Hip bones? Normal?

[jaxx]

Hello All,

Weird and maybe silly question... are these just his hip bones sticking out?

I don't believe Jax is skinny to the point where his bones would be showing (If anything he could probably lose 1-2 pounds), so I'm curious if this is normal?

I don't notice these sticking out on his brother.

 

[Firestar Dobe]

Well first, from the top view he doesn't look too skinny. As for the way the bones and tail are aligned, I have never seen that. Has your vet said anything about it? Hopefully someone with more knowledge will jump in and be able to help.

 

[jaxx]

Well first, from the top view he doesn't look too skinny. As for the way the bones and tail are aligned, I have never seen that. Has your vet said anything about it? Hopefully someone with more knowledge will jump in and be able to help.

My vet never said anything about it but then again, I never pointed it out to them. I’ve honestly never thought anything of it until now. I do have an apt on Friday so I will bring it up then. I was just curious if anyone had any idea if this is normal

 

[Firestar Dobe]

I would definitely ask the Vet about it. Hopefully he will be able to give you an answer! Please keep us updated!

 

[Ravenbird]

That doesn't even look like where the hip bones should protrude on a skinny dog... very strange. I'm assuming he is acting normal and not lame or sore? Did this come up quickly or one of those things that slowly developed before you noticed? Maybe you have puppy photos to compare to?

I hope you share your visit with your vet, I'm curious!

 

[jaxx]

That doesn't even look like where the hip bones should protrude on a skinny dog... very strange. I'm assuming he is acting normal and not lame or sore? Did this come up quickly or one of those things that slowly developed before you noticed? Maybe you have puppy photos to compare to?

I hope you share your visit with your vet, I'm curious!

I feel like they have always been there. I’ve just never thought anything about it until he was having a play date with his brother and I was looking at them both and noticed his brother doesn’t have that. He doesn’t seem phased by them, but it sure is interesting.. I will update Friday!

 

[jaxx]

That doesn't even look like where the hip bones should protrude on a skinny dog... very strange. I'm assuming he is acting normal and not lame or sore? Did this come up quickly or one of those things that slowly developed before you noticed? Maybe you have puppy photos to compare to?

I hope you share your visit with your vet, I'm curious!

I also wanted to add.. I did look back on puppy pics and I def see them, they might look more prominent now, or it’s just because I was taking a pic of them directly.

 

[Ravenbird]

What I'm seeing is the pelvis bones higher than the spine. The "hips" are actually where the ball joint of the femur fit into that socket just below this. Maybe his structure is normal but he is lacking muscle over that area? If he's sound and happy, I think that's all that matters. Do let us know what the vet thinks!

Here's some help picturing what I'm talking about:

 

[jaxx]

What I'm seeing is the pelvis bones higher than the spine. The "hips" are actually where the ball joint of the femur fit into that socket just below this. Maybe his structure is normal but he is lacking muscle over that area? If he's sound and happy, I think that's all that matters. Do let us know what the vet thinks!

Here's some help picturing what I'm talking about:

View attachment 128549

Ahh, yea that makes sense. He isn’t really an overly active boy so it could definitely be he is just lacking muscle.

 

[Rits]

Do you have an entire side shot of him? Yeah, that isn't where his "hips" would be protruding (what most people call the pelvis bones on thin dogs). Looks like a possible fatty pocket and/or lack of muscle. I've seen similar on out of shape horses. Do you feel anything there when you palpate it? Hard and firm or soft and squishy?

 

[jaxx]

Do you have an entire side shot of him? Yeah, that isn't where his "hips" would be protruding (what most people call the pelvis bones on thin dogs). Looks like a possible fatty pocket and/or lack of muscle. I've seen similar on out of shape horses. Do you feel anything there when you palpate it? Hard and firm or soft and squishy?

It feels hard like a bone or a muscle, it's been there ever since I can remember. I just looked back on puppy pics and I notice it, even back then.
He's 14 months and 100 pounds, I def don't think he's underweight so not sure why they are protruding so much.
Here's a few side shots of him.

 

[JanS]

I've never seen hip placement quite like in the upper photos but he looks totally normal in the last two. Handsome boy!

 

[Kswoodssue]

Initially I thought about some type of fat deposit/tumor also, but I don’t think that would be bilateral. This looks to be even on both sides. It almost seems that the lumbar region has a belted in appearance, as there seems to be a slight ridge at the beginning of the rib also. He is a beautiful dog! Hoping the vet gives him a clean bill of health!

 

[Rits]

It feels hard like a bone or a muscle, it's been there ever since I can remember. I just looked back on puppy pics and I notice it, even back then.
He's 14 months and 100 pounds, I def don't think he's underweight so not sure why they are protruding so much.
Here's a few side shots of him.

So the technical term for what I think I'm seeing are the perirenal fat pads. They typically show if they are a little overweight or lack muscle in that area. He's a big boy at 100lbs, you don't hear about them often being over that size for a standard male. Especially since he has more growing/filling out to do. I think 90-95lbs is typical for males but he may be tall. How tall is he? I think, looking at his tummy tuck and wrinkles over his shoulders, he could maybe lose a single pound or two to have him perfect. See if that makes those pads go away any. In addition, some exercise couldn't hurt for building more muscle in place of the pads. He doesn't look obese at all, just maybe could be a touch more trim. Of course all of that after you have the vet check them out on Friday! He looks healthy with that shiny coat!

 

[jaxx]

So the technical term for what I think I'm seeing are the perirenal fat pads. They typically show if they are a little overweight or lack muscle in that area. He's a big boy at 100lbs, you don't hear about them often being over that size for a standard male. Especially since he has more growing/filling out to do. I think 90-95lbs is typical for males but he may be tall. How tall is he? I think, looking at his tummy tuck and wrinkles over his shoulders, he could maybe lose a single pound or two to have him perfect. See if that makes those pads go away any. In addition, some exercise couldn't hurt for building more muscle in place of the pads. He doesn't look obese at all, just maybe could be a touch more trim. Of course all of that after you have the vet check them out on Friday! He looks healthy with that shiny coat!

He is a little above 30” (at the withers) (I should also add he is full euro if that makes a difference on weight/hight)
Do you really think they could be fat pads? He's had them as a puppy, I looked back on older pictures and could slightly see them.
Also, they feel hard, like bone and not like fat pads.
I do agree, he could probably loose 1-2 pounds regardless.

I'm definitely curious what the vet says!

 

[Ravenbird]

I'm definitely curious what the vet says

You've got company on that!

 

[Rits]

He is a little above 30” (at the withers) (I should also add he is full euro if that makes a difference on weight/hight)
Do you really think they could be fat pads? He's had them as a puppy, I looked back on older pictures and could slightly see them.
Also, they feel hard, like bone and not like fat pads.
I do agree, he could probably loose 1-2 pounds regardless.

I'm definitely curious what the vet says!

That makes sense about his weight then with him being 30"! Thank you for the answers, it definitely helps a little in trying to narrow down what it could be while we wait for tomorrow Fingers crossed you have some answers (good ones) and not more head scratching.

 

[jaxx]

**Update

We took Jax this morning to get his Bordetella Vaccine, and the visit was SUPER quick because they were very busy.
However, I did manage to ask our vet what those bumps could possible be.
She did not seem concerned at all, and said she thinks they are either muscle and/or fat deposits.
She mentioned he is not overweight, but shouldn't gain anymore weight.
She really didn't seem concerned, so I'm hoping its either muscle/fat deposits.

Should I ask for an X-ray or bring him to a different vet for another opinion?
I trust our vet, however I've never seen these on any other Doberman.

 

[Ravenbird]

She really didn't seem concerned, so I'm hoping its either muscle/fat deposits.

Should I ask for an X-ray or bring him to a different vet for another opinion?
I trust our vet, however I've never seen these on any other Doberman.

Since he's sound and not in any kind of pain, I can see her point. It's sad that vets are so busy now and have little time to spend discussing or explaining, but I understand that's the way it is now days.

I did show my housemate the photos - she worked for a vet for 17 years and an animal control/shelter for 8 years and she said she'd never seen anything like that either. We did talk about "fat pones" as we use to call them on horses, but they usually are present when the dogs are pretty obese - you see them on Labs sometimes - but I've never seen them so prominent with the deep dip between them.

Most likely that is what it is, since the vet didn't seem concerned. I'd say more exercise would be very beneficial and with toning his muscles losing weight would come naturally. If he's not use to much exercise, just start with long walks and short periods of something fast like playing ball.