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Hi Rose, I'm so sorry to hear that Lady is not doing well. Though it does sound as though maybe there is a hip problem, the other symptoms you described make me think that maybe it's spinal and perhaps system failure with the bowels and kidneys. Though trouble urinating could also be kidney stones. I suggest a possible spinal issue because my German Shepherd had degenerative myalopathy (I'm sure I spelled that wrong). Basically, some lines of German Shepherds start having degeneration of the spinal cord from midback down. Onset starts at about age 7. To watch an affected dog move, one would think it was hip dysplasia. If I hadn't had her hips x-rayed prior to the onset, and armed with the knowledge her breeder will not breed anything with even slightly questionable hips even if they pass OFA certification, I would have thought she had hip problems. To my knowledge, a genetic marker has not been found yet and it's not sure if the cause is genetic, environmental, or dietary. The late onset means affected breeding dogs have already been used for breeding before the symptoms arise. On the other hand, if it is her hips, the pain there would make bowel movements uncomfortable due to how they arch their backs and flex their hips to defecate. Hip issues will cause trouble for a dog to walk, get up or down, take steps or even get in and out of any vehicle. As for treating the pain, there are many holistic options. Supplements of glucosamine and chondroiton sulfate are excellent and completely safe. My favorite source (which I used for my gsd, my collie, and my boyfriend's 13 year old husky mix) is SpringTime Inc (www.springtimeinc.com). They have products for dogs, horses, and people. Another supplement is Duralactin, which is a milk based product that works great and dogs love the chewable tablets. I used this on my gsd and the husky mix to great results. It is available at some of the better pet supply stores, your vet should have it, or you can order online from many pet supply catalogs. My favorite place online is KV Vet Supply (www.kvvet.com). I hope this helps. Please keep us updated on her. ~Jill