Luxating Patella & Hip Displasia?

[libbylewis]

My 18 month Brittany cross, Larry was diagnosed (x-ray) with bilateral hip displasia at the ripe old age of 6 months.

We've been managing this with the usual regime of cartrophen, dietary supplements & restriction of off-leash activity etc.

I've noticed that over the last 5 months Larry's right hip/leg (in particular) has been causing him to pull up, in pain, quite regularly. Any twisting or turning when belting round the garden (usually when chasing poor old Hugo the cat) often ends with Larry yelping, holding his right hind leg off the ground for several minutes.

When this happened this morning I gently massaged his right back leg & felt a click - as if his knee had been out, rather than his hip.

Is it possible that Larry has a luxating patella of the right hind leg as well as the bilateral hip displasia, and this is what's been causing him to pull up lame so often over the past 5 months?

Yes, we will be heading off to the vet to get this checked out, but can anyone here shed any light on what might be going on ?

Libby

[CavsRcute]

My girl also has bilateral hip dysplasia and a luxating patella. The patella has never caused her any problems but wehave managed the HD with acupuncture and physio since she was diagnosed, and the vet believes this is why she hasn't had any problems with the patella. If he is chasing the cat and then pulls up lame it could be his patella. The mean old vet will probably tell Larry that he is not allowed to chase Hugo...they know how to spoil a boy's fun

[libbylewis]

Thanks CavsRcute.

I'll follow up your advice re accupuncture & physio when I take Larry to the vet.

It seemed odd that while both hips are dodgy, it has been Larry's right leg/hip that's been causing so much trouble.

Now how are we going to stop Larry chasing Hugo?

Give your little cavvy a big but gentle hug from me.

Libby

[CavsRcute]

Libby, that's the other thing that was interesting....Everything that goes wrong with Lani is down her right side. Her right hip and patella are dodgy, if she gets a sore ear it's on the right side. and if her back gets sore it's also on the right side.

You can really notice it when she does an exercise that involves me lifting her left leg and she has to balance on her right. It is very hard to get the left leg to lift off the ground as she finds it hard to balance on the right.

The funny thing is I first noticed all of this because she was lame on her left front leg. It was the physio that suggested that she might have HD after spending thousands of dollars to find out why she was limping on the front.

I will give her a hug when she wakes up and I hope you find an answer for Larry.

There's something about spaniels