Hip displasia in young lurcher - help!

[Cluny]

I wonder if anyone has had experience of this condition.

We took on a young 6 month old lurcher from a reputable breed rescue (have had two lurchers from them in the past), we were told to limit his exercise due to the fact that he'd been thrown out on the streets and starved to the point of death. We duly did this, but as soon as he ran at all, he would end up lame.

I took him for X-rays last week and it turns out that the socket joint in his hip is incredibly shallow and there is, in the vets words, hardly anything holding the ball joint in place. His right hip is chronic and his left isn't quite as bad. The vet started talking about hip replacement op on both hips or shaving the ephemera head on the left hip, but that he would be left with a limp. Now this is a dog that lives to run and has a huge stride, I don't know how he would cope with being lame, oh and the vet said he already has arthritis in his left hip.

We are off to see the veterinary orthopaedic surgeon to discuss the case further, but I would like to hear if anyone has had experience of this condition in a young dog and what happened?

 

[keeperscottage]

We have a young Springador (the result of an accidental mating between now deceased gun dog trainer's young Springer dog and new gun dog trainer's lab bitch). I'd originally hoped to get the little Springador bitch from the "accidental" litter with the white tip on her tail, but she went to gun dog trainer's partner's sister - they called her Tarka and wanted to do agility with her, and we ended up with Pippa Puppy.....

Cutting a long story very short, gun dog trainer's partner managed to "borrow" Pippa Puppy by telling me he wanted to show her to a friend. In fact, he was taking her to the vet to be x-rayed (he knew I'd freak out if I knew the real reason!) because Tarka, the puppy I originally wanted, had been put to sleep at the age of only six months due to extreme hip displasia. Her hip problem was so bad, that she couldn't even bend over to reach a food bowl and had built up shoulder muscles to the point she looked like a Staffie! Sadly, Pippa Puppy has hip problems, too - it was traced back to dad - mum has very low hip score. Breeder paid for ALL the pups to be x-rayed, so was very responsible. We have been told that Pippa will be fine until late middle age, when her hips may then start being problematic. In the meantime, we're enjoying what is becoming a cracking little gun dog (even though others in the gun dog training group described her as "just a mongrel"!!) and will do all we can to keep her as mobile as possible into her later middle age. She's such a lovely little dog and what happened to her sister is SO sad! We're going down the homeopathic route (OH is qualified homeopath) and just hoping that she stays as well and active as she is now for as long as possible! We love her to bits and she's so well at the moment but we know it's not going to last forever!

 

[Cedars]

My Chloe had severe HD and arthritis by 9months.

She had the femoral head excision performed on both hips.

Sorry too upset right now but il try to come back to this thread... Meanwhile if you look through my older posts you'll see my decision making process xxxxx

 

[Taffyhorse]

My 4.5 year old Border Collie has recently been diagnosed with this. He has now been referred to a hydrotherapy unit and physio to build up his muscles on his back end. In his case I don't think its too bad but we are having to come to terms with the fact that it is a long term condition that needs managing and will have longer term health implications.

At present, he is on 40 mins twice a day off lead walking but he isn't allowed to hoon around (luckily he responds to 'steady'!), not allowed to play ball games (which he loves) and I have to massage and do some physio with him every day.

He will be assessed again in six weeks to see how he's progressing. As I say, his doesn't seem 'too' bad but it sounds like he will need careful management for the rest of his life. It is worrying especially when you don't know the outcome and I really feel your pain!

Good luck with yours - hope it all works out.

 

[Alec Swan]

I wonder if anyone has had experience of this condition.

We took on a young 6 month old lurcher from a reputable breed rescue (have had two lurchers from them in the past), we were told to limit his exercise due to the fact that he'd been thrown out on the streets and starved to the point of death. We duly did this, but as soon as he ran at all, he would end up lame.

I took him for X-rays last week and it turns out that the socket joint in his hip is incredibly shallow and there is, in the vets words, hardly anything holding the ball joint in place. His right hip is chronic and his left isn't quite as bad. The vet started talking about hip replacement op on both hips or shaving the ephemera head on the left hip, but that he would be left with a limp. Now this is a dog that lives to run and has a huge stride, I don't know how he would cope with being lame, oh and the vet said he already has arthritis in his left hip.

We are off to see the veterinary orthopaedic surgeon to discuss the case further, but I would like to hear if anyone has had experience of this condition in a young dog and what happened?

Oh dear. Things don't sound too good, and there are some points to be made, and a question mark, or two.

If your puppy was in a very poor state when rescued, then understandably, those doing the rescuing, would have poured grub in, probably from both ends, and therein may lay the problem. When rapid growth, or condition scoring spurts, take place, there, all so often can be the reason why growth deformities occur, and that can include OCD along with HD.

Para 3. "His right hip is chronic......". Is "chronic" the word that the vet used? If it is, chronic means long term, and at six months, such a diagnosis would surprise me, at the very least. It may well be that as it's been a good few years since I've given serious thoughts to the breeding of dogs, that technology has moved on, and perhaps HD can now be diagnosed at such a tender age.

How old is your puppy NOW, and what is the stated protein content of his diet (assuming that you're feeding a complete feed)? All may not be lost, but it doesn't sound too good. Sorry.

Alec.

 

[gunnergundog]

Ditto Taffyhorse....

Your vet is, of course, the best person to advise, but HD can be managed to a large extent in many instances by building appropriate muscle mass and minimising weight. I would get in touch with a good canine physio and consult them about swimming and pavement pounding plus other exercises to help. Good luck.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Ditto Taffyhorse and Gunnergundog. I won't bore everyone by yet again telling the full tale of my GSD with atrocious hips, but very briefly diagnosed at 12 months with severe HD, given a lifespan of 2 years before crippled, I built up muscle with swimming, steady exercise, hillwork etc and she lived until she was 13 without a days lameness. Her hip score was inthe 90s!
I also had a JRt with HD, she had the femur head removed at about a year old and though it took a time to get her to use the leg again she too lived a along and happy life, so please don't give up OP. Please don't be scared by Cedars post, although she sadly has now lost Chloe I believe that her girl did make a full recovery from the HD ops and it was due to other isssues that she was pts.

 

[Cluny]

Thanks so much everyone for sharing your experiences and advice, I must admit I'm nit feeling too optimistic, but will know better after we've seen the orthopaedic specialist. It is such a shame as he is an absolutely cracking dog and is so gentle with our 15 month old daughter who loves to kiss him on his nose.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

If the hip socket is so shallow, this is not good unfortunately. The hip excision wouldn't work, I don't think.

I'd want a referral to a specialist quick sharp. I'm linking you to someone on another forum who had two full hip replacements on her malamute done by the bionic vet bloke: there's hope, but sadly, you do have to consider finance and of course, quality of life for the boy.

http://www.petforums.co.uk/dog-health-nutrition/118528-diary-hip-replacement.html

 

[MurphysMinder]

I certainly don't want to give false hope, but the vets believed the reason my girl didnt have problems was because the socket was so shallow there was nothing to form bony spurs and arthritis (this is speaking from memory, it was over 30 years ago), and the muscle she built up held her hipjoint in place. Of course veterinary thinking and treatment has changed a lot since then, and I should add that she was never ever lame, we might have viewed things differently if she had been in pain.

 

[paulineh]

I too would recommend physiotherapy and Hydrotherapy which will build up the muscles and also allow the dog to exercise without weight bearing.

One of my Springers has Arthritis and after going swimming in the Hydrotherapy pool (He goes on a weekly bases) he no longer is on pain relief, only Stride Plus.

It is well worth using some joint supplement to help the situation.

 

[Cluny]

Thank you for those posts, definitely food for thought. We are back from an hour long consultation with the specialist and it looks like the best route for Raffles would be to have a double Triple Pelvic Osteotomy. This is a major op, so it is not a decision we are making lightly. We chatted through the other options, we were told that 1 in 5 dogs with HD lay down enough bone to 'right' the condition, ie the bone enlarges the socket joint and then holds the ball joint in place. However, the TPO op has a very high success rate and hopefully he would not be lame afterwards, which is very important as he is a dog that is bred to run very fast! The specialist also felt that Raffles is an ideal candidate for this op as he is lightly built, he is young enough and apparently doesn't have any sign of arthritis or bone fissures.

We have gone back and forth over this, as we do not want to put our dog through such a major operation and pain just on the off chance that he might be a bit better for a few years, but we have been told that this op has long term effects.

Now we are in negotiations with our insurance company (Direct Line) to see if they will cover the op cost of £3,500, as we've only had the policy about 6 weeks. Fingers crossed they agree!

 

[Dobiegirl]

Good luck with your dog and this op it does sound promising and good luck also with your insurers, I do hope they come through for you.

Please keep us updated on your dog.

 

[Alec Swan]

.......
Now we are in negotiations with our insurance company (Direct Line) to see if they will cover the op cost of £3,500, as we've only had the policy about 6 weeks. Fingers crossed they agree!

You may well find that what could be considered as a genetic deformity, is excluded from your policy.

Before you commit yourself to surgery, I'd check the small print. Insurance Companies don't see themselves as charities. Good Luck!

Alec.

 

[Cluny]

Dobiegirl, thank you that is kind of you.

Alec I have checked the wording of our policy and it's looking hopeful (famous last words), it says;


Hereditary and congenital conditions are covered under the policy as long as you were unaware of your pet's condition at the time you took out the policy.
As with any illness or disease, your pet must not be exhibiting any signs or symptoms of the condition prior to or within 14 days of the cover starting.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

My springer's tibia plateau levelling operation, £3000, was covered, but not the second because they claimed it was a pre-existing condition as one knee went then the other. We paid for the second op, so just check with the insurance company that they'll cover both. If both will cost only £3500, I'm changing to your vet right now! It's a bloody big op, so I'd be surprised if that price is for both.

 

[Alec Swan]

.......

Alec I have checked the wording of our policy and it's looking hopeful (famous last words), it says;

Hereditary and congenital conditions are covered under the policy as long as you were unaware of your pet's condition at the time you took out the policy.

I would say that you're in the clear, and that they have no choice but to honour their commitments. If, for instance, your dog were of a breed which is known to have hereditary defects, then they may use that as an argument, but for what it's worth, from the many lurchers which I've owned, and been involved with, over many years, it's a new one on me!

As an aside, is there anyone on here who can speak with authority, and say whether puppies of six months are actually diagnosable, for HD? I've certainly known of puppies, from the breeds at risk, which given time, have grown through what would appear to be the worrying early signs, and have grown into athletic and apparently normal dogs. I'd be interested to hear. Perhaps C_C will have an opinion, as always, I'd be interested to have her thoughts.

Alec.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I don't know if it is authoritative or interesting and I can only speak about GSDs, but we do not score our dogs until one year old as it is thought that the hips are not properly developed until at least 12 months.
Some people take prelims at six months to have a general looksee but that is all it is, no inference can be drawn from how the hips will turn out unless the plates look like a Jackson Pollock painting.

You will find plenty of instances where vets have written off a young GSD (taken to the vet for looseness or unsoundness in puppyhood - the breed is notorious for being clumsy oafs as puppies!), advised massive surgery or PTS sometimes even without an x-ray and with a second opinion with a vet who is used to both the breed and how to take a hip x-ray properly (the dog has to be in a certain position) has turned out to be absolutely fine.

There was a very sad thread on forum where an American user was told that a pup she had sold had been PTS because of bad hips at eight months old.
She obtained the plates from the vet and they looked absolutely fine.

Having said all that, if a hip joint is that shallow, it is pretty easy to identify on an x-ray but for safety and because of my own experiences I would always wait until 12 months before making any rash decisions. Diet, exercise, accidental damage are all factors as well as the hereditary angle.

 

[Cluny]

I've had to take a few days before I could come on here with an update as we have had a rather traumatic week.

We took our beloved lurcher in for the operation on Monday, we spoke to the vet Monday evening and he told us that they had only been able to operate on the left hip, as Raffy had started bleeding profusely during the op. We were very worried, but thought he's in the best place. Then that night at 11pm we got another call from the vet to say that Raffy had crashed but that they'd got his heart started and were rushing in a blood donor dog to give him a transfusion.

By this point my husband and I were in tears and worried sick and feared the worst, the worst came at 2am, the vet called to say that Raffy had lost his fight and had died. I think I cried most if the night.

If this wasn't bad enough, the vet called the following day and between tears I asked him what had gone wrong. He admitted that he had 'nicked' an artery with his drill when working on the pelvis. The vet then also was in tears. I realise that vets are only human, but knowing that our beautiful 8 month old lurcher boys death was avoidable is very hard to come to terms with. I had to call the rescue that we got him from and break the tragic news. It was very hard as only a couple of months earlier the had rescued him from the streets of Solihull where he was at the point of death due to emaciation and had nursed him back to health, feeding him tiny meals eight times a day, and they saw him blossom.

We collected Raffy on Tuesday and brought him home ( my other lurcher was very distressed about loosing him) and buried him in our field where he loved to run. We miss him horribly and as my remaining lurcher is not coping well being an only dog, we will be taking on a rescue saluki from saluki welfare in the next few days.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Christ Cluny, that is awful feel awful for rattling on like that now.

Please, please do not blame yourself for trying to do the best you could for him, the time he had with you sounds like the first time he had met kindness in his short life and I am sure, wherever he is now, he will thank you for that x

Hoping your new arrival will lessen the pain somewhat, would love pics/an update.
There is a memorial thread at the top of the board if you want to do a tribute piece for Raffy xxx

 

[Cluny]

Bless you Cavecanem you didn't rattle on at all and thank you for your kind words, it has been a very tough few days, he was the kind of dog that really got under your skin, he was so joyful. At least we know he had a great three and a half months with us, we only wish it was a lot longer.

We are adopting a 2 year old Saluki called Mally, he has some issues but we have agreat set up here and enough knowledge to help him through them, here are some pics

http://www.salukiwelfare.org.uk/dogs_for_rescue.shtml

 

[CorvusCorax]

He looks wonderful, wishing you all the best with him xxx

 

[Dobiegirl]

I am so sorry to hear this devastating news and I imagine it has left you in pieces. He may have had a very short life but at least he learnt what it was to experience a lovely home and you must take comfort in this ,in the time he was with you he was happy and loved.

Im am so pleased that you have found room in your heart to give another dog a chance, Mally looks beautiful and he is lucky he is going to a lovely caring home.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I am so sorry to hear this, how heartbreaking. Don't blame yourself, you were trying to give him the very best chance. Mally looks lovely, I hope he helps ease the pain a little. RIP Raffy.

 

[Maesfen]

So very sorry to hear this. He had a great life with you, remember that. Good luck with Mally.

 

[s4sugar]

The law of S*d strikes again.
Hope Mally fits into the gap Raffy has left and I'm pleased to hear that Saluki rescue are letting you have him now rather than waiting because of the time of year.

Good luck.

 

[Alec Swan]

Cluny,

i'm sorry to be so late catching up with your awful news. Horrible, isn't it?

I suppose that the answer is, that if we can't cope with it, then we don't keep dogs. We keep dogs, of course, so we have to find a way. We have to find a way to move onwards, difficult though it is.

My thoughts are with you, as awful as it is.

Alec.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

My deepest sympathy, im so terribly sorry for you. What a bloody awful shame when he was having an op to fix him. Run free, Raffy.

Mally's gorgeous, I adore Salukis.

 

[Cluny]

Thanks so much everyone for your very kind words, I must admit it has been a very hard few months, I've gone from being very lucky and not loosing any animals for a long time, to loosing my beloved gelding aged 10 to arthritis in his neck (had to have him PTS) in October, then my very special saluki lurcher, who was 16 and I'd had since he was 3 (another rescue) in November, again arthritis in the neck, and he told me he'd had enough and I had him PTS, then Raffy in December. So am somewhat reeling.

Alec you are so right, I cannot imagine living without dogs or horses on my life, a home is not a home to me, unless it has dogs in it. I've gone from having 3 dogs to one in a short space of time and it feels very strange.

This is Raffy.

... and here is my old saluki lurcher boy who I lost in November (we think he was pure smooth haired saluki), snuggled up with my remaining saluki lurcher Azzie (with the fluffy ears)

... another one of my old chap, he was 15 in this photo