GSD showing first signs of hip problems, any advise?
I am looking after a GSD and he very occasionally has painful hips. He is a very active dog and loves to explore and run a little when on walks. He is just about to turn 5 I believe. Can anyone recommend any suppliments, or exercise programs to minimise his pain.
Thanks for the advise so far.
I am just looking after him for 6 months, he is not mine.
At the moment he only shows pain every 2 weeks or so. If he gets any worse I will take him for x-rays. Does anyone know how much these may cost in the south-west of england?
Mark G - Do YMCA's really allow dogs in their pools!?!
He is about 43Kg, but most definatly not over weight. He is very fit and trim. sorry to keep adding stuff.
Glucosamine/chondroitin tablet supplements, as several people have suggested, are a good idea, particularly since he's just starting to have problems. They help more in the long-term though. There are dog supplements you can buy from your vet, or you could ring your vet and ask for a suitable dose and see if it's cheaper at a human health store.
You're doing the right thing by keeping him active. If he's at all overweight then losing the weight is one of the things that makes the most difference. Hydrotherapy is also really good for dogs with joint problems, I've seen fantastic results with long-term programs. If you're in the UK then http://www.k9hydrotherapy.co.uk/ has a list of centres, but it is perhaps something his owners should be doing as it can be expensive.
Although he's not your dog you could maybe advise the owners to have him assessed by a vet. This would mean he can be prescribed some painkillers to take on his bad days (which is probably the best thing to do).
X-rays are a good idea to determine how bad his hip dysplasia is, but the painkillers will be decided by how painful he seems rather than an x-ray picture. X-rays would be helpful if the owners are willing to think about surgical options like hip replacements (he is a young dog after all).
There's also a new treatment that sometimes works, it's a course of injections called Cartrophen and is good for arthritis. I'm not sure how well it works for hip dysplasia but it could be worth trying.
Good luck with him!
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