UKC Forums (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/index.php)
- UKC Coonhounds (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=4)
-- Hip Dysplasia (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/showthread.php?threadid=928550198)

Hip Dysplasia

Anyone deal with Hip Dysplasia in a coonhound? 7 month old pup is howling signs of it. She is scheduled for an X-ray . Any thoughts are appreciated.

Are you feeding it a large breed puppy feed?

__________________
brandon smith

I have dealt with it many years ago. It is hereditary. The pup can be saved, although it is very costly, but will never hold up to hunting. Absolutely don’t use it for breeding. It is an experience that makes me over cautious of every pup I’ve bought since. That is about the age it starts to show up 4-6 months old. It will only get worse. The vet shouldn't need an xray to diagnosis it. Good luck

I never experienced it with a coon hound. Symptoms did show up at about 4 months but, the vet was thinking it was because of the lymes she had. Figures its a pup that is showing tremendous promise. Fingers crossed that it is something else but vet isn't sure. Pup gets an xray tomorrow. Was hoping it could be managed in a way she could have been hunted.

And Brandon, in response to the large puppy feed question, I have been feeding a quality feed and have added in a joint supplement. Please let me know if you have any thoughts on that as I am open to trying anything to help.

quote:

---

Originally posted by JAK
And Brandon, in response to the large puppy feed question, I have been feeding a quality feed and have added in a joint supplement. Please let me know if you have any thoughts on that as I am open to trying anything to help.

---

__________________
brandon smith

I don't think we see it a lot in the Coonhound breeds precisely because these dogs are still being worked on a regular basis and are bred based on their performance. If a dog has hip dysplasia then they aren't going to be hunted and then won't be bred. That doesn't mean it doesn't ever happen, but it is not as common as with non-working and/or pet breeds.

I hope you can get some relief for your pup but I agree with another poster - please do not breed this dog and pass the gene along.

__________________
Paul Frederick
319-371-6362

Thanks guys for the responses. I agree with all this information and definitely would not breed this gyp.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Paul Frederick
I don't think we see it a lot in the Coonhound breeds precisely because these dogs are still being worked on a regular basis and are bred based on their performance. If a dog has hip dysplasia then they aren't going to be hunted and then won't be bred. That doesn't mean it doesn't ever happen, but it is not as common as with non-working and/or pet breeds.

I hope you can get some relief for your pup but I agree with another poster - please do not breed this dog and pass the gene along.

---

__________________
Autumn Clements

'PR'LEAD'S MIDNITE SASSY
CFC CH Canadian GCH Multi Group Placing MBPIG BBPIG LEGACYK STANNYFIELD PRIME TIME (AKC & UKC Pointed)
BPIG MBBPIG WINDAMIRS RED LIGHT DISTRICT V AMBERLANE
LEGACYK DARE TO DREAM V CBLUES
LEGACYK WHITE AS A GHOST V CBLUES

Gone but not forgotten
GRNITECH GRCH PKC CH'PR'CLEMENTS' BLUE PRANCER
GRNITECH GRCH'PR'SPIKE'S TWILITE HOOKER
'PR'PRANCER'S GETTIN DOWN N DIRTY (PrancerxHooker)
NITECH CH’PR’BUELL’S BLUE ROCKY(Whitey x Spice)
CKC BBPIG MARIES BABY BREEZE

quote:

---

Originally posted by Autumn Clements
If they only had mild case I believe that being hunted would hide it since they would stay muscled up and not show many signs without having X-rays done you’d never know. More severe cases you will see evidence there’s a problem. There’s probably more hip problems within the breeds then we all know.
I had a English in the early 2000s as a young kid that had a very severe case of hip dysplasia, his hip actually popped out of the joint at 9 months old

---

I've seen it several years ago.

I've seen it in coon hounds 2-3 times in 30 years. An exray would be money well spent. What I've seen is the joint that holds the ball is oversize or not fully developed enough to keep the ball in the socket.
The dogs I'm familiar with belonged to friends of mine, they were never bred, just used for hunting. They limp sometimes more than others, sometimes they run on 3 legs. A vet told them cartilage will form in the area and somewhat help with stability over time, but later in life they have arthritis in the area and it makes them uncomfortable. One female was a super talented track dog, you couldn't tell she had a problem while trailing, was actually pretty fast. When she slowed down to a walk or trot it was pretty noticeable.
Get the exray and spay her if the hip isn't sound. Also keep her a little bit lean, less weight she carries the better. I've heard some have the leg removed completely in severe cases, this makes life easier for the dog in the long run.
I have seen a dog missing a hind leg (for a different reason) flat out fly through the timber and tree coon, a tough Grandnight Ch. Called Tripod.
I hope you find out all is good, but just in case.
Darrin

__________________
Darrin Gher
Elbridge Redbones
Home of
GRNTCH PR' Steve-O and Chili's Red Flow
NTCH PR' Twisters Musical Red Huey DNA-VIP Perf Sire 06'07 Deceased 11/07
Former Home of
NTCH 'PR' Swann's Lonesome Red Music/ Kitty
NTCH. CH PR' SawBlade Red Reckon
NTCH. CH PR' Gher's Timber Mt. Brandy
Breeder of
GRNTCH PR' Daugherty's Red BUBBA
NTCH CH PR' BA'S Tree Top Rockin Griddle
NTCH PR' Lickcreek Backwoods Lil Red Annie

Hip dysplasia is considered a polygeneic hereditary disorder. That means that in some breeds there are genes that do affect the hip joint structure but there are also outside forces that can have other affects. One study says that all pups are born with perfect hips but then it's the genetics of growth and outside forces that cause the deformities. Hot topic when you look into other breeds, really hot topic in some.

Thing to remember is that it's not just the joint that's involved but but also laxity in the joint(tendons and ligaments) that play into the calcification of the joint as the dog matures causing irregularities.

Hip xrays in dogs under 1 year of age won't show much as the younger the dog is the more the bones are still spongy(for lack of a better word). Not calcified yet. Changes can still occur up to 2 and 3 years of age. You can have evaluations done for official OFA ratings after age 2 or prelim xrays done any time before that. OFA is one of the major evaluation programs but you can also do Penn Hip which actually looks more at laxity then structure.

Young dogs should be given non slip surfaces, limit jumping and not be pushed in sport activities. Normal puppy play is fine. But as we all know, some dogs just overdo it.

For a young pup to be showing pain, first rule out back issues then evaluate the entire rear. Surgery at that young of an age isn't always recommended as they are still growing. Watch what type of food you are feeding, add joint supplements and be careful of the activities its involved in. Try things like swimming and you can also add in cold laser therapy.

And yes, I've seen tons of xrays of other breeds(not a vet but long time breeder of another breed) and been to a few good seminars that touched on the subject.

One of the worst things you can do:

have a young pup jump off the tailgate when out hunting. I help "all" my hounds off the tailgate. Especially when coyote hunting and having a slippery surface they land on.

__________________
OLD TIMER

Results

Well the pup had her x-ray and it ended up being an old injury to the hip that the vet said looks like it’s slowly healing. No hip dysplasia. I am guessing this is why he couldn’t be sure it was/wasn’t hip dysplasia. As someone else mentioned, money well spent for the X-ray. Thank you to all for your responses.

Good to hear you have a diagnosis. Honestly, if you can find a vet that does cold laser, do it!!! I've seen some really remarkable results from it. Had a dog with a back injury who had no deep pain reflexes in his rear feet. After 2 sessions, he was standing up in the rear and by the end of 5 session, was very much back to normal.

Now as it's an injury, you'll have to watch the dog as it ages because it will be more prone to early onset arthritis.

Good luck!

quote:

---

Originally posted by fogebotom
Good to hear you have a diagnosis. Honestly, if you can find a vet that does cold laser, do it!!! I've seen some really remarkable results from it. Had a dog with a back injury who had no deep pain reflexes in his rear feet. After 2 sessions, he was standing up in the rear and by the end of 5 session, was very much back to normal.

Now as it's an injury, you'll have to watch the dog as it ages because it will be more prone to early onset arthritis.

Good luck!

---