What is hipscoring? And how do you do this or who does that? Is it some how related to genetic problems in large breed dogs? I have  GSD and have heard that this breed may have some problems with hips and elbows. I did ask my vet to check iher hips and elbows twice, and she did, and she said my dog was fine. But I never got to the point to ask the vet what "fine" means? And how do I know she is fine?
Thanks, Alina D.

Vets can't hip score, if your dog is KC registered then you can have her scored if you wish. You take her to a vet to have both hips x-rayed, you have to take your registration with you as the number will appear on the x-ray plates. When the dogs plates are done the vet sends them to the BVS hip scoring panel, where they are checked with special instruments to see how far from the correct they are. Several different areas (9) of the joint are looked at and are given marks for how far from perfect they are. The breed average for the GSD is 19 but at least one dog has scored 106 which is the highest score possible.

Can only guess that your vets remark of fine ment she could not move the ball head from the socket, or feel any excessive movement.

Hi Alina, you are in the US aren't you? And your GSD is just a pup? If so your pup can't be hipscored until she is 2 years old (in the UK it is 12 months) so there's no need to worry about it yet!
:)

Good job someones awake JG - for some reason I still have not got used to the fact we now have members from all round the world.

Take a look at Orthopedic Foundation for Animals  .  This is all about health testing etc in the US

as most of you know my gsd bitch is not kc registered........
can i still have her hips scored at 12 months?

Sorry Sam but no you can't, the hip scoring scheme is run by the KC and the BVA and therefore unregistered dogs are not eligible to be scored

so inlight of her being a german s, and having potential defects and problems because of her type of breed i still cant have her hips scored because shes not kc reg?
what about paying the vet privately for hip xrays? to check out everything is ok?
I now know shes not kc reg, but comes from working stock?

I think I'm right in saying that you could register her on the KC's Activities register (you still wouldn't be able to show her) and then get her scored. Worth checking out. In the meantime, make sure she's insured!
:)

You can get the dogs scored if they are on the obedience & working trials register. though some vets are a little"backward" in understanding this!

What were they working as?

the parents work on a dairy farm, both help round the stock up in fields, i guess like a border collie working with sheep, i saw the parents when i went for the pup or should i say at the time when i went to look at the pups, the parents were rounding up the stock.
The farmer did tell me that his own father started this off on the farm working with shepherds with the cows and also they did flyball, ive been to may shows and seen flyball but i cant recall ever seeing a shepherd.
sam

Sam

Go and find a good vet that has experience of hip xrays and get an Xray done at around 12 to 18 months. They will be able to determine if there is a problem and if needs be refer you to a specialist if they feel an operation is necessary. Not always needed though. To start with now to give your pup the best chance, give her glucosimine tablets as this will promote healthy joints. Make sure you do not over excercise her either as being young,over excercise can aggravate a small problem into a larger one !! Swimming is also a very good way of low impact excercise which also strengthens the muscles and helps if there is a hip problem.

HTH

Lucy
xx

its funny because half of me wants to get her xrayed to makes sure all is ok yet the other half of me is frightened to do so incase anything is wrong and then if it is i will be deverstated for possibly years and years before the actual problem comes out as such?
can you see what i mean?
I dont know what to do for the best,

If it is not broken then don't try and fix it !! By looking after her now by doing the things I have mentioned it will help. Keep a good eye on her and watch out for signs, such as bunney hopping when she runs, stiffness in the back end, difficulty in getting up and if she seems in pain. If you suspect there is a problem get her to a vet but I wouldn't worry too much if she seems fine and fully mobile and isn't in pain.

HTH

Lucy

you have slightly worried me about the bunny hopping, she doe do this sometimes in the garden but could it just be a play thing when shes chasing our other dog?

It could well be how old is she ?

Is she showing any other signs?

Lucy

Lucy said "By looking after her now by doing the things I have mentioned it will help. Keep a good eye on her and watch out for signs, such as bunney hopping when she runs, stiffness in the back end, difficulty in getting up and if she seems in pain."

My dog is not bunny hopping, but she does walk upstairs with both rear legs hopping, sometimes not. And I did not look how she runs. I assume all puppies do that (run like bunnies) untill they are at some age right? Or am I wrong? So even when they are as small as 6 weeks should they be running like big dogs?
Thanks, Alina D.

Hi Alina

It can be a combination of things not just the bunney hopping but one thing you should not be letting your puppy do and that is going up and down stairs !! It is a very big strain on their hips at such a young age and should be avoided at all costs ! :)

HTH

Lucy

Hi Lucy, we live on the second floor, in a couch-house, and she weighs more than 20 lbs at 3 months. I dont think I can carry her dowstairs and upstairs any more, even though I did when she was smaller and she did not like, and couple of times she wiggled her self out of my arms and I dropped her (good thing she fell in the snow), it was not funny... She is housebroken, and she refuses to do the business on the balcony any more, so she waits untill I wake up and is anxious to go outside...
Any advice?
Alina D.

If it is absolutely impossible to stop her going up and down stairs, I wouls put her on the lead to use them, to make her walk rather than run. It's not ideal, but it would limit the damage that stairs can do.
:)

hi, well, since I am in USA and cannot get her xrayed untill she is 2 years old, and there is tons of snow, no water around, since it is all frozen, what do I do to prevent any problems with the joints ( and is it bad that I took my puppy outside for like an hour yesterday, I shoveled the driveway and she played with our neighboor dog and snow? Does this consider to be too much excersice for a young pup?)? I want my dog to be as healthy as possible. I have read, somewhere yesterday, that you can give a dog some enzimes to also prevent hip dislapsia. Is it true? And if it is - what kind? I also read that there is also some surgeries done to severe and medium problems (but also after 2 years), in severe case they just give a new joint for a dog, and in medium they attach some screws or something to stop the deformation, and in mild it stays untreated since dogs are not bothered with it.
Alina D.

Why can you not get her Xrayed before she is two years old ? If you ask for an Xray to be done surely they cannot refuse ?

It is wise to restrict the amount of excercise and as John has mentioned on previous posts which I think is very sound advice to excercise for 5 mins and then increase by 5 mins every month. This will ensure that it is a gradual step up and will minimise the strain on the joints.

I give my 15 month Lab who has bad hips a growth supplement called Synoquin. It has Glucosimine, Chlondrin, zinc sulphate and asorbic acid. I have seen a great improvment in her mobilty since she has been on it but that is also due to restricting her excercise and concentrating on building her muscles by lead walking and swimming where possible. I will also be taking her to a hyrotherapy pool in the Spring ( when it is opening as they are building it at the moment ! :) )

HTH

Lucy

Think Alina meant she could not get the dog scored before 2 years, an orthopaedic vet or any vet can x-ray and give an opinion but that will not be an official scoring.

I see what you are saying but an Xray can determine if there is a problem if it is done correctly of course :)

I haven't had MB scored yet as I am waiting for a few more months to ensure she is fully grown. I had her Xrayed at 10 months which did show that there was a problem. At least then we knew what we suspected and now have been able to take positive action to minimise any further damage :)

Lucy

As there is no problem with this dog just a worried owner I don't think she should even consider having the dog x-rayed or indeed take any action beyond the normal care one should give a puppy. As far as that is concerned, you would not want the puppy to over do snow play by I think you have to take some chances and allow some play, the main thing is not to push the pup or encourage boisterous behaviour on unsound surfaces.

I agree Jackie as I said before if it isn't broken then it doesn't need fixing :)