I know it won't get better, only worse if it is displaysia. I've just never seen it in another dog. If it turns out to be something bad its not like ill forget about him and get a new dog. However I do think I will get another husky down the road when I can and it will be the right way (through a good breeder) so I can be certain on what im getting into.

Josh, I suggest you start your pup on some supplements that may help him. In the search bar, type in "arthritis" and it will pull up a thread started by "Huskyluv". I give my two girls that have joint issues a majority of the supplements Val has listed and I have seen a really big improvement. I don't want you to get your hopes up too high, though I do honestly think it will help give your dog some much needed relief.

Try to keep walks low impact, meaning make him walk in the grass when you can, and don't make the walks too long. Lay rugs around your home so he isn't slipping and sliding around. Make things as comfortable as you can for him until you can get him seen. It's never easy dealing with something like this, especially with how severe your dog appears to be.

Also wanted to recommend trying out a chiropractic to see if anything is out of whack making things worse.

One good thing I have noticed since his first check with the vet back in march is that he doesn't bunny hop anymore from what I can see. He has the separated rear legs when running. I'm looking into taking him to an orthopedic specialist this time ill bite the bullet just so I can be sure before things get out of hand and things start going downhill if he does have a problem.

I'm glad you decided to take him in. X-rays aren't super expensive. I live in a ridiculously expensive area, and ours were $275. I know that's not cheap, but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. He just looks like it hurts when he walks.

seattlesibe wrote:

2 years is generally the proper age for x-rays, right?

I've seen breeders list "too young" for the certification in dogs under 2.

Granted, this is not for testing for a manifesting problem but for breeding line integrity.  

I think in this case x-rays are a must-do.  

The OFA will not certify hips under 2, but they will do a preliminary evaluation. So I could send in Dizzy's and get prelims, but they wouldn't do a final set until he was over 2 years old.

I most likely would have gotten the x rays if he didn't have the ear infections, that set me back $170 alone for vet visit culture and meds. The unexpected things in life.

Little bit of an update, Im starting a new job and will be able to pay for x-rays (without going into debt). I have noticed it is his right leg that is the issue not the hips, the strange walking etc was his compensation for that leg. I noticed when he runs now that he tends to keep that right rear leg more rigid after a while, now im almost certain that this is the issue. He has had some improvement over time but I will go and get him checked. Someone at the dog park likened his running to that of a three legged dog and I got a chance to be behind him while he was running to see for sure.

Any updates? I think our guy might have HD. He grew fa st and I'm guessing that may have contributed as neither parent have the hip issues. He's 6 months and 63pounds.

He got x-rays everything looked 100% or close to it. This was over a month ago, however recently he's had more energy and has wanted to start to run for more than a few hundred feet. His legs are still weak /cant jump and stand too long but he is more agile than he has been. He has also gained a few lbs and is around 45 now.

I'm placing optimism in his new activity but the docs have not come back with a definitive cause yet. It may be getting better.

Glad to hear.

Hopefully yours isn't serious. If he really did grow fast it's like a kid out of middle school not being used to the sudden height increase. Best of luck.

Thanks. We should be getting him in on Tuesday.

He has growing pains. His legs are really inflammed and he limps like he has hip dysplasia but all looked well on The film. Crisis averted.

i took Leo to the vet after he slip and fell on the tile floor in the kitchen and had a bit of swelling in his right hip area, had x-rays done today. the vet said that they looked good but they felt lose when they moved them around when he was sedated. recommenced no strenuous active, short walks, and free running at the dog park; and more carpet areas. i was wondering if weak hip muscles can be strengthen?

*UPDATE*
i did lots of digging around and searching for information on how to help him. i have started rehab with some  exercises for balance called high-stepping over Cavaletti poles and doggie squats as well as Passive range-of-motion exercises. until we can get are pool set up for him to do some swimming to tighten up thous muscles.
here are the links that i found most useful.
http://leerburg.com/hipart.htm
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/01/26/anti-aging-exercises-for-pets.aspx

update: the vet thinks that he might have growing pains with he toll us that can happen between 6 months - 2 years old, and it should clear up on its own, but he also gave us some pain meds if he needs them. in about a month he will be x-rayed to see if there is any change.