Hip problems

by April
(nj)

My puppy is 12 months old. Since we got him last August he has limped 3 separate times for no apparent reason. There was no injury that I could see. These episodes occurred for 3-4 days each one was almost a week. Is it possible that there is an underlying cause?

I have read numerous articles about inbred dogs and I cannot determine if my puppy is inbred. I have contacted his breeder (bought the puppy in a pet store) and they assured me there were no family problems.

Also, what do you think about pet insurance? Is it worth it and what kind of plan is the best to get?


Hi April
It's very difficult for me to guess at the reasons behind your dog's limping episodes, however there are a couple of possibilities.

Every breed of dog has it's own genetic pre-disposition towards diseases and conditions. Some breeds tend to have problems with their hips and joints, these are often large, heavy dogs such as Rottweilers and Labrador Retrievers.

This malformation of the hips/elbows is called dysplasia and can definitely cause episodes of limping. However, large breed puppies grow very rapidly and can experience 'growing pains' in their joints which can also cause limping.

The only way to accurately tell whether or not your dog has serious issues with his hips/joints is to have them X-rayed. Actually these kinds of problems aren't limited to inbred dogs, if two dogs who have poor hips (but are genetically un-related) are mated they can produce puppies with poor hips. This is why it's advisable to insist on OFA rated parents when looking at dogs of these kinds.

Health insurance is worth every penny in my opinion! Veterinary care isn't cheap, and if your dog gets sick or has an accident it will pay for itself many times over.

However, it's very important to pick the right insurance for your needs. The premiums and deductibles can vary, as can the conditions etc. that they cover. The majority will not cover pre-existing conditions (so if your pup has a veterinary history of joint/hip problems when you subscribe to insurance, they will not cover veterinary care for anything related to that). Some policies cover routine care and medications, some charge extra for them.

I'd recommend that you check out my Pet Dog Insurance page, as it has tons of tips, advice and information on choosing an insurance policy and even has some questions that you can ask before you make a decision.

Best of luck!