Kaiju's Hips...
Well, I was SURE Kaiju had HD - I mean I was 99% sure of it - but take a look...
They look pretty good, huh? No HD there, as far as I can tell.
So, you know, once again this is an example of how much I have to learn. We'll be sending these to our Ortho expert for his opinion but I think his hips look pretty good.
Why does he move like he has HD tho? He bunny-hops at times, he falls over a lot (he has horrible footing), and he seems to have pain at times. He's also pretty weak in his back-end - even with 2 walks a day and lots of free-play. His knees look good too, tho he is strait in his rear, but that's pretty typical of NK.
So what do you think? Could there be another issue, or am I just hyper-aware (paranoid) of movement issue due to owning so many screwed up dogs? Why is his back-end so weak? He gets as much exercise as the rest of our NK and they all have very strong back-ends. Thoughts???
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They look pretty good, huh? No HD there, as far as I can tell.
So, you know, once again this is an example of how much I have to learn. We'll be sending these to our Ortho expert for his opinion but I think his hips look pretty good.
Why does he move like he has HD tho? He bunny-hops at times, he falls over a lot (he has horrible footing), and he seems to have pain at times. He's also pretty weak in his back-end - even with 2 walks a day and lots of free-play. His knees look good too, tho he is strait in his rear, but that's pretty typical of NK.
So what do you think? Could there be another issue, or am I just hyper-aware (paranoid) of movement issue due to owning so many screwed up dogs? Why is his back-end so weak? He gets as much exercise as the rest of our NK and they all have very strong back-ends. Thoughts???
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Comments
I remember talking with Kathi (of Bali Hai) about how Tetsu Waddles and my worry that it was from HD. She said that sometimes that is just the way the individual dog will walk, that not always does something have to be wrong for them to move odd.
Now if you search normal canine hip xray images online, they look pretty comparable so they could be fine. Hmmm
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As for his footing, in the house he slips really easily. Our floors are slippery but the only other dog I've ever seen slip and fall a lot like Kaiju is Kahuna (who has severe HD).
Also, his back-end (hips) is narrow and the muscles on his legs are underdeveloped, which is common with HD. When he runs he bunny-hops.
Having written all that, when he trots his movement is really nice.
Vet didn't mention Pano, but it had crossed my mind.
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Taj also has underdeveloped muscles in her hind legs and hips, really straight back legs and slips like she's walking on ice in our kitchen which is bamboo (I'll see if I can get a video of it). She navigates carpeted floors and pavement just fine and can jump up and down off of things ok. I had one of our orthopods look at her a few years ago because I thought for sure she had something going on in the rear that could be contributing to the way she looks/navigates surfaces and the fact that she circles to the left when she gets worked up. The doctor examined her and said she was normal. Oh, and she looks normal when she trots too.
I also had our ophthalmologist examine her because I thought she was getting early cataracts, and she said her eyes were completely normal.
@hondru - Here are Kahun's hips at about the same age...
Note the gap between the ball and the socket (especially on the left). The ball of doesn't fit into the socket as tightly as Kaiju's x-rays... but also notice Kaiju's sockets are shallower than Kahuna's, so maybe that points to an issue.
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With that said I used to worry about Koda. He bunny hops and favors sides sometimes. He seems to have weak back legs. He will limp one day. Koda is extensively exercised and is an avid hiker with me. I jad his hips and knees checked and he's fine. His hips looked great in fact.
I'm thinking you have the same situation on your hands. It still worries me at times but I trust my vet and the orthopedic surgeon.
Koda was limping two days ago.
I had a shiba with moderate HD and he ran and moved so nicely ( I really should have had him tested again). I think it all depends on the animal to weather or not HD affects their living or causes pain. I hope Kaiju's hips are fine. Keep us posted.
Anyway, I hope Kaiju is ok.
What is pano?
I do hope everything is okay with the little guy!
thx @JennAB for the link!
"Hi Brad,
These hips look very good from my point of view. They certainly do not definitively rule out hip dysplasia, though to argue that he is having a clinical problem in his hind end… such radiographs should show problems. In a juvenile, I would be looking for such problems as luxating patellas. I know it is a drive, though if you want a once over I am sure Scot or myself would be happy to see you."
His patellas were cleared by our vet, but maybe we should have them checked by a specialist too. I think we will drive him to The Springs when he is closer to 1.5 years, he's so young now - things can change.
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Anyway, hope this is good news, then, that even your Ortho thought the x-rays looked good.
Its probably Just a puppy thing he'll grow out of. A lot of puppies develop strangely and even out as they get older. Hopefully he's one of them.
This sounds almost exactly like my Clifford, who had Lumbosacral Stenosis in his lower spine. I'm not a vet but I would absolutely have them X-ray your pup's back... it sounds neurological/spinal to me... so sorry you have to go through this.
Jen
I hope it's just growing pains, but who knows still good to check it out I guess.
He's clumsy, has horrible footing, stiff walk, really nice trot, but funny gallop, often favors a leg and swims 3-legged so I'm not imagining it.
Vet cleared his hips and knees. The hip x-rays look good, had his patellas checked, also took X-rays of both knees (i really thought his problem was in the right stifle). Every thing looks good. Could it just be growing pains? The vet said there was no sign of pano and his growth plates are closed. I seem to remember some talk of mysterious joint pains afflicting young male Shikoku's. For reference he's a year old now and 47.5 pounds.
Of course I may just be paranoid. We were at the dog park today and Ajax was playing with a little beagle/shepard mix and her owner commented how his dog was running all out, but Ajax has a lackadaisical big boy run. I'm not quite sure what he meant, I thought it kinda looked like he was favoring a leg.
As for the clumsiness that has slowly been improving. Now he occasionally performs feats of agility too. I was lying down on the the sofa the other day and he was standing on the other side of the sofa arm. From a standstill, he jumped straight up and landed with all four feet balancing on the sofa arm in order to suffocate me with kisses.