Help Needed! Advice based on your experience about hip dysplasia in puppies

[adanc]

Hi guys, my name is Adan and I have an english bulldog puppy called Grace.
I've been reading your forum since I bring her home when she was 2 months old and I've learn a lot now she is 5 months old.

I live in Guatemala and I'm sorry if my english is not perfect, I will do my best to explain myself.

Grace is a parvo survivor, she got it when she was 2.5 months old even when she had her first 2 vaccines. I'm worried now that she might have hip dysplasia it started 3 days ago, sometimes I hear like her hips pop when she walks, also if I put my hand on her hips while she is walking it feels like something is wrong there, I'm planning a visit with an orthopedic next week, but I wanted to be pretty well informed with your experience and advices.

I want the best for Grace, but I don't want that the orthopedic can make an unnecessary surgery if she doesn't need it. So far this is what I've learn by reading experiences online, so I wanted to confirm with you guys what do you suggest:

1. The popping sounds in the bones might be because she is growing up, I was about to change her food to adult, so she can grow slow and without bones problems.

2. That I should wait till she is 18-24 months old to proceed with a surgery because she will stop growing at that age.

3. But I've also read that hip dysplasia can happen to 3 month old puppies and that can be severe so I need to address the issue right now.

As you can see I'm pretty confuse about how to proceed now based on the information I've read.

She doesn't show any sign of pain yet, she plays normally and she can run too without any problems.

Thanks a lot for reading me, and I will appreciate all the advices I can get from you guys.

Have a nice day!

PS. This is a photo of Grace

 

[Donnam]

Welcome to EBN! Grace is beautiful!! I don't have experience with hip displaysia but many members here have, so I expect that you will get lots of good advice. I just wanted to welcome you--and I think your English is excellent!

 

[adanc]

Thanks a lot for your kind comment Donnam.

 

[ddnene]

to EBN!!! Your explanation was perfect… I don't have any experience, but I will tag some members that do. Grace is adorable, we are so glad to have you both here at EBN!!!

 

[adanc]

Thanks ddnene looking forward to hear the advises from the members of the forum.

 

[Texas Carol]

Delighted to have you & Grace here, welcome to EBN.
Her pic just melted my heart, so beautiful! Your post
explained everything perfectly, she's a fighter for sure!
Wouldn't hurt to have a Specialist access her hips, maybe
get x-rays, do you have an experienced bully vet to see?
What food are you planning to switch her to? There will be
more experienced members on to help you, keep us updated
& would love more pics

 

[Manydogs]

 

[nycbullymama]

Welcome to the forum.

The first thing I would do is take her to an Orthopedic specialist and get her hips x-rayed. If she does have it, and there's no sign of arthritis, they can usually correct the issue surgically.

I wouldn't play the waiting game. Especially since it's something that can be corrected in very young pups.

 

[adanc]

Welcome to the forum.

The first thing I would do is take her to an Orthopedic specialist and get her hips x-rayed. If she does have it, and there's no sign of arthritis, they can usually correct the issue surgically.

I wouldn't play the waiting game. Especially since it's something that can be corrected in very young pups.

Hi, thanks for your comment, I've read that it can be corrected, have you had this problem with any of your dogs before?

I wanted to let you know that no matter what advise I will get here in the forums I'm always taking her to the orthopedic specialist next week, probably monday, I can't take her faster than that because there were no space for us in his agenda. I wanted to get more informed before my appointment because sometimes you don't know what kind of vet you will find, I don't want that he will have to diagnose something she doesn't have just for profit. I already have a vet that I trust but this is my first time with an orthopedic specialist, and I don't know if this happens in your country but at least here where I live if they see you with a Bulldog they might rip you off, and all I want is the best for Gracie.

Thanks!

 

[nycbullymama]

Hi, thanks for your comment, I've read that it can be corrected, have you had this problem with any of your dogs before?

I wanted to let you know that no matter what advise I will get here in the forums I'm always taking her to the orthopedic specialist next week, probably monday, I can't take her faster than that because there were no space for us in his agenda. I wanted to get more informed before my appointment because sometimes you don't know what kind of vet you will find, I don't want that he will have to diagnose something she doesn't have just for profit. I already have a vet that I trust but this is my first time with an orthopedic specialist, and I don't know if this happens in your country but at least here where I live if they see you with a Bulldog they might rip you off, and all I want is the best for Gracie.

Thanks!

Ask for copies of the x-rays and have your vet look them over if you're not sure about this guy.

I trust our Orthopedic vet, but we also had a radiologist look them over, a normal vet and our orthopedic vet.
Only because the x-rays were done in a veterinary hospital so many people were able to see them.
Anyway, she showed me his x-ray(he was 9 months old at the time) and another of a dog dog with perfect hips. You were able to see a slight difference if you were looking for it.
In our case, he has very mild hip dysplasia so there was no reason to do anything since he may never show symptoms.

And just for your own info. it's very common in bulldogs. More have it then don't.

 

[adanc]

Great, thanks for the info nycbullymama.

I will definitely get a copy and probably upload it here too, I pray that is nothing serious.

Keep you posted! And if anyone else has any other advice I will appreciate it.

 

[2BullyMama]

to EBN!!

My girl had very bad hips, diagnosed at around 8 mths. The vet that diagnosed told us she would not be able to walk by the time she was two. We gave supplements and kept her weight down... She played , ran and walk without issue fir 9 yrs.

At around 4 or 5 years old we did have to start giving medicine for pain and it continued for the remaining years of her life--- nothing stopped her and when she walk you could tell there was n issue but there was never any popping sounds that I remember.

Keep us posted,

 

[My Otis]

Gracie is Really Beautiful, she is such a Sweetie. Welcome to EBN

 

[adanc]

Hi, thanks for all your kind comments.

I went today with the specialist and he diagnosed Grace with a moderate hip dysplasia the problem is located in the right leg, attached is the picture of the x-rays, the specialist seems like a nice and honest guy.



He recommended a surgery to remove the head of the femur, probably next week. For the moment remove it only from the right leg, he also said that Grace will need hydrotherapy that I can provide to her so she can recover fast and also keep control of her weight. Grace has allergy to the grass pollen so we agree to give her Earthborn Ocean Fusion (adult food) to keep her weight in control and also help her with her skin (any recommendation about this earthborn formula will be much appreciate it). One more thing the specialist said was that she will have a normal life once he fixes this problem with her hips, she will be able to walk, run and play.

I have a couple of questions for the community:

1. Sadly where I live there are no affordable dog pools and they are very far away, so I'm planning to buy a pool specially for her and also a lifejacket. Do you have any suggestions about hydrotherapy on bulldogs? any recommendations will be much appreciate it.

2. Does anybody have a bulldog that went through this surgery to share their testimonials with me?


Thanks a lot guys!

 

[2BullyMama]

Hi, thanks for all your kind comments.

I went today with the specialist and he diagnosed Grace with a moderate hip dysplasia the problem is located in the right leg, attached is the picture of the x-rays, the specialist seems like a nice and honest guy.

View attachment 89984

He recommended a surgery to remove the head of the femur, probably next week. For the moment remove it only from the right leg, he also said that Grace will need hydrotherapy that I can provide to her so she can recover fast and also keep control of her weight. Grace has allergy to the grass pollen so we agree to give her Earthborn Ocean Fusion (adult food) to keep her weight in control and also help her with her skin (any recommendation about this earthborn formula will be much appreciate it). One more thing the specialist said was that she will have a normal life once he fixes this problem with her hips, she will be able to walk, run and play.

I have a couple of questions for the community:

1. Sadly where I live there are no affordable dog pools and they are very far away, so I'm planning to buy a pool specially for her and also a lifejacket. Do you have any suggestions about hydrotherapy on bulldogs? any recommendations will be much appreciate it.

2. Does anybody have a bulldog that went through this surgery to share their testimonials with me?


Thanks a lot guys!

I have no experience with the surgery or water therapy... i wish you the best and send lots of prayers for a successful procedure and speedy recovery