Hip Dysplasia is a huge fear for any large breed dog owner. We all have heard about it, while some of us have seen the ugly realities. You see before you of what appears to be an X-ray, it is actually a *PennHip. This dog owner saw their 16-month-old German Shepherd had been bunny hopping whilst running which is an obvious sign of discomfort. The PennHip was done to screen for damage; the left .32 and right .43
To give you something to weigh those specific numbers against... according to PennHip the average for a German Shepherd is .42. Remember, always keep your dog with any sort of problem in their hips at a lower weight. It ensures they have less damage done to their hips.
*PennHIP method has strong scientific foundation as the most effective hip screening tool available for dogs. AIS PennHIP testing is accurate in puppies as young as 16 weeks of age. It gives an estimate of the risk for painful osteoarthritis (OA) of canine hip dysplasia (CHD) later in life.
As far as treatment options for hip dysplasia, I suggest Chondroprotec Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan injections AKA Adequan. Talk with your vet about it.
This medication inhibits enzymes that break down cartilage within your dog's joints. It reduces inflammation and increases the thickness of joint (synovial) fluid. It's been clinically shown to help treat the diseases while giving relief from pain. It modifies the disease cycle, stimulates cartilage repair processes and diminishes joint damage while reducing pain. It even tightens the tendons & ligaments associated with dysplasia. The sooner you begin, the better.
Yes, it requires giving your dog a shot in the muscle twice a week for 4 weeks; still totally worth it. It has to be administered in a series of 8 injections. The recommended dosage is 2mg per pound of the dog’s weight. Although improvement is generally observed after the second injection, cartilage erosion ceases after the administration of all 8 injections.
The side effects are mild and temporary. Chondroprotec is contraindicated in dogs with renal or liver problems, hypersensitive dogs or pets with a bleeding disorder. Don't give it to pregnant or nursing dogs!
This is NOT to be used in lieu of professional medical advice. Go see your veterinarian, talk to see if this medication with help your dog.
