How can two OFA certified good hips parents have a dysplastic offspring?

There are many genes that control hip dysplasia. It takes a certain combination of these genes to get
the development of hip dysplasia. The parents may not have this combination and so have good hips
but when their genes are combined the offspring can have a genetic combination that results in hip
dysplasia. Why then screen breeding dogs at all? Well, right now this is the best test we have. And two
dogs with good hips are far less likely to produce affected puppies than if one or both dogs are
dysplatic themselves. Unfortunately, the best we can do right now is to put the odds in favor of
producing healthy, sound puppies. Until direct genetic testing is available the best way to prevent hip
dysplasia in offspring is to only breed dogs with good or excellent hips.

What are the common signs of hip dysplasia in a dog?

The signs of hip dysplasia vary greatly depending on the degree to which the joint is affected. All hip dysplastic dogs have a hip
joint that is not properly formed, but to what degree it is not properly formed varies from mild to severe. Mild dysplasia will
typically result in stiffness especially as the animal rises from a sleeping position and other arthritic like signs. Moderate
dysplasia will typically result in some degree of rear lameness as well as a bunny-hopping gait. Severe dysplasia will result in
significant lameness even to the extent of preventing movement of the rear limbs at all.

My parent's have a German Shepherd mix that is around 8 yrs. old. In the last couple of months, his one back leg hasn't
seemed to function properly and now the other one is starting to give him trouble. He tries to scratch with them, but can't seem
to hit where he wants to scratch. They took him to our local vet and they told them there is nerve damage and that nothing can
really be done? Is this really so? He has some fatty tumors that he has had for a while, and when previously taken to the vet's a
while back, they didn't seem concerned.

Hmmm . . . There are a lot of reasons why a GSD (German Shepherd Dog) would suddenly have trouble with his hind limbs. If it
truly a nerve problem then there are several conditions that can cause that. One is called Lumbosacral Disease and is caused
by various things that all act to irritate and compress the nerves to the back legs. This is a very treatable condition typically
but does require surgery to correct. The surgery is a pretty complex one and most private practitioners don't have the time or
equipment to do the surgery so you'll probably have to go to a referral center like a Vet School or a specialty vet hospital to
have the surgery done. Another possibility is that in the spine between the front legs and the back legs (called the
thoracolumbar or TL spine) the soft material between two bony parts (called vertebrae) of the spine has ruptured putting
pressure onto the spinal cord causing loss of proper control of the hind limbs. This too is a very treatable condition although it
does again require delicate surgery. Another possibility is a condition unique to the GSD in which there is progressive
degeneration of the nerve cells. This condition is not treatable and the only option is nursing care and pallitave therapy to keep
the dog as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. Then, of course, there is the possibility that this is a not a nerve
disease but is in fact a disease of the muscle or skeleton. Not knowing what all the vet did to diagnose it as a disease of the
nervous system, I cannot say if it is warranted to pursue the possibility that is not, in fact, a disease of the nervous system but
one of the musculoskeletal system. My recommendation would be to at least get a second opinion -- that never hurts. Chances
are the vet is absolutely correct but no one is perfect 100% of the time. And I would recommend getting that second opinion
from an orthopedic or neurology specialist because diseases similar to this is what they do all the time, and, thus, are more
likely to notice subtleties of the condition that might alter the diagnosis and prognosis.

Our 8 year old pit bull was hit by a car in October. The emergency vet shaved a 4" area on her back and applied a topical pain
medication (Fentanyl patch 75 mcg). The patch was left on for only a day until it was removed by her regular vet. He is not fond
of the patch. Anyway, since then her hair has not grown back in the area where the patch was applied. Neither the emergency
vet or her regular vet have heard of this or have any suggestions on what to do. Have you heard of this?

I'll have to check into the fentanyl patches and see if they specifically cause delayed hair growth. It is certainly possible that it
is just the time of year. My Akita had his neck shaved in November to give blood and the hair has not grown back yet because
his fall coat-shedding-and-growing had already happened. I fully expect the hair to grow in this spring when he goes thru
another shed/grow cycle. Even though this is not usual in my experience it is not rare. It is very possible that this is what your
dog is experiencing. Canines typically shed and grow hair during limited times in the fall and spring. Since the accident
happened in October by the time he has recovered enough to devote energy to hair growth it may have been past his coat
growing season. I wouldn't get too concerned or upset until spring arrives. Until then you can keep the skin soft with Vitamin
E enriched lotion like Bag Balm or one of the commercial brands like Jergens (it is working well for my Akita). I will
certainly check into the incidence of fentanyl patches and retarded hair growth and see if the patch might be the cause of the
problem.

NOTE: Since I wrote this reply I have heard back from a clinician doing studies with fentanyl patches. She has never observed
this phenomenon associated with fentanyl patches in all the dogs she has included in her study. Thus, she does not believe that
it is likely that the fentanyl patch is responsible for the lack of hair growth.

WE HAVE A 5MONTH OLD FEMALE AKITA. THIS MORNING WHEN WE WOKE UP SHE COULD NOT LIFT HER PAW,
IT HURT AND SHE'S LIMPING WE DID TAKE HER FOR A WALK AND SHE RAN A BIT BUT REFUSES TO PUT ANY
REAL PRESSURE ON IT. WHAT CAN WE DO?

Hmmm . . lots of things can cause such a problem. The first thing I would check for would be something stuck in her foot or a
cut on her foot pad(s). Those are the most common reasons for sudden lameness. Another possibility especially in an Akita is
a condition called luxating patella. This condition occurs when the patella or the knee cap "pops" in and out of position. Akitas
as a breed are prone to this and it can cause sudden lameness. Other possibilities include cranial cruciate ligament rupture
(she is young for that), panosteitis (inflammation of the bones), ununited anconeal process (typically more gradual in nature),
OCD (a problem with the cartilage at the joints also typically more gradual), and a greenstick fracture (a partial fracture). I
would look at her feet really well for anything stuck there and for cuts on the pads of the feet. If you find nothing I would
recommend taking her to your veterinarian for evaluation. Often early orthopedic problems present this way and the earlier
they are caught the easier they are to treat.

My 4 year old female mixed breed dog has elbow dysplasia with free chips showing in xray. what can I do besides surgery and
drugs??

Unfortunately, surgery is the only real option to remove the chips and alleviate the source of the pain. So, I am afraid that I
don't have any other options for you to do to alleviate the problem. If you don't do the surgery than she will become
progressively arthritic and painful in that joint resulting in varying degrees of lameness. I won't go so far as to say that she
cannot have a good quality of life without surgery but it certainly will not be pain-free and she will always be lame to some
degree on that leg.

I have researched and answered these questions to the best of my ability. But I am human and make mistakes. If there is any
part of my answer that you feel is incorrect, please let me know. The last thing I want is to disseminate false or incorrect
information.

This article has been reproduced here with the

permission and courtesy Rachel Peeples, DVM

rpeeples@planters.net <mailto:rpeeples@planters.net>

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