Large Dog With Hip Dysplasia

My son & his GF are in visiting from out of state . The GF has a lab/rottie cross female dog with hip problems . The dog is about 2 years old & hasn't been treated . From what little I've read about the condition vitamin c probably should have been given . Anyone know what can be given at this stage that will help ? Thanks in advance .

[oregon woodsmok]

There are a couple of different surgeries that work really well.

I'd consult an orthopedic specialist veterinarian.

[SpaceCadet12364]

If memory serves, we gave our Great Dane that had hip issues buffered aspirin for the pain. Of course, with his size, it was a full tablet. Has to be the buffered variety though. I forget why the vet specified that.

[SFM in KY]

If the dog is obviously in difficulty this young, it is likely severe and it's not likely that much can be done other than surgery. MSM is something I've given older dogs that are starting to have difficulty with dysplasia but that is not something that will really help long term.

Accurate diagnosis needs to be made with X rays and a vet give them a better idea what can or should be done.

[chickenslayer]

We have used alleve, a tablet a day did wonders for the dog.

[SFM in KY]

Check with a vet before giving any over the counter pain relievers to dogs. Many are toxic for dogs, even in reduced dosage, including ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin), naproxen (Aleve), or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Even a child's dose can be fatal. These pain relievers can cause severe, even fatal, stomach ulcers and kidney damage in dogs.

[bluefish]

My dog started showing signs at 3. She had it pretty bad, couldn't jump on the bed or couch and she'd be stove up for several days if she chased anything or fetched. I started her on vit. C to tolerance and a raw food diet. There was a VAST improvement in 2 weeks! The dog is now 12 1/2. We also made sure to always lift her in the truck, limit hard excersise, etc., and put her on glucosamine, but the vit C and raw food were the biggest factors. Even now she is not on a regular pain reliever, only on days when she overdoes it and hurts.

[Minelson]

Originally Posted by chickenslayer

We have used alleve, a tablet a day did wonders for the dog.

Aleve is toxic to dogs!
Here is a list of poisons for dogs
http://www.dog-health-guide.org/dogpoisoning.html

[chickenslayer]

Originally Posted by Minelson

Aleve is toxic to dogs!
Here is a list of poisons for dogs
http://www.dog-health-guide.org/dogpoisoning.html

I don't think so, we gave our Akita a pill a day for 4 years before we finally had to put him down.Our vet recommended it btw

[Minelson]

Originally Posted by chickenslayer

I don't think so, we gave our Akita a pill a day for 4 years before we finally had to put him down.Our vet recommended it btw

I have fed my dog (Shep) grapes for a few years before I found out they were toxic to dogs. Then I stopped. Nothing bad ever happened except for one time he got the runs I thought cuz I fed him too many. He lived to just short of 18. Even though they didn't hurt him at all I still won't feed grapes to dogs again. All dogs are different..like people! And all vets are different...the Vet where I work would never suggest Aleve. Reg or baby aspirin only...or one of the many RX available for pain for dogs.

[illinoisguy]

My big german shepherd was diagnosed at one year old. The vet has given him 6 years maybe 7. He is huge and loves my kids and looks at himself as one of the family. But, according to the vet, there are not a lot of options. I will try the vitamin C thing though.

[SpaceCadet12364]

Originally Posted by SFM in KY

Check with a vet before giving any over the counter pain relievers to dogs. Many are toxic for dogs, even in reduced dosage, including ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin), naproxen (Aleve), or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Even a child's dose can be fatal. These pain relievers can cause severe, even fatal, stomach ulcers and kidney damage in dogs.

That might be the reason why the vet told us only the buffered aspirins

[Lizza]

They make dog aspirin but the buffered works too.

Our Saint Bernard was around one when we went to see the surgeon. We were going to get her surgery when she got a little older but then the economy went off a cliff and we just weren't able to afford it. I bought the doggie aspirin for a long time but then I looked at her diet. I tried looking at doing a raw diet but it just seemed like too much work, so I switched to Diamond's, no wheat, no corn, no soy, Beef dog food (at the feed store) and honestly she is 95% improved. I sometimes switch to either the Diamond Lamb or the Kirkland (Costco) food but she starts degrading on any food besides Diamond Beef. I don't do any aspirin at all anymore. I am sure she would do really good on a raw diet if I can ever figure out an easy way to do it. Diet seems to play a huge roll in hip dysplasia. She just turned 5 by the way.

[Maura]

I would switch to a raw diet. If they won't do this, then start getting her raw bones to chew on. Bones have everything needed to grow bones. The chewing also releases endorphines, which help to make her feel better. A vitamin C supplement wouldn't hurt, but I don't know how much to give. If they are rolling in money, they can also get a dog cart from here: www.grahamcarriageworks.com The owner says that beauvier des flanders owners use these with their dogs to help with hip dysplasia.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

My springer got an asprin a day for several years for hip pain. The vet said the asprin would cause health problems and tried to sell some high dollar drug, we declined his offer.

[emdeengee]

Hip dysplasia is a chronic and hereditary malformation. It is excruciatingly painful. The only cure is surgery. To alleviate pain for arthritis and hip dysplasia Elk Antler Velvet really does work. It does not cure the problem, just makes it less painful.

[mekasmom]

Originally Posted by emdeengee

Hip dysplasia is a chronic and hereditary malformation. It is excruciatingly painful. The only cure is surgery. To alleviate pain for arthritis and hip dysplasia Elk Antler Velvet really does work. It does not cure the problem, just makes it less painful.

Surgery doesn't "cure" it. It just relocates the hip better or replaces it. It is not a cure. And it should be a last resort, not a first choice, IMO because it is so painful and invasive. Plus the repair only lasts a few years, it's not a lifetime hip like God makes. I saw too many dogs having hip and knee surgeries at the vet's office that still had to be on painkillers, and had the same issue recur five years later. It is just not a cure.

I would give the dog aspirin. If the dog is old, and lifespan isn't going to be affected then I would do the ibuprofen. But if will cause kidney stones, and eventual crystals, so you don't do it in a young dog. It's one of those last resort things too.
Vets can give you a script for carpofen which is similar or even torodol or tramadol which works on the brain itself to prevent pain.

[GoatsRus]

Your vet can give the dog a pain pill and a glyco-flex shot. We had a chow with severe hip dysplasia since she was 6 month old. A neighbor recommended their vet as their dog had the same thing. BTW, our dog lived to 14 years old before the medication stopped working for her. She was NOT a candidate for surgery because she also had bad knees. The surgery almost 18 years ago would have been more than $2,000 a hip. After finding out she could not withstand the surgery (yes we were going to do it), we started her on Glyco-Flex 600. This is for Dogs. Please google it and they can buy it online. We used this medication for the 14 years of her life. At times we added a Bute tablet if she seemed to be in more pain. The original shot from the vet jump started the process, but the pills carried her for her life.

[edmonds]

The joint meds for dogs should help. They contain glucosamine, chrondroitin, MSM, and vitamin C.

[SolarGary]

Hi,
Our Golden had elbow dysplasia as a puppy -- similar to hip dysplasia, but on the front leg. It was hereditary.

She had the surgery when she was still a puppy and it helped a LOT. She still has a bit of an odd walk, but she loves running, walking, jumping... Its only the humans who notice the odd walk -- she could care less

I guess everyone has to make up their own mind about the surgery, but it certainly worked for us.

As she has aged (going on 11 now), the joint gives her a bit of pain, and the vet has us give her one Etodolac a day -- this is a cheap human drug that has been found to work well in dogs. She has been on it for a couple years and has no problems with it.

Gary