5 month GSD with mild hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia IS a genetic disorder. You might want to inform the breeder about this.

Yes, supplements will help control the arthritis that comes with it. Make sure you keep the weight down and control the amount and type of exercise.

 Yes, it's genetic, but even though both parents and many generations prior were clear of HD.... it can still happen.  I'd let your breeder know, but, honestly it happens to even the best of breeders. You do everything you can to try to prevent genetic disorders, but many things can still go wrong, genetics are a difficult thing to guess. With that in mind it can be exacerbated by lifestyle (very active, jumping, etc).  Personally I'd take her off the large breed puppy formula.  I'd look into a raw diet.  Glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM combo can help.  And definitely as MRV said, keep her on the slim side.

 I'd also consider having another x-ray done when she's a year.... you may want to talk to your breeder about a good vet for this.  The angle of the shot is critical..... I have heard many, many stories of dogs that were x-rayed incorrectly and either looked dysplastic when they were not, or did not look dysplastic when they were.  I'd be prone to think it's probably accurate since she's had a slight limp, but it doesn't hurt to check it out.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this... but, mild HD is very mangeable. Hang in there!

Hello and welcome to the forum.

I am sorry your baby has this. The advice from those above me is very good, and other's know way more than I do, and I am sure even more will come along with even more good advice.

HD is genetic, and all breeders face it at some point. Nothing is sure, but it can be compounded by environmental causes as well. Here is a explanation:

Many factors work together to cause this disease, which is a combination of a dog genetically inclined to get this disease ( I would read BREED ;) interacting with environmental factors that bring about the symptoms. These environmental factors excess calcium in the diet of puppy food for large breed dogs, along with obesity, high protein and calorie diets, and a lack of or too much exercise. The breeding of dogs that already have hip dysplasia is one of the primary reasons the disease is still present. A dog that has hip dysplasia in one socket is prone to having a problem with the ligaments of the knee in the other leg (anterior cruciate rupture).

My dog is also a GSD, to my knowledge he has shown no signs of HD, nor did my last one. But I knew more with him and did some extra research to limit the environmental impact. I did most of this with the vet in my corner.

He was from the day we brought him home:

Placed on good quality food. Designed to help a growing large breed puppy. (I am wishy washy on food, while I believe that a good food helps, I also believe in using what works for your dog, and not the rhetoric that is placed on "this food is good and this food is bad";) make your own judgment.

He was kept lean under vet supervision, still is. I have an almost 4 year old male that weights roughly 68-78 lbs, depending on the time of year and exercise. His average most of the time is 74.

When he was little we did no hard activity, running, playing, walking, jumping on any hard surface. He was on grass/dirt for those until he was about 6 months old. If we had to do any hard surfaces, it was at a walk or very controlled.

No chasing anything on slippery floors, ie: tile, wood.

Glucosomine and chondrotine started at 3 months. Still given daily. Vet can help you with dosages.

Swimming is suppose to help more with HD than any other exercise.

I think you will do just fine and so will your baby. I wish you luck, ohh and we adore pictures around here, and yes that is a heavy hint to post some!

GloriaGM

It appears she has mild hip dysplasia in her left hip. Could this be genetic or could it be from walking on hardwood floors?

HD is genetic but is polygenic, meaning that it's not just one gene that contributes, otherwise we'd have figured it out and prevented it by now.  Some physical activities and diet can make it worse but it is generally accepted that a dog either has HD or not based on genetics, and the diet, physical activities, and physical condition of the dog can contribute to how much it effects the dog.

At this point, I would use an appropriate diet, keep the dog lean, don't over-restrict exercise (they need the muscles to help keep things in their proper place) but don't over-do it either.  I would x-ray the dog at a year, and then again at 2 years since GSDs really take 2+ years to physically mature.  Also make sure you have someone qualified doing and reading the x-rays, like a veterinary radiologist.  Most regular vets do not know how to correctly position hip x-rays and I've seen many that are so bad you can't even tell either way if the dog has HD.

Many with mild HD live well into their teens and do not show outward signs.