Pro Tip- Get your dogs hips x-rayed before hip dysplasia

[VallejoSheltie]

So Fall of 23 before winter Boots spent a good 20 minutes running and barking around the pond at the invading ducks.
Spring of 24 when we came out of hibernation in the NE, he was slow, sedentary, seemed like an old man. More reserved.

After going to a rehab vet for expected arthritis, a lower body xray was done and found his hips were both pretty bad looking.
Hip Dysplasia? He's AKC, and I thought that was one of the checks????
Dummy, he's 12.5 life happens...

So dual hip injections with Hyaluronic Acid and steroids have seen him almost a year later still not thrilled with stairs or jumping up, but he can run 200-300' to chase deer out of the back yard and occasionally play kick ball for a while.

Moral of the story, once your buddy starts getting up there, maybe 8-9, it might be worthwhile to have an annual hip x-ray.
Hyaluronic Acid, Type II cartilage, glucosamine are pretty cheap supplements that probably add years of activity, non-pain later life.

If you are worried about the x-rays, NAC is great at reducing DNA damage by x-rays, just take it before x-rays, day of, and a day or two after.
https://www.auntminnie.com/clinical...nt-agent-protects-dna-from-ionizing-radiation

 

[RikyR]

Took Zulu to the vet yesterday for a wellness check. For several years he had early arthritis in his left hip. Been on Super Snouts ever since, responded well. I noticed recently he occasionally was struggling to get up after laying down, not running around as much. The vet did not do x-rays, but worked his hips, lower back and knees aggressively. Zulu only had a slight reaction to the left hip. Overall, she said he was in pretty good shape for an 11-year-old. He has his dental in June, she will do the x-rays then. She put him on Hyaluronic Acid injections twice a week for a month, once a month after that. We did this back when he first started limping, and it really helped. She also told us to keep up with the Super Snouts. He also lost 2 pounds from his last visit, need to lose 3 more. He is on the green bean diet, he loves them!

 

[Sharon7]

Gosh it doesn't seem like hip dysplasia is very common in Shelties, but yes, age takes it's toll. At least there are a few options to help us keep our furkids going strong.