[mlopez]

Hey all,

Riot and I were playing around in the house this evening, and I started noticing a popping sound while he was chasing after his toy. It kind of sounded like what you hear when you crack your knuckles. I think its from his rear end, but it could be in the front. Is this normal? Should I be worried? He is 14 months now, so I don't know if he is still growing and it might be related to that? My regular vet does PennHip, and I have been considering doing this soon. But I know a lot of people consider OFA the gold standard, which I would wait on until he's 2. Sometimes he does seem a little stiff when he gets up after a long nap... Ugh, now I'm making myself worried. Should I be?

Thanks

 

[JusticeDog]

Hey all,

Riot and I were playing around in the house this evening, and I started noticing a popping sound while he was chasing after his toy. It kind of sounded like what you hear when you crack your knuckles. I think its from his rear end, but it could be in the front. Is this normal? Should I be worried? He is 14 months now, so I don't know if he is still growing and it might be related to that? My regular vet does PennHip, and I have been considering doing this soon. But I know a lot of people consider OFA the gold standard, which I would wait on until he's 2. Sometimes he does seem a little stiff when he gets up after a long nap... Ugh, now I'm making myself worried. Should I be?

Thanks

I would get him checked. I have never heard anything like this on my pups.... only on myself.

 

[mlopez]

I would get him checked. I have never heard anything like this on my pups.... only on myself.

Thanks Susan. That's kind of what I was thinking too. Guess a trip to the vet is in order.

 

[JusticeDog]

Thanks Susan. That's kind of what I was thinking too. Guess a trip to the vet is in order.

Is your pup really well toned up? even on some of what I'd call "low tone" dogs though, I've never heard this.... I hope it's nothing.

 

[Howard N]

You'll sometimes hear that sound with a bad cruciate.

Hope that's not the case.

 

[mlopez]

Is your pup really well toned up? even on some of what I'd call "low tone" dogs though, I've never heard this.... I hope it's nothing.

No, he is pretty much in perfect condition. All muscle. Most "non-dog" people tell me that he's skinny, but I think that's because everyone is used to seeing obese dogs.

Howard, how would the cruciate be diagnosed? Would you be able to tell on an xray or would we need to do an MRI?

 

[JusticeDog]

They can do it through radiographs and manipulation - they do a "drawer" test. Partial tears can be more difficult - and if suspected, they would recommend an MRI>

 

[hotel4dogs]

For sure get it checked. My older golden had that noise, and he ended up being diagnosed with hip dysplasia. In his case, that's what was causing the noise.
The good news is that his was fairly mild, one hip, and he's lived a normal healthy life in spite of it. It started to really bother him at about 12 years old.

 

[ErinsEdge]

I would do an OFA prelim for ease of mind. I do remember one puppy owner's vet saying the pup was dysplastic because of popping and it was not.

 

[jeff t.]

Those sounds are known as "crepitus" and can be associated with degenerative joint disease

Here is a google search on "canine crepitus"

http://tinyurl.com/5w5byt8

 

[frontier]

I would get him checked. I have never heard anything like this on my pups.... only on myself.

Wish I had paid more attention to that sound on a pup I purchased a few years ago... went ahead and put the pup in training at 5 months because the pro was heading north for the summer.. After investing several months training, the pro called me and said he believed there were some possible ortho issues.. prelims came back from OFA with grade III elbow dyplasia with DJD and hips were borderline as well...

I take those popping sounds seriously now..costly lesson learned..

Also, all dogs get OFA prelims on hips/elbows now..no matter what

 

[mlopez]

Wish I had paid more attention to that sound on a pup I purchased a few years ago... went ahead and put the pup in training at 5 months because the pro was heading north for the summer.. After investing several months training, the pro called me and said he believed there were some possible ortho issues.. prelims came back from OFA with grade III elbow dyplasia with DJD and hips were borderline as well...

I take those popping sounds seriously now..costly lesson learned..

Also, all dogs get OFA prelims on hips/elbows now..no matter what

Thanks for the lesson.

I'm going to start looking for a vet around me to do his prelims ASAP. I want to know if anything is going on before I put more time, energy, and money into his field training. I think I would cry if it turns out bad (or not "good"). I know that it can happen to any dog...

 

[JusticeDog]

You're living in a good area in Chapel Hill................

 

[2tall]

Do any of you do prelims on a regular basis? And if so when? I am thinking that I have the real deal in my pup, and wonder if I should do some tests now? I am not and do not intend to be a breeder, but is there a good reason to check him out now at 9 months?

 

[mlopez]

You're living in a good area in Chapel Hill................

I figured that the best place to take him to get them done would be NC State Vet School. I'm going to call them tomorrow to see what they would charge. Do you know of anywhere else around me that would be good?

 

[Billie]

Do any of you do prelims on a regular basis? And if so when? I am thinking that I have the real deal in my pup, and wonder if I should do some tests now? I am not and do not intend to be a breeder, but is there a good reason to check him out now at 9 months?

I would do him now. I usually prelim mine at around 8mos. If its a male that I plan to run on for tests and future breeding- I will re do them again at around 18 mos. Then finals at 2. Dont want any surprises. Do hips and elbows...

 

[ErinsEdge]

I would do prelims on any dog that you buy for competition and 9 months is perfect. I don't do prelims on many dogs I have bred from my lines, but I do occasionally, especially if I question the hips or elbows

 

[frontier]

Do any of you do prelims on a regular basis? And if so when? I am thinking that I have the real deal in my pup, and wonder if I should do some tests now? I am not and do not intend to be a breeder, but is there a good reason to check him out now at 9 months?

(See #11)

OFA prelim hips elbow my Labs at 8-9 months and Boykin Spaniels
at 1 year old - I use orthopedic vet and their office can normally get the x-rays done without sedation which I prefer it at all possible

 

[jeff t.]

I figured that the best place to take him to get them done would be NC State Vet School. I'm going to call them tomorrow to see what they would charge. Do you know of anywhere else around me that would be good?

I live in Durham but have all of my dogs OFA and Penn-Hip radiographs done by Dr. John Shontz at Sanford Animal Hospital in Sanford, NC. I know others who travel much farther than I do to take their dogs to Dr. Shontz for x-rays.

Here's a link http://www.sanfordah.com/staff.html

 

[mlopez]

I live in Durham but have all of my dogs OFA and Penn-Hip radiographs done by Dr. John Shontz at Sanford Animal Hospital in Sanford, NC. I know others who travel much farther than I do to take their dogs to Dr. Shontz for x-rays.

Here's a link http://www.sanfordah.com/staff.html

Thanks Jeff! I'll give them a call tomorrow.