Thanks for having God bless my dogs!!! I think it God blessing me with them!!! They all have their "issues" but are amazing. I did not even mention my Cat that I was told may never walk or jump correctly again. She had an accident and was missing for 4 days! We found her in the gutter under the street. She had a broken hip and other injuries. The vet's told me that it would heal on it's own but she would walk funny.
Well she now beats up the dogs!!! Thank god I had her declawed or the dogs would be bleeding everywhere! It is a real mad house! All my animals give me laughs and hope even when they struggle every now and then. I wouldn't have it any other way!
As for your dog Rex. Does GSD stand for German Shepard? German shepards are known for hip problems. It is in how they were bred. The Eastern German shepard has more pronounced hip problems. It is NOT unusual for them to develop arthritis by the age of 5. Ask your vet therapies that may be possible. Aspirin therapy and good exercise may be a good thing to develop.
Poor Dirtnap is getting more exercise now that he is with me however, he has a hard time with stairs. He can't see well and he keeps falling down the stairs! It aggrevates his arthritis. I want him to go up and down the stairs but it kills me to see him fall down them! He won't let me catch him!