I grew up watching my father train German Shepherds for police work in Northern California. Those dogs were athletes, bred for power and endurance, and when one went down with hip problems, it affected the whole family. I decided early that I wanted to be the person who could fix those dogs.
After veterinary school at UC Davis and a surgical residency at Colorado State, I returned to California to establish an orthopedic specialty practice focused on large breed dogs. For over twenty years now, hip dysplasia in shepherd breeds has been my primary focus. I have performed thousands of hip evaluations and hundreds of surgical procedures, from simple FHO to complex total hip replacements.
Why Hip Dysplasia Became My Specialty
German Shepherds and other herding breeds represent the largest portion of my caseload. These dogs are often working animals or active family companions, and hip problems devastate their quality of life. The breed's popularity means many dogs are produced by breeders who do not screen properly, perpetuating the problem.
I found myself frustrated by the information available to owners. Too much of it came from supplement companies with products to sell or from breeders defending their practices. Owners deserved access to unbiased, practical information based on clinical experience rather than marketing agendas.
This site represents my attempt to fill that gap. Every article here reflects what I tell owners in my consultation room. The same honest assessments, the same realistic expectations, the same practical guidance that I provide to families facing this diagnosis.
Credentials and Experience
DVM from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons with board certification in small animal surgery. Residency in small animal surgery at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Over twenty years of clinical practice focused on orthopedic surgery in large breed dogs. Specific expertise in canine hip dysplasia including:
- Femoral head ostectomy (FHO)
- Triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO) and double pelvic osteotomy (DPO)
- Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis (JPS)
- Total hip replacement (THR) using multiple implant systems
- PennHIP certified evaluator
- OFA radiograph submission and interpretation
I maintain detailed outcome data on my surgical patients and track complication rates rigorously. Transparency about results, including failures, helps owners make informed decisions and keeps me accountable for continuous improvement.
My Approach
I believe in plain language. Medical jargon obscures rather than illuminates for most owners. When I explain hip dysplasia, I use terms people understand. When I recommend treatment, I explain why in practical terms.
I believe in honesty about outcomes. Surgery does not always work. Conservative management has limits. Some dogs with dysplasia will have difficult lives regardless of intervention. Owners deserve realistic expectations, not reassuring fictions.
I believe in the economic realities of keeping dogs. Not everyone can afford total hip replacement. That does not make them bad owners. It makes them people working within constraints. Part of my job is finding solutions that work within those constraints.
I believe breeders bear responsibility. Not blame necessarily, but responsibility to test thoroughly, breed thoughtfully, and support buyers when problems arise. The genetics of hip dysplasia are complex, but that complexity does not excuse carelessness.
Why This Site Exists
I created this resource because I could not find one that satisfied me. Everything available was either too technical for owners, too simplified to be useful, or too influenced by commercial interests. I wanted a place where I could explain hip dysplasia the way I explain it in my consulting room: thoroughly, honestly, and practically.
The articles here reflect my experience and opinions. Other surgeons may disagree with some of my recommendations. That is fine. Medicine involves judgment, and reasonable professionals can reach different conclusions from the same evidence. What I will not do is pretend certainty where uncertainty exists or promise outcomes I cannot deliver.
If you are facing hip dysplasia in your Shepherd, I hope you find useful information here. If you have questions the articles do not answer, contact me. I cannot provide specific medical advice without examining your dog, but I can point you toward resources and help you ask better questions of your own veterinarian.
Contact Information
For general questions about hip dysplasia or the content on this site, please use the contact form. For specific medical questions about your dog, please consult with a veterinarian who can examine your animal directly.