I have a bad feeling

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I have a sinking feeling that Stuart might have hip dysplasia.  For those of you who are not aware, Stuart was a F1 goldendoodle puppy that came to me from a Golden Retriever rescue organization at 8 weeks - he is now 9 months.  I knew going into it that we would run the risk of health issues as puppy mills (where he was born) are not known for using quality breeding animals.  For this very reason, we did purchase PetPlan Insurance for Stuart.  Here is why I am thinking we may have a problem;

1.  Stuart has a very "swishy" walk - don't know how to explain it but others have commented

2.  Stuart does not jump very often - we use an ottoman to help get him up onto my bed, and he'll put his front paws up and into the SUV but I have to lift his back end up - he won't or can't jump in - even the lower side door

3.  Twice now I have seen him get up from sleeping on the tile floor and noticed that for the first step or two - he is limping/stiff - it goes right away but . . .

So now what do I do? 

1.  I will start him on a Glucosamine and Chondroitin supplement - any suggestions of which ones and how much?

2.  Should I wait for the symptoms to get worse before having the x-rays done for a diagnosis?  I'm afraid to go down this road too early as I don't want the insurance company to limit future claims.  Anyone know how that works?

I'm trying not to worry - I know that many dogs can and do live full lives with hip dysplasia but it just hurts my heart to think of him having to suffer with this.  If you have any suggestions or tips I'd appreciate it.

************UPDATE

I have decided to have Stuart's hips checked out at his 1 year check which will be April.  Until then I have put him on Glyco-Flex III.  Which says it contains Perna, Glucosamine, MSM, DMG & Antioxidants for joint health.  Might just be making expensive pee - but I don't think it can hurt him any so why not give it a try until we find out.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Jane...my Gracie Doodle is a huge standard Goldendoodle who is now almost 5 and 70 lbs but very tall and long.  She swishes when she walks and always has.  I think it it the Poodle part.  Even though she is an F1 she has so many Poodle traits and characteristics than Golden.  She too will stand at the bed with just the front half up on the bed like she is praying.  She also stands with her front feet on the car seat and expects to have her hind end lifted in. l But...she is as agile as they come.  She is a huge jumper when there is a tennis ball around!!!!!!  All day long she is jumping on and off our bed just fine but when she feels like she is being neglected or needs attention then she goes into the enable me act.  Same with the car.  She is not a hugely excited dog when it comes to getting in the car but if we throw her ball in first she sails right in.  She also can clear 4' walls and fences without even touching them.  But, all indications otherwise would lead me to believe she is a four on the floor dog...NOT!  I did have her tested when she was very young and she is just fine.  I hope that Stuart is just trying to find a way to get more love and attention...ha, as if he needs it!!!!

To sum it up...Gracie is a very athletic Doodle who loves to run, jump and swim but around the house she is lazy and doesn't do any jumping except up and down the bed and she also does the stretch bow before she takes off.  You should see how fast she can jump off the bed when DH drives up the driveway or the doorbell rings!  Nothing wrong with my Doodle!!!!  She is just tugging at our heart all the time!!!!  lol

[BG and Gavin]

Hip displasia is a concern that always hangs in the back of my mind.  My vet gave Gavin a good physical exam manipulating his hips and legs and he concluded that his hips were very well seeded.  Perhaps you could get the physical exam done before going the x-ray route.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Here is a video that shows how the physical exam is done and it does sound like it is a good way to diagnose without an x-ray although sometimes the dog needs to be sedated for this exam as well.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

I don't know much about it other than you don't want that Diagnosis! I have.no advice but just want to tell you I am glad you have pet plan and I hope poor Stuart doesn't have it. Could it be an injury or has this always been the case? Please keep us posted. It has always been a fear with getting a doodle. My thoughts are with you guys.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Adina posted this video several years ago showing dogs with hip dysplasia. 

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/awesome-visualsinfo-on-canine

This is a MUST SEE and a good repost.  Check it out.

On a second note, not all dogs can jump or run as others and they are perfectly normal.  My mastiff was barrel chested. Just MASSIVE.   A large dog who had trouble with steps and jumping on furniture.  He actually crawled up. His hips were just fine when he passed before his 15th birthday.

Keep your head up until you know.  The sooner is better is what I have heard.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Jane, hopefully there is some way you can get a diagnosis without compromising your Pet Insurance.  I think if you have this worry at the back of your mind then you need to find out definitely if Stuart has HD.  I am hoping very hard that he doesn't and that he is not in any pain or discomfort at all and just has his own particular way of moving.

I am starting to think of so many questions over this issue that it's best not to speculate any further and just wish you all the very best for the best possible answer. I'm sending lots of positive thoughts now to you guys.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Jane if Stuart had an initial well puppy visit and you have Pet plan already they can not nor will they limit you in the future any more then the yearly limit you have on your claim!!! They are a wonderful company that does what they say,

For the first time ever they denied a claim I submitted, I have the gold plan and it pays for someone to watch Jack when I am in the hospital, they rightly denied because they said my illness was a pre existing condition before I had Jack, they never denied me before on that but now they are stricter...but I knew that from the beginning.

Pet plan will take very old care of you, the rates do not go up based on using it, they stay the same until your dog is three then they go up a percent each year until your dog is a certain age I can't remember then it stops,


I am sorry you are worried I hope he is just fine!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I was just going to post this - well I was just going to post ASK Jennifer - she knows everything about PetPlan!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jane, I have no advice but I hope Stuart doesn't have HD. If it makes you feel any better, JD "swishes" his whole back end when he walks, and with all that is wrong with him, his hips are just fine. It was a big concern for me, too, but several vets have checked his hips now, and at 7 years old I think we can be pretty sure he deosn't have HD. He is also very hesitant to jump in or out of the SUV unless the door is fully open as far it will go, and yet he can leap way into the air without a problem when he's catching a ball.

I think I would have it checked out because that's just me. But I don't have insurance so I don't know the ramifications of doing that now vs waiting.

Fingers and paws crossed that it's nothing.

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

Jane,

Zach also has a very swishy walk, in fact he looks like he is held together with rubber bands, and I was obsessing over it. Zach will also not get in the car without help, and uses the "puppy steps" that I have for the little dogs to get up on the couch and the bed, but he can jump and run. The vet manipulated his hips at every puppy visit and then ran them through a complete range of motion when he was under for his neuter. So I am at the point that I've accepted that he wiggles when he walks. However, there are benefits to knowing if Stuart has HD early since there are more surgical options if you choose to go that route (and it is severe enough and indicated) if it is caught when he is  young. Good luck, I hope this is not the case, but if it is, I know that you will do what ever is in his best interest.

[Ginny Nightingale]

My smallest doodle had been diagnosed at the age of one with mild hip dysplasia--she was going to be a breeding dog so she was Xrayed and of course, spayed right away. She is now 5 years old and walks normally, runs and jumps normally and has no pain or other issues. I am not sure if that would always be the case, but i thought I would let you know.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am sorry to hear about the possible problem with Stuart.I would look into it sooner rather than later in case anyone can offer some thing to help before things get worse if there is a problem. Perhaps there are exercises etc. I don't think the insurance company can deny your claims if you already have the insurance but I would check this out somehow. There are no good studies to show benefits from glucosamine and chondroitin, save your money.