I am very on the fence about what i really should do. We know without xrays that shadow has hip dysplasia. The meloxicam is helping alot. He really doesnt have any range of motion issues yet, but because of his size/build/age/breed my vet doesnt think he is a surgical candidate. The issue becomes is it worth the money and the sedation risk to do the xrays. Its the classic ostrich with its head buried in the sand since i cant do anything about it do i really even want to know at that point. My second opinion wants to see xrays but did agree that shadow was a "last resort, high risk" surgical candidate. So now what direction do i go. Between sedating him and xrays im looking at about $300, or i could wait until it gets worse to do the xrays.

There are different kinds of hip dysplasia. Knowing what kind you are dealing with can be useful. I've had dogs with two kinds. Keno had hd where he had no pelvic sockets. His hips didn't attach to much of anything and with that it is very important to do climbing exercises to keep the rear leg muscles strong because they are what holds his hips together. Kye has misshapen ball and sockets to his hips. square pegs in roundish holes for the most part and the edges scrape and it is painful. I limit the jumping the climbing for him because the longer the motion in the hip the more times the squared edges nick against the pelvic sockets. I also try to give a lot of cartilage supplements to him that didn't mean as much for the hd that keno had.

Both types of HD cause them to have gait issues. With strength training some of keno's odd gait went away but not totally, especially as he got tired. With Keno, he would have never had any pain issues with his HD barring some kind of tear to the muscle, while the kind that Kye has will be painful (already is) and will eventually require something be done whether that is surgery, more extensive pain meds, or euthanasia. We can't afford surgery.

We have a few low cost vets in the state if i want to drive up to denver. Another option is my uncle's roomate in vet school because he will take a payment plan but that is a 7 hour drive each way and the last option would be seeing if dogster will cover it and set up a payment plan with them.

Right now primary goal is pain management and trying to get the remaining extra 10 lbs off. At start of weight loss plan he was 109lbs. We are down to 90. Goal is between 75 and 80.

So i guess i need to schedule those xrays

Kye was sedated for his x-rays but keno didn't have to be. Knowing what you are dealing with exactly and at what stage you are at is helpful. A tailored management plan setup as early as possible can really make a difference in the long run. My experience has been vets can be a little doom and gloom about HD, regardless of type, but I wouldn't let them doom and gloom you too hard unless there's a lot of active cartilage deterioration and inflammation in the joint already. Weight is a huge factor. Kye got big, pushing 100 pounds, after we moved and was shuffling around and having trouble getting up. He's down to 85 now and back to moving well.