I have a Golden-specific question for you...
My almost-one-year-old girl (her birthday is in 3 weeks) sometimes gets up
very slowly, like she is stiff and sore. I have been paying attention and it
doesn't seem like it happens in any specific circumstance, night or morning,
cold or warm, etc. etc. It happens rarely, and she is very active, loves to
run with our other two dogs, fetches, swims, loves to go for walks, and is
generally very happy. My concern is that I know goldens as a breed have a
fairly high incidence of dysplasia comparatively speaking, and I know the
onset is rather gradual and usually occurs between 6-24 months. Is there any
way to tell, short of a full x-ray exam, if that is what is troubling her?
Is there a way to prevent it once the wheels are in motion, or lessen the
severity? We have been feeding her Science Diet Canine Growth for Large
Breeds since she was 5 weeks old, and her growth has been very steady, no
real noticable growth spurts. We got her from my husband's cousin, who is
basically a backyard breeder - I'm sure his girls weren't checked for any
diseases, although the dogs are AKC registered, so my fear is even greater
that she very well may be dysplastic. Any advice you can give is greatly
appreciated! We adore her, and don't want her to spend her life
uncomfortable.
Thanks!
Lucy's mom
The only way to tell if your dog has hip dysplasia is with an X-ray. You can talk to your vet
about this. She might occasionally be stiff from over-exercise. It sounds like she is getting a lot!!
Remember that she is still a baby. You can do damage to a puppy by giving it too much exercise.
You should not buy a puppy from a backyard breeder. AKC registered does not mean anything more
than that both dogs are Golden Retrievers. Breeding stock should be screened for genetic diseases
BEFORE they are bred! But, as I have stated before, breeding two OFA clear dogs does not
guarantee that you will not have a dog that gets hip dysplasia.
