Question: I have a 10-month-old chocolate lab puppy. He has been very healthy and happy, but lately after I play fetch with him, he starts to run in a strange way where his back legs sort of hop. He sometimes cries as he is trying to get up after taking a nap. He may limp for a few steps and then he seems fine and wants to play. He is eating great and everything else is normal. Should I be worried? Is this normal? — Kileigh
Answer: Labrador Retriever puppies are often full of energy and love to play. They are a large breed of dog and often weigh 60 to 100 pounds. Large-breed dogs can be prone to developing a condition in their rear quarters called ?hip dysplasia?.
Hip dysplasia is a condition where the hip joint does not form correctly and results in a loose unstable joint. The ball and socket joint may be more like fitting a ?square into a round hole?. The joint doesn?t move smoothly and grates and rubs causing pain and inflammation. This condition gets worse as the dog ages. Many dogs will ?bunny-hop? when running, or swivel their hips from side to side as they walk. They will attempt to transfer most of their weight onto the front legs. They can have difficulty getting up from a sitting position.
Your veterinarian can do an examination to palpate the hip joint and check it in flexion and extension. Generally X-rays will be needed to diagnose the condition. In cases where hip dysplasia is severe in a young dog, surgical correction may be the best option.
Milder cases of hip dysplasia can be treated with NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Rimadyl, Deramaxx, or Metacam). Feeding a good-quality large-breed puppy food is very important. In the past, some puppy diets caused huge growth spurts and made this condition more likely to develop. Vitamin C and Vitamin E can be helpful. You can feed a food with glucosamine and chondroitin added into it, or choose supplements like Dasuquin or Cosequin.
It is very important to have frequent visits with your veterinarian to develop a diagnosis and plan for your puppy as soon as possible.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals has program to certify breeding dogs with good or excellent hips. This involves sending X-rays of a dog that is 2 years or older to the OFA for the radiologists to score the conformation of the hip joint. While this system is not infallible, it has helped to select parents that are free of the severe forms of hip dysplasia. It is best to choose a puppy whose parents have been certified by the OFA.
Dr. Baker
Baker Veterinary Clinic
1801 S. Congress Ave.
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Read more articles by Dr. Baker | Ask her a question
Source: http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/pawshere/2011/01/03/lab-puppys-bunny-hop-may-be-hip-dysplasia/
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