Hip Dysplasia and Exercise?
My dog (a 3-year-old lab mix who was VERY likely bred in a puppy mill) was diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia about a month ago after somehow straining a hip. Although the diagnosis is not yet certain (he is scheduled for a few more tests – x-rays and such, next month), it is extremely likely that he either has or will develop it or another hip issue later in life. He’s been on supplements and prescription food, along with a steady, medium-rigor walking schedule, since then, and has improved to no end.
He’s trained for Advanced Canine Rally-o and Novice Obedience (hobbies, obviously. He’s not AKC registered, but it helps us communicate!), HOWEVER, I am unsure whether or not to re-start the exercises for this, as both will eventually lead (Rally-O already) to having to go over jumps. I was not going to, but this last week he’s done sooo much better and is back to his old self. (I saw him quite jump on a chair the other day to look at me through the window – but I made him get off immediately.)
So, should I go ahead with it? Should I wait until the x-rays come back? Should I just drop it altogether and work on the ground?
Thanks, guys!
And I’m certainly NOT going to give up on him because of HD! I’m biased, but he’s the best dog ever, so no matter what we’re going to do /something/ as a team. Be it Rally-O or therapy, work gives us a stronger bond. And I have continued his training on the ground during this month.
Tagged with: dysplasia • exercise
Filed under: hip dysplasia in dogs treatment
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The very best thing for a young or old dog with HD is exercise. Because even if the bone is going to ware away the dog can still function on muscle alone. While I don’t think agility is in your future I know a lot of people that went ahead and did agility with dog that were dysplasic. The dogs did fine and only when they were very old did they seem to show any affects.
I recommend that you take your dog swimming because you can exercise with very little impact on the joints. When my dog had knee surgery the vet told me as soon as the wound is healed go swimming with him. His recovery was fantastic and he’s good as gold these days.
Don’t give up on your dog because of a poor x-ray, or the dog will suffer. Just work him knowing that he should not be jump really high stuff on really hard stuff. So no 26″ jumps on cement.
Don’t stop working the dog, just be careful. Because the dog doesn’t know any better. Have fun and enjoy.
There may be few more joyous sights than a dog running free, unable to stop as the thrill of tearing around a yard overtakes him. It’s this joy that hip dysplasia robs from our dogs, and from us as we watch them age and struggle with their own limitations.
http://dogtime.com/hip-dysplasia.html
dog in my agility club diagnosed with severe hip displashia continued to compete to an advance age over much higher jumps than Rally call for- in fact at a demo during the half time for the Olympic show jumping trial she went off course over the HORSE jump at 5/12 feet. Hips did not kill her….. keeping the muscle tone up is a GOOD thing.