrPooh still has an inkling of hope, I think, that when Attila turns 2, he'll miraculously not be dysplastic. I keep telling him that "denial" is a river in Egypt.

Bottom line. Let your dog be a dog, and love him for it.

[frontierrots]

My ex husband had a Labrador with severe HD. I mean nasty nasty hips. She was his hunting dog and she hunted every fall and trained all the rest of the year for upland bird and duck/goose hunting. Until she was 5 she was never lame a day. After 5 she would get a bit gimpy after a day of hunting in cold water. After 8 she could only hunt 1/2 days and he retired her at 10.. much to Maggie's dismay

The key to her funcionality was herpain tolerence level AND her fitness. She was never fat and always at top physical condition

I agree with the above. Wait and have his hips re xrayed after 2 and send them in to the OFA no matter what the vet says the xray looks like. This will get you a professional rating on his hip construction