All About Hips

Over the last 20 yrs breeders have made major improvements in the hip department. Here are the OFA Stats on Hip Dysplasia For Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retriever.

As you can see Goldens are presently at the 15.9% affected rate(X-rays sent to them by breeders). The improvement rate in Goldens is greater than the Labs so we will perhalps eventually catch. When we first started in Goldens in the 70's 39% of Golden had bad hips. This meant at least 3 pups in a litter of 10 would be mild to severely affected. No breeder wants to breed a pup with health problems so it was very hard and upsetting to hear a pup was ill. Today you might have one out of ten turn up with hip problems and most of the times it's not severe hip problems. With the help of Glucosamine most of these dogs live a long pain free life.

Trends in Hip Dysplasia in Goldens from 1980 to 2004

Breed	Rating Total Dogs	Born to 1980	Born 1990-92	Born 98-2000	Born 2000-02	Born 2003-04	Change 1980 to 98-2004
GOLDEN RETRIEVER	Excellent Dysplastic Total Dogs	1.8% 23.2% 17655	2.9% 18.2% 12669	5.5% 15.0% 9862	4.8% 14.7% 11414	5.4% 15.9% 5474	184.2% -31.2%
LABRADOR RETRIEVER	Excellent Dysplastic Total Dogs	10.6% 14.2% 14905	15.9% 12.3% 21488	20.6% 10.6% 22373	19.1% 9.4% 26976	19.4% 9.5% 12102	79.6% -33.1%

Breed

Rating
Total Dogs

Born
to 1980

Born
1990-92

Born
98-2000

Born
2000-02

Born
2003-04

Change
1980 to
98-2004

GOLDEN RETRIEVER

Excellent
Dysplastic
Total Dogs

1.8%
23.2%
17655

2.9%
18.2%
12669

5.5%
15.0%
9862

4.8%
14.7%
11414

5.4%
15.9%
5474

184.2%
-31.2%

LABRADOR RETRIEVER

Excellent
Dysplastic
Total Dogs

10.6%
14.2%
14905

15.9%
12.3%
21488

20.6%
10.6%
22373

19.1%
9.4%
26976

19.4%
9.5%
12102

79.6%
-33.1%

Remember your vet works for you not the other way around. Always get a second opinion when it comes to hip issues. Ask your breeder to recommend a vet known for taking excellent hips with no sedatives. There is a reason why breeders will travel hundreds of miles, not all vets are good at taking hip and elbow x-rays. We've seen some pretty poorly taken hips that were not returned by Guelph. Don't trust that they will pick up on this all the time.

Your talking about pretty expensive surgery if the dog has grade 3 and up. If the dog has grade 2 or grade 1 slimming down and glucosamine will do the trick. Remember the grading system is to guide the breeders to choose better stock not to actually say the dog has the disease. Many grade 1 and two dogs never show systoms of limping or pain as they get older.

If your vet is making you feel guilty for choosing another path beside surgery find a new more understanding vet. Many vets are so busy they do a rush job when doing hips some even have the technicien do the jobs with very little training. So it's important that each owners makes sure that the position was done properly before accepting the result. Don't be afraid of getting a second opinion. Remember if the hips were not positionned properly even a HD free dog can look like he has bad hips.

Did you know that hips done in the fall look better than hips done in the winter. Why? Because your dog was exercised more in the summer and muscles tighten hips. Do you know that a female in "season" will have loose hips? Most breeders wait until three months after the first season before doing the hips.

To make sure your dog's hips were done properly educate yourself. Visit this site: Leeburg.com

Reading Hip X-rays

Hip problems will be around for a long time since only a % of the problem is genetics. How do you prevent hip problems? Here are a few do's and don'ts.

Do feed quality food for his size and breed.(Goldens are a medium to large breed)
Do give him vitamins like Ester C and vitamin E for his coat.
Do keep him SLIM! I can't say this enough.
Do give him joint supplements.(Glucosamine in dog food is in such small amounts as to not be effective. See below*** for advice.)
Do provide him with plenty of exercise.
Do provide him with a bed to sleep on.(Cold floors can promote arthritis)
Do not keep him in a crate day and night. (Once he's house broken give him room)
Do not make him slide on slippery floors, ice or wet grass.
Do not allow him to jump or climb big stairs until he's done growing.
Do not keep him in cold damp places.
Do not make him swim in cold water.
Do not neuter or spay too young. Dogs lose much of their muscle mass when neutered. If you spay during the rapid growth time of his life, the muscles mass he needs to keep things together will be affected.Castration at an early age will cause the dog to become overly tall, as the growth plates in the long bones will not close at the appropriate time; additionally, the dog will lack breadth of chest. The combination of these two factors sets the stage for your dog to have painful orthopedic problems. An early age means below 1 year in small and medium sized dogs, and below 2 to 2.5 years in large breeds. I would put goldens somewhat between the two, so spay the girls at 11 months and the boys between 18 to 24 months.

***Human grade Glucomsamine Sulfatensodium free 500 MG (give 2 a day with food) These are sold at your local pharmacy or Costco in capsules. Glucosamine will reduce joint pain in senior dogs and help promote healthy cartilage growth in growing pups specially those large, fast growing, males.

Happy puppy growing :)