Hip dysplasia

Hormonal Filly

Hormonal Filly

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My OH Labrador is 6 now, she was diagnosed with hip dysplasia 2 years ago. It was moderate, some arthritis on her knee but not severe enough to operate. They recommended keeping her fit and slim, a advanced joint supplement and pain killers if she looks uncomfortable or in the future.

Shes still slim and fit build. I've noticed recently shes sleeping differently and lies down a lot. She happily runs some days, but others is quiet and just plods next to me and looks stiff behind. I exercise her daily as other half works away. Shes on a good joint supplement but no pain killers.

I mentioned it to other half last week that I think she'd benefit from some pain killers now but he is adamant she doesn't need any pain killers and is completely fine. Today I picked her up onto a log for a photo with our other 2 dogs at a lovely view point. She sat right on the edge of the log, so just gently pushed her bum in so she didn't fall off, and she really yelped. She never yelps, she is a tough little dog. I got home and gave her some pain killers as clearly her hips are causing discomfort. I fell awful, although I really carefully pushed her bum maybe one inch sideways I am concerned how much that hurt her. She had quite a lot of exercise yesterday so could be feeling worse today I assume.

OH is still adamant she doesn't need any pain killers and I am stupid to suggest it. She isn't insured anymore as it got to £100 a month which was crazy. If this was my dog she'd be on something to help the pain. Any ideas? Am I being 'anal' about this?
Problem is dogs can't tell us how they feel and still try and carry on like normal..
 
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We have recently had the same issue with our 6 year old labrador - she didnt seem quite right sometimes, especially watching her gait from behind, and also very stiff when first getting up in the mornings and being ultra careful as she lowered herself to the lying down position. She spent a lot of time lying around moaning but she is rather a vocal lab so we just thought that was her muttering about life in general! My husband was exactly the same as your OH's - just head in the sand - she is completely fine etc. etc.

anyway we took her to the vets and although she made little or no reaction to joints being flexed etc. she was obviously struggling but bravely covering it up. She was fully sedated for xrays and our vet told us her hips and elbows were so bad that she even flinched visibly under full GA when they flexed them, her fear of showing her pain had obviously disappeared with the GA. :( When the vet showed us the xrays I nearly cried :(

Heart breakingly, long term prognosis is not great, too advanced for any form of surgery and just not viable when so many joints are affected. but in her favour she is very well muscled and like your dog a nice healthy weight. So we are now on a damage limitation and keeping her comfortable for as long as possible - she is on long term Nutraquin+ and Carporal. The good news is that within days of going on these she is leaping around like a 2 year old - never lays about moaning anymore and is just so happy the change is remarkable. obviously she will not be with us for the normal life expectancy, but at least her quality of life is hugely improved while we are lucky enough to still have her. I really hope you can persuade your OH to do something, we just feel guilty we didnt pick up on how serious it was sooner and with good luck your lab might have a much better prognosis than ours has.
 
The trouble is that the more pain they are in the more muscle wastage they will ultimately have. It’s very hard to come back from muscle wastage in the back end so if it were mine, I’d start meds sooner rather than later. Medication is so much cheaper online. Mine was on Onsior which she only needed when she’d overdone it for a couple of years. Eventually she needed it daily and then codiene too. It wasn’t her hips that finished her off so I’m glad she able to live pain free til the end.

It sounds like your OH is burying his head in the sand and hoping the problem goes away.
 
How about suggesting to your OH that you do a drug trial for 7-10 days to see if it makes a difference? Our vet let us have a week’s worth of Onsior to try for our Daxi. He had heart problems so we were trying to avoid a GA so different situation but the week on meds convinced my sceptical OH that he should have pain relief. Might help you make to the point that meds will help her?
 
I’d persuade your OH to take her to the vets or at least come with you so he can see for himself that she’s in discomfort. Dogs are so stoic and the fact she yelped would leave me in no doubt she needs pain relief or at least joint supplements.
 
I have a similar problem with my OH, in that he is highly resistant to ongoing repeat prescription vets bills. He would rather put a dog down than medicate long term. Luckily we have never had a real head to head over it as the dogs concerned have all been old and had other issues and ultimately they have been PTS anyway.
With such a young dog though it is more difficult.
If it were me I would take her to the vet, get the pills and administer them. (If you can afford to do that).
 
OlderNotWiser said:
How about suggesting to your OH that you do a drug trial for 7-10 days to see if it makes a difference? Our vet let us have a week’s worth of Onsior to try for our Daxi. He had heart problems so we were trying to avoid a GA so different situation but the week on meds convinced my sceptical OH that he should have pain relief. Might help you make to the point that meds will help her?
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That's a good idea.
 
I don't understand why he thinks it is stupid of you to suggest it if you push her and she yelps.
Would telling him you aren't happy walking her without pain relief make a difference?
 
I do sort of understand why he is possibly reacting like this. My OH and I have had many, many dogs through the years but he has a very special connection with this one (as we all have for some unfathomable reason, loved every one of them but Coco is very special) ) and he just found it too hard to accept that something was very wrong and we might loose her very young and not enjoy the normal life expectancy of a healthy young adult labrador.. and typical of a man with their own health, if they ignore it they think it will just go away.

I don't think OP's OH is being uncaring or just not interested in the dog's welfare, probably just the opposite. :(
 
I am not sure Ester - I can only say what we did and what worked with my OH, my adult children (who spotted it even before we did as they see her more intermittently so noticed changes quicker than we did) and I simply told him I was taking her to the vet for a thorough check up and he could come with me or not as he chose. He came with me.

My sons support was the backing I needed to check the niggling worries I had for a good couple of months. He (OH) reluctantly came with me to the vets appointment and was devastated with the outcome, but I have resisted the temptation to say I told you so as his heartbreak was as profound as mine .

I wonder Forbiddenhorse do you have anyone close to both of you who recognises his dog should be seeing a vet sooner rather than later that could support you in this?
 
Moobli said:
I’d persuade your OH to take her to the vets or at least come with you so he can see for himself that she’s in discomfort. Dogs are so stoic and the fact she yelped would leave me in no doubt she needs pain relief or at least joint supplements.
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She is already on a good quality joint supplement.

Thank you everyone for your advice and comments. Other half has agreed to take her in to the vet and have booked a appointment for next week.
 
MrsJingle said:
did he take her to the vets OP? How did it go?
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Yes, she had her jabs as well.
The vet gave her a thorough check, moved her back legs all around, knees and hips. She gets so scared in the vets so was shaking already. The vet said even though she didn't cry, her face showed pain and she is definitely painful in her hind left leg (the leg with more of a issue) as she was so reluctant to let the vet move it and is stiff on it. Vet agreed she would be happier on pain killers, so shes prescribed pardale. I was surprised as shes said to give her 2 morning and 2 evening, which is a lot I thought. The vet wasn't worried about the long term effects of pain killers... not sure if to be worried about it.

Apparently shes in excellent condition and coat is lovely which is a bonus. Will see how she goes!
 
I am so glad you got some answers and I bet she will very soon be bouncing along once they kick in. Yes Coco's dose is very high too - vet not at all concerned said her comfort is more important than anything now and judging by her antics she is feeling more than just comfortable!
Everything crossed yours is just as successful.
 
I was told by my vet that the dosing range of Pardale is very wide and most dogs tolerate a high dose very well. At the beginning of last month our vets were unable to secure Pardale from their suppliers and I was advised to give bog standard paracetamol instead. Jake is now on 150mg paracetamol three times each day and I have to say that it works better for him than Pardale. I'm not sure the codeine element of Pardale suited him. He has full bloods checked every 3 months due to his long term painkiller "habit".
 
When one of my GSDs had pain with arthritis in his stifles I got my then vet to write me a script for meloxicam. He took half a tab of the human dose and it helped him a lot. I know your health system is very different than ours, and better, so I don't know how easy it would be to get an animals meds at a pharmacy.
 
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