Dog Community

How to tell if a dog has HD..

Posted : 6/18/2006 12:01:46 PM

I am so worried that my 4 months old sheep dog has hip dsyplacer..
My old sheep dog (cross) as a pup, use to walk cross legged, when he was about 9 months i noticed he was limping and give a cry now and then.
   I took him to the vet, to reveal HD... I couldn't take him for a walk in the end, he was in angony! plus tired out, plus on pain killers..

I am just worried, that my new pup has got the same, she can be a bit clumsy on her back legs, plus is tired when she comes back from a walk. I noticed sometimes she skips when she run's, (i read once that dogs with HD have a Rolling Gate! is this it)
   My vet says they can't check untill she's at least a year, so i am supposed to wait and see..
   Is there any early sign's to look out for?

Please help, Lance..

forpaws

Posted : 6/18/2006 8:48:39 PM

No rolling gate is a sure way of telling your pup may have HD.If my memory serves me Beau was diagnosed with it at about a year old because his chest was so barrelled and his hips very narrow. I noticed decreased activity and muscle reduction in his back right leg.At 16 weeks old, that is too young in my opinion. Just my uneducated guess.

Katie M.

Posted : 6/18/2006 10:40:36 PM

Old timers say that they will "bunny hop" when they run, which may be like the skip you describe. But it could easily be a pup with no muscle in a clumsy stage. Is this pup related to the old one? (Just because you said sheepdog, I thought it good to ask). I had an AmStaff who was diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia at 8 mos of age. He hurt his knee (tore his ACL) and while he was under we checked his hips. You may not have to wait until he's a year if his condition worsens.

Lance Reed

Posted : 6/19/2006 2:01:28 PM

Thanks for your reply's!
My new sheep dog is no blood line to my old one, i am just worried its going to happen again....
Can anybody explain what rolling gate actually is?
And can you tell me more about the 'bunny hop' that was mentioned?
many thanks Lance..

Katie M.

Posted : 6/19/2006 8:24:49 PM

The bunny hop is basically when they are running and instead of a reaching stride, they hop in the rear with their hind legs close together. This isn't a guarantee, but that's what the "old timers" have been watching for 40-50 yrs. [8|]

forpaws

Posted : 6/20/2006 12:20:30 PM

Can anybody explain what rolling gate actually is?

Have you ever watched a cat stroll by or a big cat on TV walk? It looks like a fluid movement where the shoulder and hip joints jaunt out. That is the best way I can explain it to you.
Another symptom of HD I found is the dog tends to sit directly on his bum with legs splayed out or favor's one side to sit on. Although that also is not a sure fire way either since, Dilly sits flat on his bum b/c he was hand raised by me and does not know the proper way of sitting like a dog normaly does. Goober boy!
Something that may alarm you to something not being right, is if the dog is in their belly at rest and their hips flank out too far. That would be an indicator of something not right. Could be HD or just arthritis etc.

Lance Reed

Posted : 6/20/2006 5:41:55 PM

Thanks for the reply's! i do appriecate them.....

rredbird

Posted : 6/21/2006 10:48:19 AM

If you are really worried and he has not been neutered yet, have the vet do the hip x-rays when you have him neutered. It will not be a definitive diagnoses due to age but they can tell if a problem may exist. It will ease your mind if they do not see anything and save money since he will alreadybe under for the neuter surgery.