hip dysplacia

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clairelouisehorses

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Hi my Rotti was diagnosed with Severe Hip Dysplacia when she was 6 months old. She is now nearly 5 years old and she has had her peak with good health and now she is starting to go down hill with stiffness and lameness.

She has been to the vets today who has said she is quite badly lame in both hind legs and is now on pain killers, the vet is not sure if lameness is down to her cruciate ligaments in her knees coming apart or just down to her hip problem but he has suggested a knee operation if its her ligaments.

Was wondering if anyone else has been through the same thing with their dog and whether the operation does work as i am in two minds about her having it done and she also gets very stressed when at the vets
 
Firstly think yourself lucky! My dog was diagnosed at 12months and was so bad we had to operate straight away. Would have loved her to had the rest of her puppy time!!

Re cruciate. When Chloes second hip gave way I carried her in to the vet and the dappy woman vet told me it wasnt her hip it was her cruciate. I obviously disputed this and her usual vet agreed that it was the hip joint. However to be on the safe side he did xray both whilst she was under for her operation-and one leg was very marginally worse than the other. Because chlo is still so young there is a possibility that it just hasn't formed yet-as young dogs will have the movement in it older dogs shouldnt have-but more likely is that the strain she's been putting on herself whilst walking with her hips has done damage to it.

For me if your dogs hips are as bad as you say they are I would be looking at operating and then worrying about the cruciates after the hip op is done. I certainly wouldn't just be dealing with the knees and ignoring the severe hips.

Re hip operation, if you want blow by blow account of what to expect pm me! We had the femoral head excision done, not the full replacement.

And if it helps, this is 2months after Chloes last surgery-take support from how well thy recover!!

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Xxx
 
Rotties are known for cruciate problems, so I would definitely investigate this before looking at any sort of hip surgery. Mattilda and Cayla on here have both had rotties who have had their cruciates done, if they don't see this thread then perhaps you could pm them.
Stating the obvious, I presume her hips have been x rayed?If she was diagnosed with severe HD at 6 months you have done really well to get her to 5 without serious problems, and going against FH here I would think very hard about putting her through the hip surgery. In the end the best person to advise you is your vet, he will be able to study her x rays, and give you an honest opinion of what is the best option for her.
 
Ditto MM, there are too many vets diagnosing HD on sight, without X-rays, who have turned out to have no hip issues at all :(

But in the case of your bitch, at her age, I would not be going for surgery.
I would consult an expert vet in hips and see what they say. You (anyone) are under no obligation to stay with any vet and are perfectly entitled to get a second opinion.
 
Definitely agree with seeing expert vet and I hope HD was diagnosed with X-rays. If not I'd be very very surprised if your dog has had HD for so long without problems.

Btw whatever you decide to do (and I think 6 is still young enough to be having surgery) I can't say enough for swimming and hydrotherapy. Seen so many dogs whilst chlo has been there who have really bad problems with their joints etc who have been given a whole new chance. Xxxx
 
Thanks for the posts

Yep x-rays were done at 6 months and both hips were quite badly out and at the time the vet said operation at the time would not be beneficial to her, so would def not put her through a hip op at her age but just not sure whether I should be putting her through a knee op either, just need to find out how successful the op is :)

Apart from being stiff we have managed her HD by controlled exercise, special diet, regular massages and glucosamine tablets, the vets explained this was all we could do for her until she got older and started going downhill which of course is now.
 
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My springer had two cruciate ops and was fully fit after recovery (tibia plateau levelling op). The specialist said the aim was that he be able to live a full life afterwards. He was over 5 when the first was done and was fit and able to do epic walks again. I wouldn't go for the old wire replacement op and I would definitely ask to be referred to a specialist.

Oddly, one of my pups is having an x ray at the vets right now for suspected hip dysplasia. I bloody hope it's not:(

I know a Mal owner whose dog has had two full hip replacements. I'll pm you how to get hold of her
 
If she has done her cruciates then I would recommend getting the surgery. It is a relatively simple surgery compared to many other orthopaedic ops, and at most I would imagine she would have to stay one night at the vets, but some vets will discharge the same day after cruciate surgery. The quicker cruciates are repaired, the less arthritis the dog will end up with down the line.

I would get her down to the vets next week, get the vet to sedate/GA her to take xrays of stifles and hips, and check her cruciates. That way the vet can come to a decision as to the problem, and if it is cruciate rupture then a lot of vets will do the surgery the same day under the same GA.

If it is simply the fact that her hips are arthritic, then it is a case of sitting down and thinking what is best for her - a lot of dogs do very well with total hip replacements, but it is a big surgery and expensive, and you are the person who knows best how your dog will cope with the whole process.
 
Rotties are prone to doing their cruciates, so I would get this looked into before you make your decision. The cruciate op itself is well known to most vets its the recovery time that is difficult - they are to do no jumping or running and very little exercise for a good few weeks after.
Our GSD and Goldie both have been diagnosed with HD, and agreed with FH, hydrotherapy can't be recommended enough
K x
 
Been researching supplements since I got back from the vets with our crappy diagnosis.

Human glucosamine, chondroitin are purer than canine/equine. Glucosamine is discarded if too much is given so you can't overdose. Asda for me tomorrow!

Curcumin or turmeric is a bril natural anti-inflammatory that a friend claims has 'cured' her horse's arthritis (no such thing but has really helped) I've been looking at turmeric sites and there's scientific studies galore that make claims from it alleviates HIV symptoms to prevents Alzheimers (lowest world incidence in India where turmeric is widely used).

So to alleviate arthritis, try these and green lipped mussel extract. I'm hearing great things about them all.
 
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