My Rottweiler has Hip Dysplasia
Discussion
Following a post in the dog picture thread I thought some may find the info about Hip Dysplasia helpful.
It affects quite a number of breeds these days but you can find out what the possibility of your next pedigree puppy getting it if you know the Kennel Club names of the mum and dad which are on the pedigree chart. Use the link to start.
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/health-tes...
The screenshots below are taken from Max's parents. Had I known about this health checker I would not have bought from this breeder as there are Rotties and other susceptible breeds - Retrievers, Shepherds etc - that do not have hip dysplasia. I did not do my research properly before buying.
His mum's health checker:
As you can see she has hip scores of 5 a side. The current limit, set by the British Veterinary Association, is 7 a side for Rotties but it is coming down slowly. The Estimated Breeding Value for hips should be a minus score but as you can see, she is +20.
His dad's health checker:
Max's dad is a well known dog from a large kennel. His EBV is +5 so between mum and dad there was every likelihood he would get hip dysplasia. And he has. These X rays were taken at 10 months following my own diagnosis. His reluctance to jump up and sometimes difficulty getting up plus his wobbly gait and slightly turned in back legs were pointers.
This picture shows what Hip Dysplasia looks like:
He will never be a show dog as he also has an overshot jaw but he has a great temperament. We wouldn't be without him.
It affects quite a number of breeds these days but you can find out what the possibility of your next pedigree puppy getting it if you know the Kennel Club names of the mum and dad which are on the pedigree chart. Use the link to start.
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/health-tes...
The screenshots below are taken from Max's parents. Had I known about this health checker I would not have bought from this breeder as there are Rotties and other susceptible breeds - Retrievers, Shepherds etc - that do not have hip dysplasia. I did not do my research properly before buying.
His mum's health checker:
As you can see she has hip scores of 5 a side. The current limit, set by the British Veterinary Association, is 7 a side for Rotties but it is coming down slowly. The Estimated Breeding Value for hips should be a minus score but as you can see, she is +20.
His dad's health checker:
Max's dad is a well known dog from a large kennel. His EBV is +5 so between mum and dad there was every likelihood he would get hip dysplasia. And he has. These X rays were taken at 10 months following my own diagnosis. His reluctance to jump up and sometimes difficulty getting up plus his wobbly gait and slightly turned in back legs were pointers.
This picture shows what Hip Dysplasia looks like:
He will never be a show dog as he also has an overshot jaw but he has a great temperament. We wouldn't be without him.
Vinnie is our 18-month-old working cocker...does not actually work more free-loads for everything.
We noticed him limping a bit at the back so a trip to the vets followed quite quickly by an x-ray to rule out break. Two days later he was taken to Leeds for a CT scan.
A week after all results are in, a meeting with the vets confirmed he has hip dysplasia in the rear and mild arthritis in the front. To say this came as a shock was an understatement.
Vinnie is having a once a month injection it is not a cure just keeps him pain free and happy, he is back out walking, building up slow to start with increasing by 5 minutes each week, no playing fetch with his beloved ball though, coming to a halt so quick will do him no favours.
Like every quick-thinking spaniel, he has a new hobby collecting bottles.
We noticed him limping a bit at the back so a trip to the vets followed quite quickly by an x-ray to rule out break. Two days later he was taken to Leeds for a CT scan.
A week after all results are in, a meeting with the vets confirmed he has hip dysplasia in the rear and mild arthritis in the front. To say this came as a shock was an understatement.
Vinnie is having a once a month injection it is not a cure just keeps him pain free and happy, he is back out walking, building up slow to start with increasing by 5 minutes each week, no playing fetch with his beloved ball though, coming to a halt so quick will do him no favours.
Like every quick-thinking spaniel, he has a new hobby collecting bottles.
Not Morley Veterinary Hospital by any chance? That's our vet.
Stopping quickly chasing sticks probably helped shorten my old Bull Terrier's lifespan as arthritis set in and finished her off by 8 years old.
Our previous vet practice told us Max would be manageable based on those X-rays after consultation with an expert at Wetherby Animal Hospital where they have a swimming pool and other expensive treatments. After moving to the Morley vet we got a copy of Max's medical history and the notes say his hip dysplasia is manageable for now. So we expect he will need treatment sometime in the future.
If only we had seen the Kennel Club's health checker....
If Vinnie does not need an operation immediately then that must be good news (of sorts). He can still have an active happy life collecting bottles....
Stopping quickly chasing sticks probably helped shorten my old Bull Terrier's lifespan as arthritis set in and finished her off by 8 years old.
Our previous vet practice told us Max would be manageable based on those X-rays after consultation with an expert at Wetherby Animal Hospital where they have a swimming pool and other expensive treatments. After moving to the Morley vet we got a copy of Max's medical history and the notes say his hip dysplasia is manageable for now. So we expect he will need treatment sometime in the future.
If only we had seen the Kennel Club's health checker....
If Vinnie does not need an operation immediately then that must be good news (of sorts). He can still have an active happy life collecting bottles....
Viper201 said:
Not Morley Veterinary Hospital by any chance? That's our vet.
Stopping quickly chasing sticks probably helped shorten my old Bull Terrier's lifespan as arthritis set in and finished her off by 8 years old.
Our previous vet practice told us Max would be manageable based on those X-rays after consultation with an expert at Wetherby Animal Hospital where they have a swimming pool and other expensive treatments. After moving to the Morley vet we got a copy of Max's medical history and the notes say his hip dysplasia is manageable for now. So we expect he will need treatment sometime in the future.
If only we had seen the Kennel Club's health checker....
If Vinnie does not need an operation immediately then that must be good news (of sorts). He can still have an active happy life collecting bottles....
sorry not leeds near doncaster beechwood vets.Stopping quickly chasing sticks probably helped shorten my old Bull Terrier's lifespan as arthritis set in and finished her off by 8 years old.
Our previous vet practice told us Max would be manageable based on those X-rays after consultation with an expert at Wetherby Animal Hospital where they have a swimming pool and other expensive treatments. After moving to the Morley vet we got a copy of Max's medical history and the notes say his hip dysplasia is manageable for now. So we expect he will need treatment sometime in the future.
If only we had seen the Kennel Club's health checker....
If Vinnie does not need an operation immediately then that must be good news (of sorts). He can still have an active happy life collecting bottles....
no mention of futre operations needed so fingers crossed on that score we will cross that bridge as and when.
he has had his first injection of librela about 3 weeks ago which looks to be helping him with pain he might have had.
i am hoping the watching his every move gets better with time and we can get back to enjoying walks as normal, head down 100mph crashing through bushes chasing anything thats flying but for now its cotton wool treatment.
One of our Standard Poodles was diagnosed with hip dysplasia aged 2 or 3. She is now 10. Still active. Managed by stopping ball throwing and not encouraging too much running. Though short straight line runs don't seem to cause issues. Twist and turning dies. On Meloxidil and Gabapentin.
When she is out walking she enjoys hunting for mice in long grass a nice low impact sport.
Early on she was x-rayed two or three times over a period of time to see what was happening but latterly just painkillers and the occasional blood test to make sure the drugs are not causing any issues.
The vet says it helps that she is the correct weight. Never been an issue luckily she eats what she wants and never puts weight on. Not a huge appetite like some dogs.
Walked 9 miles or so over the hills to this spot on Rum last June
When she is out walking she enjoys hunting for mice in long grass a nice low impact sport.
Early on she was x-rayed two or three times over a period of time to see what was happening but latterly just painkillers and the occasional blood test to make sure the drugs are not causing any issues.
The vet says it helps that she is the correct weight. Never been an issue luckily she eats what she wants and never puts weight on. Not a huge appetite like some dogs.
Walked 9 miles or so over the hills to this spot on Rum last June
Edited by irc on Wednesday 26th July 20:52
Its amazing just how many breeds get hip dysplasia these days. Weight is a big factor and you do see a lot of heavy Rotties. The fairly common exaggerated claim of 'my dog weighs 10 stone' as though it is some badge of honour when in fact its harming the dog. And many dogs weight increases after neutering which can be a problem.
People who are overweight and waiting for a hip operation are often told to lose weight before the op is done. So really a similar situation for dogs.
People who are overweight and waiting for a hip operation are often told to lose weight before the op is done. So really a similar situation for dogs.
Yesterday I had to send off the video collection we have kept of how Vinnie has got on after his initial injection. From first week of him having it to fourth week, he goes for second one tomorrow.
The difference is amazing even though we are with him each day just looking back on how he was to where he is at now. From walking on a lead around the garden to now having a cheeky 5 minutes stretching his legs off lead after a half hour walk.
The vet is so pleased with him we can now ramp his walks up again, at first knock back the time to fifteen minutes three times a day just to see how he copes for the next month slowly build the time back up.
The only difference now is when we are out, he has no ball to chase, I really do think this has helped so much.
The difference is amazing even though we are with him each day just looking back on how he was to where he is at now. From walking on a lead around the garden to now having a cheeky 5 minutes stretching his legs off lead after a half hour walk.
The vet is so pleased with him we can now ramp his walks up again, at first knock back the time to fifteen minutes three times a day just to see how he copes for the next month slowly build the time back up.
The only difference now is when we are out, he has no ball to chase, I really do think this has helped so much.
It is good news, when he was first diagnosed with hip dysplasia it was such a shock, he is only a pup this should not be happening to him.
The way spaniels tear around I could have understood broken limbs chunks missing and with all the bangs on the head he inflicts upon himself some kind of dementia later in life but this was unfair.
We are not fooling ourselves I am sure it will rear its ugly head again sometime in the future but for now we can get back to enjoying time with him outdoors again.
Something I do need to think about how I inform the breeder both his vets have said I should as a precaution. Now things have settled down I need to make this call…I think/hope he will be as stunned as we are he still keeps in touch he still asks for photos and updates on how vin is getting on.
The way spaniels tear around I could have understood broken limbs chunks missing and with all the bangs on the head he inflicts upon himself some kind of dementia later in life but this was unfair.
We are not fooling ourselves I am sure it will rear its ugly head again sometime in the future but for now we can get back to enjoying time with him outdoors again.
Something I do need to think about how I inform the breeder both his vets have said I should as a precaution. Now things have settled down I need to make this call…I think/hope he will be as stunned as we are he still keeps in touch he still asks for photos and updates on how vin is getting on.
Hopefully he is a responsible breeder who will take it onboard and who really should have checked the hip scores at the Kennel Club's health checker.
Unfortunately our breeder was just in it for the money so not interested claiming he wont breed from the same b
h as they were only letting her have one litter. We live and learn.
Unfortunately our breeder was just in it for the money so not interested claiming he wont breed from the same b
h as they were only letting her have one litter. We live and learn.Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff