Has my dog got a hip problem ?

[dogcrazie892]

hi, I have a 3 and a half year old Cocker Spaniel and is slightly overweight.

Last year I noticed whenever he ran, he wouldnt use one of his back legs, so that he would run like a rabbit or hare. But then the limping stopped.

2 weeks ago, another one of my family members took him and my other dog on a walk and they both swam in a pond for approximately 5 minutes or so.
He was perfectly fine after the walk until the next day.

I started to notice a week ago that he cant get onto sofas and our beds and stuff like that. He would put his front end on the sofa/bed then stare at us to give him a lift/boost up. Also he sleeps more often than he did. But he is still eating and drinking and his happy self !

What is the matter with him ?  Has he got a hip problem ?

[dogcrazie892]

Hi, thankyou for the advice.

We do only sometimes get the shops own brand. But we mainly get Butchers, are they ok ?

[Misfits4Me]

Hello.....Make sure your canned food is HIGH QUALITY (This makes a huge difference. That means NOT purchased at a Discount center or Grocery Store......These foods are packed with un-needed calories!
You want real food with out the fillers like corn, wheat, or soy. These carbs are fattening and unnecessary.... You want NO by-products, chemical preservatives or dyes in the food...Read your label....Look for any kind of sugar product listed...Get rid of that, too.....

Split his feedings into twice a day and add healthy fillers (Mentioned above), and he will start losing his extra weight....Good luck and let us know how he's doing......Karla

For low calorie snacks: Again, stay away from pre-packaged treats  at grocery or discount stores....Baby carrots are a favorite of my crew....Raw or dehydrated chicken feet are wonderful & loved by all, Sliced apples, or Healthy NO grain treats from good pet stores. There are many possibilities!

[dogcrazie892]

Hi, thanks for the advice.

I only give him 1 can per day and maybe some tidbits during the day but thats it.

[Misfits4Me]

I agree with Ginger.....Plus, You might google "Luxating Patella" in Canines.....The age and short leg breed of your dog falls into this class.....

Ideal weight will help any orthopedic problems.....For low calorie fillers, use green beans (If canned, make sure you rinse well), grated carrots, Rice cakes, fruits & other veggies....Add some of these daily to his food bowl...Gradually, start cutting back on the amount of regular food you feed.....

A good Canine "Joint Supplement" would be very useful for your guy for life.......Good luck and let us know what you find out....Karla

[ginger899]

It might be wise to take him to be checked over at the vet's. It could be a hip problem, or it could be some spinal thing. Who is to know? Dogs are so stoical most of the time, and an ache here or there can get ignored until it gets so bad they can't move! Sleeping more can be a sign of pain.
On the other hand, it may be nothing more than a sprain or similar. If any hip or spine problem is ruled out, then you will know, it most likely is a recurring sprain, or strained tendon.

If by chance he spends a lot of time in the house, or not very active (for instance, if people go out to work) -then when they come home, he charges about very quickly after lying still -that can cause sprains and strains as the muscles have not had time to warm up before strong exercise.
I would have him checked over to be on the safe side.

It might be wise to work on his weight. Extra weight will put added strain on his whole frame. 2 meals a day of high quality food, smaller treats, just once or twice a day, should help to slim him down a bit.