Aww, I also got tears in my eyes reading that Zoey has hip dysplasia. But it sounds like it is manageable.
I put my Zoee on the glucosamine w/chondroitin a few months ago when she started limping. Her issue is her knee not her hips. So I think she will remain on this supplement for the rest of her life. She is also on Previcox, which I hope she doesn't have to be on forever, but she might. I am just lucky that she will take her meds like a treat. I throw it in her food, but if we forget I can just hand it to her and she gobbles it up.

My sister had several German Shepherds over the years and one female had hip problems. It got so bad my mom had to use a towel or something to lift her back end for her when she walked. She would have good days and bad days. She lived to be about 14 years old.

Did the vet mention how severe her hips were?