hips popping

Question
my 6 month old english bulldog is "very" active.  I recently noticed a popping
sound in his back legs when he walks.  It doesn't happen all of the time.  I
can't feel anything and he doesn't seem to be bothered in the slightest by it.  
Is this something i should look into further or is it just growing pains?

Answer
This popping sound occurs when the hip socket is shallow and the ball actually pops in and out with activity. Sometimes it only happens when a dog runs. It can occur in one hip or both. Bulldogs' hips suck. Their muscles are what holds them together.

Your puppy is still growing and still developing muscle mass. Usually this popping doesn't affect the dog at all in early years. I have a 4 yr. old with one hip that will pop when she runs and she's never lame, never sore, never limps. I suggest that you put your puppy on glucosomine supplements and keep him on them for the duration. It will help later on.

Don't let a vet talk you into hip replacement because of this.  Chances are he will live a long healthy life in spite of it.