I have a golden retriever and I have been reading the HD posts. My friend says my dog will get it because of how she sits. Can you tell if a dog will get it by how they sit? I got her from a family, just a family pet.

Thanks

No.

Regardless of what people believe they can "see" with regard to HD it is not so. A puppy "bunny hopping" even at a walking pace would indicate HD or indeed an older dog (although this could be many other problems too). How a dog sits is no indication, nor indeed how a dog moves - there are many dogs in many breeds with outstanding movement who are known to have terrible hips (either formally or informally) I had one myself! I have also had dogs with very dubious "back ends" and excellent hips. Some dysplastic dogs never suffer clinical symptoms whilst some with moderate dysplasia do. You can never tell without an X-ray and even then vets tend to blame poor(ish) hips when soft tissue damage may be the problem.

Unless your dog is lame with on apparent injury to blame leave well alone and stop worrying.

Enjoy your goldie.

SB

Hi, another no!

Christine, Spain.