My German Shepherd has grown quite quickly into a large dog, even the vets said he was always big for his age. He is now 1yr old and has always been overly excitelable, and has managed to run into a few doors etc as he grew up. I recently took him to the vets as we could hear a cracking noise when he gave you his paw or when he was walking, although this does not slow him down or seem to bother him. I had all his legs x-rayed (£250) they said his front legs were fine,no problems on the x-ray, but that he did have  hip dysplasia. A few weeks later,(still with cracking legs) I took him back with a limp in the same front leg and this time  a different vet from the same practice could hear the cracking sound and  re-checked the x-ray and thought they could see some loose bone or cartlidge in the elbow joints on both front legs, and said they could probably be able to sort the problem with a small operation, but to be sure they would need another x-ray from a different angle. Has anyone got any ideas or any information regarding this condition, or is it just that I have been walking him too far much too early and for too long

Hi Pammy

You dont say how long or how much you have exercised your boy while he is still a baby but if youve overdone it you may have put too much strain on his joints whilst he is still growing.
I really wouldnt worry too much about the cracking or popping noise, this could be anything, it could be a bit of gas inside a joint, a loose joint or a ligament.

My little bitch was diagnosed with a slipping patella and she had this noise also, on research into the noise I find it can appear in lots and lots of situations and the noise doesnt necessarily mean its a bad sign.

If all you are worried about is the noise then id just leave it and see how your boy goes, if he is lame there is obviously something wrong but as you say he is only 1yr old and still a baby and therefore still growing.
If you vet "thought" he "may" have a loose piece of bone floating around I would want to be a bit more sure of that before I let them knock him out and operate on him.
In fact at this age I would really steer away from any Op's at all unless it is really needed!  He is still growing and changing and in my opinion you could do more damage than good.

Has your vet referred you to a specialist yet?  If not I would be asking them to do this.

Also on Hip dysplasia a friend of mines dog was diagnosed iwth this at an early age, the vet recommended a double hip op when her growth plates were finished, however by this time she didnt need it, with careful exercise and hydrotherapy she is now absolutely fine.

If i were you Id cut the exercise down for a while, try leadwalking instead of letting him run riot and take him to a hydro pool and see if he improves. could just be a touch of Ocd/Pano etc.....

Hope that helps a bit, get referred to a specialist if youre still worried

Beth
x

Forgot to say get him on a good quality supplement of Glucosamine/choindroitin too

Thanks loads
I have already cut down his excercise and he has had a course of the tablets you mentioned. He is no longer limping but we now call him cracker, as the noise is still there. He won't stop himself running around like a mad thing any chance he gets though.

Anyway thanks for your help.

Hi Pammy

Keep on the Glucosamine/Chondroitin for ever more. Find yourself a good source, Healthspan are good, that's where I get mine from. Other than that you just need to see how he goes. These conditions can improve somewhat with age, but may cause problems again in later life.
I am a huge fan of hydrotherapy for this type of condition, it helps build the muscle to support the joints.

I have a dysplastic GSD too, and the only chance I would have to slow him down would be to make his quality of life (and mine) utterly miserable which I am not prepared to do. I will meet any future challenge if and when necessary (my previous GSD had two hip replacements).

Good luck with him

Kat