German Shepherd with hip dysplasia?

Omega 3 fatty acid supplements help with arthritis in humans and animals both. Go to Sam's Club and get some of the sardine based fish oil (sardines are not as over fished as salmon) that has had the PCBs, dioxins, and mercury distilled out. A big bottle is like $13 and will last you months. Give her 4 per day along with 400 IUE of vitamin E (the body uses up vitamin E while it breaks down fish oil, so it's helpful to supplement it). Along with the glucosamine supplements, ester C is another big one. 2000 mg of ester C a day will also help the pain of hip dysplasia.

Probably the most important thing though: keep Molly lean! Any extra weight on her will put extra force on her hips. You want to be able to see 2-3 ribs from the side. You may consult a holistic vet for more ideas.

Edit: Kimberly, my husky/Rottie with arthritis is also on the Synovi G3 chews. He likes the taste and it seems to help!

Hip dysplasia is a genetic joint disease caused by over breeding and inbreeding in large dogs. The younger the dog, the sooner she will have to be put down. The pain is severe. Some suggestions as already stated are:

Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM - about 1000 mg daily. Confirm with vet.

Fish Oil capsules - again about 1000 mg daily.

Aspirin - one baby aspirin as needed

Be aware that your dog is in severe pain. The above products will only help to manage the disease. Because it is genetic, it cannot be stopped by these means, only treated. Please consider how you would feel if your hips hurt with every step you took, and then you might want to rethink the pain killers and anti-inflammatories and steroid shots.

For future reference, make sure the next large dog, of whatever breed, is certified to be free of this genetic disease and that you have a money back guarantee. Of course, this doesn't help in replacing a lost friend and companion.

I have a 7 year old GSD with severe bilateral hip displaysia. She cannot tolerate Rimadyl, nor most pain medications.

As recommended by my holistic vet, I have her on Synovi G3. That, combined with acupuncture, has almost completely eliminated her symptoms and she is pain-free. I do occasionally give her a Bayer aspirin if she's been out playing rough to keep the pain and swelling away.

I find these to be pretty good results, considering she was unable to walk by 2 years old and my conventional vet told me to put her down.

Then why did'nt he tell you to get your dog on glucosomine/chrondroitin and give you the proper dosage for your dogs weight?

Keep a heating pad handy too and apply it to sore areas 5 minutes set on medium 3x a day followed by a gentle 15 minute massage to get the circulation moving faster and daily walks are necessary to keep the joints from getting stiff. You're not going to run a race. But you need to keep the dog as limber as possible. The stiffer she gets the worse the pain.Also keep her off concrete as much as possible. It's too hard on the joints. Provide her with plenty of soft places to lay too.

i have shepherds to so i know what u you mean, there are always other options .. i used to work for a vet who did acupuncture..its amazing iv seen dogs unable to stand walk in a matter of days start walking.. sure every case is different but its an alternate option..research it, exercise is key.. not long walks but go up hills slowly to help build muscle and when u come down weave so the dog has to uses all its muscles in its hind end.. walk slow..the slower the better ..good luck

i heard that the dog should swim in like 3 feet water and this thats 2weeks but it helps!!... try walks lots of them with many stops. like you take ur dog on a walk threw the park stop at almost every bench for her to relax at least 2 times a day for the first week second week 3 times a day often stops then fourth week 3 times a day and 2 stops less... and she should be used to walk around with out the painand by like week 10 she should be able to walk without the pain the whole entire walk!! ohpe this helps(not sure about the swimming part a friend told me about it)

Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements help keep the joints smoother and healthier. Omega fatty acids are natural anti-inflammatories (to some extent). Science diet has a food, j/d, that reduces the formation of arthritis.

Chrondritin, Glucosamine and MSM...

Glucosamine/Chondroition. Get it at the drug store.

No, take her to the vet and get her real treatment please.