I have a male golden retriever, not quite three years old. He has quite severe hip dysplasia as shown on X-rays, though in normal activity he is fine.

At his age he's bursting with energy and I have been taking him round a local lake three times a week subject to weather, letting him run free where there aren't too many people. That's five miles for me and ten+ for him. Recently, though, when we come home and he's been laid down for a time, he has been limping for a few minutes and is clearly in some discomfort for a short time.

The vet says I must not take him for occasional long walks, just regular short walks, or I will hasten the time when his hips give real trouble. He does so love to run, though. I have heard that glucosamine sulphate can ease the build-up of calcium deposits and keep dysplasia joints free.

I don't want to cause him pain, but I don't want to take away all his pleasure either. Does anyone have any advice about glucosamine sulphate or any other preparation which would allow him to do at least some running without making his joints deteriorate?

Ewood I would follow your vets advise and only do what he can handle comfortably if you want your dog around for sometime with you. I do know we give aspirin for our dogs for occasional pain based on the size of the dog. I would ask your vet what he would recommend. Good luck and enjoy your pet!

Many thanks, Samantha. He's fine except when I allow him to overdo the exercise.

I'd rather avoid causing pain, then I won't have to give him aspirin. I think I'll try taking him a short way round the lake, then turning back without going all the way round. See how that works. If it still causes him distress I'll stick to short walks.

Great Ewood..I hope that your dog does well. If its anything like mine they really are your best friends!

Ewood,
I grew up with a black lab that had dysplasia - it was sad to watch her in pain. Luckily, she didn't really exhibit signs until she was 7 or 8 years old and we had her until she was 14. Unfortunately puppies don't understand why they're in pain later, so it's best not to do something that will irritate it further. Short walks are best - even a long walk at a slower pace is fine.

Your dog is so young to be experiencing this...did you know they actually do full hip replacements for dogs now? Not that I'm saying I'd do that, but since the dog is SO young, it may be food for thought.

I have a friend who has a yellow lab now who has Hip Dysplasia as well - - she gives her something called Joint Rescue (it's a form of Glucosamine Sulfate and Chondroitin) specifically formulated for animals. See info here about treatment suggestions for Hip Dysplasia as well as the "Joint Rescue" product at the following URL
Hip Dysplasia

The one thing that I would suggest against (as does the info on the site) - - no matter how much a traditional vet tells you that steroid shots may help, DO NOT DO IT!!! Steroids will cause all kinds of other problems that you will not want to deal with. I would never use steroids on any animal or human. You might even want to give some consideration to a homeopathic/holistic vet who would likely have alot of treatment suggestions outside the ordinary - as well as the possiblity of an animal chiropracter.

Good luck to you and your pal!!!

Thank you, Lydia. Yes, he is young to show signs of dysplasia. In his original home with some friends of mine there are three children. They noticed the puppy was stiff after rest when he had been jumping about with the children. They had him X-rayed and that showed marked dysplasia. He couldn't be allowed to jump about while his bones were still forming, so he came to me for a quiet life (I'm somewhat older, a widower living alone). Now he's fully developed, but it's not fair to keep changing his home and his humans, so I've got him for good now. I wouldn't part with him.

Yes, I know there is surgery. It remains an option in this case, but is not something to be entered into lightly. It's expensive and has a long recovery period - and it doesn't restore full mobility.

Thanks for the advice and the warning about steroids. The vet suggests, first, not overdoing exercise so that he doesn't suffer pain and degeneration of the joints, then painkillers. Only when those measures aren't keeping him pain-free do we start to consider surgery. That seems a reasonable way to approach the problem.

I may well start giving him glucosamine if he seems to be suffering discomfort. I also asked this question on other Q & A sites and someone recommended massage. That also seems like a useful secondary way of helping him. So far all he needs is not to overdo the exercise.

Thanks for your good wishes.

My son's German Shepherd had slight hip dysplasmia and one of the things his vet recommended him doing was to watch her diet and not let her get over weight. This was difficult at times considering she was a chow hound but for her health sake he stuck to it. He also gave her aspirin occasionally for pain as she got older.

Thank you, vshelton. I'm already keeping his weight down, on the vet's advice, much to the dog's disgust of course! This is to reduce the strain on the faulty joints and has become so much a habit I forgot to mention it.

A very good point though.