I had my beautiful 19 month old GSD speyed yesterday, and at the same time had her hips x-rayed. I was devastated to find out that she has very bad hip dysplasia and arthritis, although she hasn't been showing any outward signs.
I bought from a reputable breeder recommended on this site, and it is another blow as she already had to have major heart surgery at 10 months. I've always been very careful with her exercise from a pup, she's never used stairs or jumped in & out of a vehicle. Can anyone recommend anything which will help her later on in life.

So sorry to hear about your bitch. I'm lucky enough not to have much experience of HD, so can't help much.
Why don't you join, then you can discuss her problems more fully on the health board here?

Hi,

I'm really sorry to hear about your bitch.

This may seem like a silly question, but is your vet competent at taking hip x-rays?  It may be worth getting a second opinion.

I own and breed GSD's so if you want to chat, or if you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me.  If I can't help, I'm sure one of my 'GSD' friends can!  (Just click on my name if you want to get in touch)

Take care, and best of luck

Lisa

Hi
I do know how devastated you feel. My last GSD had terrible hips and eventually had both replaced. Depending on how your dog goes on, she may manage well on Non-steroidal medication - Metacam, Rimadyl, or similar.

Best type of exercise is little and often, rather than marathon runs and walks. Swimming is superb exercise. I understand that quite often a dog can have quite serious HD and never really show any significant clinical signs (crying when rising, stiffness, reluctance to walk etc) Has she shown any signs at all (does she sway, bunny hop?).

Are you planning on getting her x-rays hip scored? This may give you a good indication of how bad it is, compared to the breed mean average. It would also be good to be able to tell the breeder how she scored.

Reputable breeders and good hip history is no guarantee of good hips, so we all take our chances, the breeder is not to blame uness they are aware that the particular mating has produced poor hips before, and that's exactly why you should let the breeder know (without recrimination). The best we can do is go for a good history and hope!

On a more positive note, If I could have my old girl back, I would do it all again in a heartbeat. She was wonderful. I think her problems actually created a deep special bond between us.

If you want any more info on my experiences, you can personally e-mail me. Click on my name. My vet has referred a couple of people to talk to me, so that they can speak to someone who's 'been there and done that'.

I wish you both well

Kat

Thanks for message Kat, I have now joined so I am able to reply.  Sasha has not showed any visible signs yet, I had her hips x-rayed whilst she was under anaestetic with her spey
operation just really out of curiosity. She swims regular, loves the water. She was also born with a hole in her heart poor love and had to have a plug fitted when she was 10 months. Key-hole surgery done through her groin. I love her to bits and she is really special. I have informed the breeders about her hips and heart complaint. Not really interested though, they said I could take her back and have another pup!!!!!!!!!! not what I wanted to hear.
Sue

Hi Sue
Welcome to the board. Are you going to send off Sasha's x-rays to be hip scored? The swimming will be great for her. There's an earlier post from a lady whose border collie has got a high hip score, and some interesting replies on there which are quite reassuring.

You have been unlucky with the heart problem too, and it's a bit of a worry that the breeder didn't seem interested. That's how hereditary defects continue, if this kind of feedback to them is ignored. Is she a standard or longcoat (my old GSD and my new girl are longcoats).

Just enjoy your dog, and let her live a normal life and particularly focus on things like swimming. It could be that her hips never cause a problem to her. My philosophy with my old GSD was to make every day count for her, and I believe I lived up to my promise to her. In the end her hips weren't the problem.

Hope to see you posting on the board again.

Kat

Hi Kat

Thanks for your support. The vet didn't send the x-rays off for hip score, he showed them to me and pointed out where things were wrong and where the arthritis is. I don't think I want to know the exact hip score as if it were really bad I think I would molly coddle her too much. I'm just going to give her the best possible life, she is adorable and loves going out and meeting people.  I took her on holiday to a cottage in Wales and after one day everybody in the village knew about Sasha because of her constant
swimming in the river, in fact she went everywhere with me. As I see it she might as well lead a short good quality life, as opposed to a miserable existance doing nothing. She is a long coated Shepherd, very pretty, where did you have your dogs from if you don't mind me asking? When I told the beeders about her heart complaint at 10 months, they told me to take her back and have another puppy. What would THEY have done with her, I think I know.
Her heart op and tests has so far cost £3,950 and will continue to cost for scans for the rest of her life. I am a Widow and she is more than my best mate.
By the way does your long coated dog prefer a cool room to one that's heated, Sasha soons starts panting and will go in the garden for a while, even with no heat.
Sue

Guests cannot see our profiles Lisa so this guest cannot get in touch with you.

Best wishes, John

Thanks John,

I didn't know that.

The guest has been able to contact me anyway, somehow, but I'll keep it in mind.

Thanks again

take care
Lisa

Hi guest
in your opening post you say you were recommended to this breeder by this site.I just wanted to ask if someone on the board actually recommended them or did you just get the info from the general site...if it was the latter I just wanted to point out that anyone can put ads on this board...it is not a recommendation.
Sorry about your bitch...hope things work out
Archer