Hip_Shot_Hanna

Torque injured himself about ten days ago. I wasn't home, but DH heard him cry out, and went to see what was wrong. Found him in our 1/10 mile long completely fenced in driveway carrying his right hind leg. There's nothing in that driveway but a few trees on one side.

We sort of pieced together a theory that Torque was playing with our Pyrenees cross on the other side of the fence, wheeled around and smacked his knee on one of the trees. There is a small area where the hair has been knocked off there.

No swelling, no heat, no additional crying so we played a wait and see on this for a while. He is using the leg now, but not fully - so I decided maybe a trip to vet was in order. The vet asked me some questions, and decided to x-ray not only his knee but his hips.

The knee shows no damage, probably just bruised very badly, rest for two more week and an anti-inflammatory once a day.

But his hips.. the vet said that it seems pretty likely he has hip dysplasia... shallow sockets, thickened "neck" on the joint.

I've noticed Torque never stretches out those back legs while standing.. they are always straight under him, and that his hind legs are straighter than they should be. I've tried to "stack" him - and he just doesn't cooperate at all, I've never once been able to stack him, he won't stand that way.

We'll be taking him back when he's older (18 months to 2 years) for the vet to do a much better x-ray with sedation.

Hopefully, we'll have relatively good news when we get those results. At the moment, Torque doesn't seem bothered by his hips.

I'm not going to borrow trouble, but wait to see what we learn later on. On a positive note, the vet looked at him and said "You are a big boy for eight months! (Torque weighs 77 pounds right now) He also said Torque is in perfect condition and smiled when he said it while running a hand over that sleek shiny coat. AND he said he is beautiful

I go to a multiple vet clinic. I don't always see this vet, so it's his first time to meet Torque. He's an excellent vet with a real heart for animals that is evident, so I think I'm going to start making our appts with him specifically. I've known him for years, but for most of our pets appointments, things are pretty routine and mundane, so haven't asked for him. I think with Torque it will be better for him to have one vet that knows him.

Anyway, I've rambled on and on, just to say that it looks pretty certain that Torque has dysplasia. I saw the X-rays myself, and yeah, those sockets look shallower than they should - I came home to look it all up online and the pictures of normal sockets don't look like my sweet Torque's.

Luvbirds59

Sorry you didn't get better news.....I do think that there is surgery available, and I think you have to do it when they are young....I hope the 4 DT vets chime in here ASAP, they could tell you the options and if you should go to a specialist.

Carol & Petey!
ox

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Dobemom2b

I am sorry to hear that he may have hip problems, it seems that more do now than should for a breed not really considered high risk. I know all large dogs can have hip issues but the ofa stats for dobes is pretty good compared to some other large breeds.

I worry about Lestats for some of the same reasons you have listed. He keeps his legs under him imo more than he should. (several other signs that worry me that I wont go into) I have the same problems getting him into a stack, it's as if it's an unnatural position and he is uncomfortable and pulls them back under him. His knees also pop loud enough to hear or at least it sounds like its coming from the knees. When he was 5mths old, the vet suggested xraying his hips at 6mths but it was given as "the only way to know for sure is to x-ray". His breeder told me to wait till a yr, which will be next month. I have been trying to budget to have the funds then. Since his front elbows pop regularly and he recently went through a day of limping till the back knee popped, he needs everything x-rayed. His breeder thinks I am just too picky but is seeing some of what i have said in photos now.

Best wishes to you both, I have to wonder whether it's becoming a more common problem or just that with access to more info now we are becoming more aware of how many are never submitted to ofa because of obvious problems.

Lexxsmom

I'm so sorry to hear about this. Atleast you found out young and you can start to deal with it now ( drugs etc). Atleast his knee wasn't really badly hurt!

As for lestat, if his joints are popping he definitely needs xrays and you definitely aren't being "too picky". My horse has a popping stifle due to weight issues, and man, its GROSS. I can't imagine what I'd do if Lexx's joints popped!

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robinb

OFA hip stats for dobes are good. What you have to take into account is the good breeders do X-ray through OFA. I highly doubt there is a uptick in hip problems among those breeders. My guess is most of the problems are from dogs outside of the OFA or Pennhip database.

I'm sorry to hear about Torque. Best of luck.

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Lexxsmom

in your opinion, what are the chances of a pup coming from two OFA rated good and excellent parents having HD?

I ask cause i'm a bit worried about Lexx's movement, but his parents were both OFA rated?

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Dragon Slaying Dobermans Incorporated, member #001, President.
" I don't need to sit for the cookie, I hunt dragons all day dammit!"
Lexxington's blog: http://lexxslife.blogspot.com/

dobebug

a puppy who is the offspring of parents rated good & excellent could generally be expected to have acceptable hips (ofa rated either fair, good or excellent). it is possible for such a dog to have bad hips--but most of the bad hips we see in the clinic where i work come from dogs whose parents were not tested so no one had a clue what to expect.

occasionally you can get a doberman from tested lines who's hips can't pass ofa--i know of one where ofa wrote a report on the reason the hips didn't pass & suggested that the dog had sustained a whelping box injury when it was very small which damaged both acetabulum.

but x-rays are the only way to determine for certain what the hip structure looks like. or penn-hipp but i really have a problem with penn hipp because of how the hips are rated and the fact that the data base is still so small.

robinb

OFA: Hip Dysplasia Breeder Guidelines

Here is a link to OFA's Breeder Guidelines re hips and the rating system.

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Murreydobe

You need to take the entire close family group into consideration when you try to evaluate hip health...grandparents, littermates to the parents, etc.

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MaryAndDobes

One of the girls from our fourth litter is currently on the disabled list with a similar injury - she severely strained/sprained a hip. She gets so excited when she sees/hears a squirrel that she just flies off of her owners' deck, never mind the stairs. Just sails right over them. They thought her injury was a cruciate at first but it turned out to be the hip strain although her hip conformation is said to look ok.

She is essentially undergoing the same treatment as Torque - rest and an NSAID. *And* her owners are putting a gate in at the stair way so she has to wait and be led down the stairs.