hip problems

[anyoldname76]

Hi, I've just got back from the vets with our dog, he's a lab crossed with a Newfoundland, he's been limping on his back leg. The vet has x rayed him and says his hips are terrible. We haven't got pet insurance but she has told us to get it ASAP. He's only 1, he had a problem with his front leg just before Christmas which was a pulled muscle.
At the moment she's put it down as another soft tissue injury so hopefully we can get insurance to cover his hips.
Has anybody been through this with a young dog. I feel heartbroken at the moment

I am amazed that a vet is suggesting / helping you to commit an insurance fraud .

It's not insurance fraud. He's pulled his hip. Upon X-ray she's discovered his hips aren't in good condition which will cause him problems in later life. We've paid for his treatment now. Thanks for the helpful comment

If you insure him now and you don't tell the insurance company that he has had X-rays and the hips look 'terrible' ( your words) then that to me would be an insurance fraud - if of course you are going to tell them then that's ok - but I doubt anyone would cover him with that knowledge .

Of course we will his notes are also available at our vets.

I am. More concerned about his quality of life and wanted to hear from people that had been through a similar experience, not to be accused of fraud when all I am bothered about is our dog

The wording of your post led me to the same conclusion as Floral, sorry. Unless the vet is planning on omitting this from his clinical history or fudging the dates (and thus committing fraud) you will not now get insurance cover for his hips.

Both labs and newfies are known to have a high rate of hip dysplasia. :( Depending on the severity there are multiple management/treatment options including surgery.

OK Thanks I will report my post as it isn't about the insurance

Sorry I've misconstrued the wording of your original post , i do hope you sort your dog out .

There might be a lot you can do to prevent problems by being sensible about exercise and making sure he doesn't get overweight.
Avoid ball chasing as can damage hips with all the swerving and sudden stops, also no exuberant play with other dogs - labs can really play rough .
Avoid any exercise that gets him hyped up and over excited because that's when they can hurt themselves and not realise at the time.
Might be worth getting a ramp for car to avoid him having to jump in and out.
Swimming is good for strengthening the muscles that support the hips.

Totally agree with everything Ender has said. Your dog will also still be growing (another 2 years at least until fully grown) so you really need to make sure he is not over exercised at all. Do not let him run up or downstairs at all or jump.

It may be worth given him a glucosamine supplement (Cortaflex liquid for dogs is very good), it will help with keeping his joints lubricated.

Ask your vet which part of his hips are bad ( is it the joint into the socket, or the angles of the hips etc), is it both hips or just one sided, just one side can indicate a previous trauma, both sides is pretty indicative of hip dysplasia.

Not saying your vet is not correct but also may be worth asking your vet if an orthopaedic specialist could look at the x rays in rr dear to provide more information.