Friends APBT may have hip displasia

His bitch is an awesome dog just turned 6 and seems like she has CHD. The thing is the dog is very active and doesn't show signs of pain, she wants to go out and be a Pitbull. She gets around fine but her movement is altered she walks more stiff in the back legs and when she takes off to run she is running more like a gorilla than a dog. While running both feet are off the ground a lot of the time, she's still fast as hell but its not her natural movement.
The whole time her tail is up and after her exercise she wags it, we don't think she is in any pain but then again this is the toughest breed of dog there is so maybe shes not showing it. Her thigh muscles may be a bit smaller but there still pretty decent. She barrels up and down the stairs, she doesn't have difficulty getting up from sitting. I live in Iowa and its pretty cold right now perhaps that is aggravating the condition. She hasn't been as active as he would have liked because of it being crappy out and we just noticed these signs of hip dysplasia Friday, so I'm thinking the recent temperature drops has made it apparent. Last week she was running laps in the snow and nothing seemed a miss.
What can we do to fight this thing? This dog is willing and ready. Can dogs be active with CHD? Should we limit her activity?
I know about the joint supplements and my buddies ordering some canned green tripe that has glucosamine and chondroitin added. Tripett - Advanced Skin and Coat Formula - Duck and Salmon - Canned Dog Food - Free Shipping
I just wanted input from my fellow apbt enthusiast's on this matter. Hes taking her to the vet later this week but I'm not sure if the vet really knows what to do. Vets don't deal with this kind of dog, they know medical facts sure but I would trust a experienced dog man over a vet for the simple fact that they are hands on with this breed and put their heart and soul into their dogs. Not saying that this forum is full of so called dog men but I know that people on here care about this breed.
I have heard that natural vitamin c helps, just what ever you guys know tell me. Thanks, I love that dog and it makes my stomach sick thinking about her being put out of commission.

 

Re: Friends APBT may have hyp displasia

The only way to know for sure is to get her tested. But there is a chance that is not what it is. Has she recently had pups? A gyp I used to own started showing similar signs to what you're saying shortly after weaning her pups. Her hip would pop out of place while she was running around. Sometimes it would pop back in and other times I would have to do it. If it stayed out she would run around crow-hopping kinda like what you are saying, but showed no signs of pain and did not squeal when I popped it back in. I took her to the vet and he said that delivering her pups stretched out her muscles back there and was causing the joint to displace. He said it would clear up as she got back in shape and it did. He also said it was likely she would not pass that issue onto her pups, whereas hip dysplasia is genetic.

 

Re: Friends APBT may have hyp displasia

It could also be arthritis, mention that to the vet also.

 

Re: Friends APBT may have hyp displasia

My old bitch would run like that and it was arthritis, either way get her on some kind of supplement.

 

Re: Friends APBT may have hyp displasia

Ω3 have anti inflammatory action and can help with pain and better maintenance, glucosamine etc seems to help but usually the required doses are higher than what the label says.

 

Re: Friends APBT may have hyp displasia

dont jump to conclusions. I own/breed very large breed of dog so i know alot about CHD (Canine Hip Dysplasia for those that dont know). when was her last heat cycle? how long has this been happening? has she ever had parvo? If she has normal heat cycles (every 6 mths) then schedule an appointment with an orthopedic vet (not a BS reg vet) for an xray around the 3rd month between cycles, use the OFA style, no need for pennhip you will see what you need to w/ OFA. if the vet is absolutly certain that it is hip dysplasia then ask what type it is. it could be dyspalsia due to subluxation or due to actual deterioration/desease of the joint...subluxation is nothing to get crazy over the other...not so good. if the vet is not 100% sure then pay the x-tra 45 bucks and send it to OFA for a full panel review (worth it). If it turns out to be subluxation start walking your dog (ALOT!) or swimming if availbale to tighten up those joint, no heavy exercise, no running until warmed up with a good walk. your dog will be fine. If it is bone desease...the dog is in trouble. she may show like she is feeling it but it is tearing her up inside, she needs help. i would use flexicose (made for people but comes for dogs), stay away from rymadil if you could. vit C doesnt help it get better but it seems to eliviate some of the pain (somehow). keep us posted.

 

Im the one with the dog by the way, I'm using my friend (Capsulecorp) to post this. She was spayed about a month ago, one thing I saw is that when she got her anesthesia shot and went under she did the splits at first, both legs spread apart. I was thinking the other day could that have an effect on this? I didn't notice anything amiss after the surgery and she was walking and stuff seemingly fine but perhaps she had a slight injury and its gotten worse? Shes never had a parvo, she was in heat maybe three months ago, also when I was getting the stitches taken out she wouldn't hold still the nurse kinda snapped and spread her legs apart to hold her, I got mad and she could tell and let go.

 

I have a Saint Bernard, so being a large breed dog, I've become very familiar with joint/arthritis issues.

I give her 1000 mg of vitamin C, with a hefty tablespoon of diatomaceous earth, glucosamine and chondroitin a few times a week in her kibble.

The vitamin C was strongly recommended in her contract by her breeder who has used it for years on her dogs. I've read several studies on it, which were enough to convince me of it's benefits.