Meeting a rescue dog tonight!

[ArklePig]

POV

You've received a delivery and the dog suspects it's for her (it was).

 

[ArklePig]

Whichever one of us is working from home works from the box room upstairs, where we have a bed etc for the dog. Over the last week or so she has taken to starting in the box room and then making her way down the stairs to lie by the front door for a while. Perfectly content. BY HERSELF. I'm hoping this new found independence is a good sign having a velcro dog was getting a bit tiresome I'm happy she will willingly let me out of her sight now.

 

[ArklePig]

Also the bin men just came and she didn't make a sound. This is the best day of my life

 

[ArklePig]

Fodhla had her first trip to a pub this afternoon. We met our friends who brought their wonderful collie mix (I posted a thread before when I was minding her for a weekend cause I was so excited to have a dog in the house lol). Jura sat nicely under the table, so Fodhla sat nicely under the table and didn't cause any bother to anyone. She loved the attention from our friends, and was happy to chill with Jura. She is turning into a very civilised member of society

 

[ArklePig]

She is at the vet for her scan! We had quite a decent length consult. They reckon more than likely she has a funny way of going on account of being undeveloped/kept in a crate too much as a pup. They are going to look at her knee and get another look at her hips from some other angles but they don't think there is anything major. They gave me the option of double checking or not and I asked what they'd do and they said they would double check. So fingers crossed there's nothing? Will have baited breath for the rest of the day

 

[ArklePig]

Mild hip dysplasia. Very mild, first vet missed it, somehow. Apparently no cause for concern in the short term, exercise as normal but with caution, avoid repetitive things like ball flinging etc which we don't do anyway, keep her at her current weight. He said she shows no signs of pain and was actually surprised we noticed it as it's that mild. I admitted I was a bit obsessive about her We wait and see now, nowhere near considering surgery etc, but he has given us a list of things to look out for signs of it worsening. He also said in dogs of her type there can actually be a small improvement as they approach two years old and develop further. All is good ish for now.

 

[Clodagh]

Ok, well that’s a fairly shitty result but mild sounds good.
I hope you can find an easy and successful management programme.
Tbh I wouldn’t get another dog, I imagine running in circles and rough housing is going to be a no forever?

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Glad it is goodish news for now

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Just a side note and sorry to derail the thread op, but what hip score would be mild hip dysplasia does anyone know?

 

[ArklePig]

Ok, well that’s a fairly shitty result but mild sounds good.
I hope you can find an easy and successful management programme.
Tbh I wouldn’t get another dog, I imagine running in circles and rough housing is going to be a no forever?

Yes I think you are a right. It's a shame her agility career never took off after that one disastrous outing we are definitely not looking for another dog, and we are going to take it as she comes and just be happy she can be pain free and enjoying life for now, and see how the condition progresses and manage the eventual arthritis she will get.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Key to keeping her sound is to keep her well muscled. My youngster went lame with what looked like cruciate at 11 months. It was initially treated by rest and not letting her run till warmed up but she went lame again and x-rays revealed that she had a twisted pelvis and one hip not sitting properly in its socket. My vet said she could still do agility but to keep her fit. He recommended hydro but I couldn't afford it so did lots of on lead walking up and down hill. She came sound and went on to be a cracking agility dog. Sadly she dislocated her good hip in an accident involving a tyre jump. Came back to full form in a few months We finally lost her to throat cancer at nearly 12 but only a month earlier she had taken part in an Anysize class over small jumps and was still loving it. Try not to think of her as a dog with a problem, just be sensible about excessive twisting and turning and keep her as fit as possible. Mine was started on a course of Cartrophen injections and put on to a good joint supplement, made a big difference. If you could have seen how fast and agile she was you would never have known just what was wrong with her.

 

[Clodagh]

Not HD but Brandy had elbow trouble and we were told she’d not be up to much. She worked as a gundog until she was 12 years old. Carefully and not the big days I do now, but out and working.
As EP says, we kept her lean and kept her fit.
Good luck.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Just a side note and sorry to derail the thread op, but what hip score would be mild hip dysplasia does anyone know?

Here's a comparison chart for the systems of different countries. It's an old one though, I'll see if there is a newer version. Noch Zugelassen means 'still permitted'. Anything above that (Moderate and severe) in either hips or elbows is banned from breeding. There are no such limitations under the other schemes, as far as I am aware. Caveat: Some schemes do things differently, SV does not use the Norberg angle for example.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Here's a comparison chart for the systems of different countries. It's an old one though, I'll see if there is a newer version. Noch Zugelassen means 'still permitted'. Anything above that (Moderate and severe) in either hips or elbows is banned from breeding. There are no such limitations under the other schemes, as far as I am aware. Caveat: Some schemes do things differently, SV does not use the Norberg angle for example.


View attachment 107748

thank you that’s really interesting

 

[splashgirl45]

Not the best news but could be worse , I used yumove advance on my old collie and it did help. Might be worth asking your vet if a joint supplement could help ..

 

[ArklePig]

Thanks @splashgirl45

This is definitely one incident where my anxiety has worked in my favour because I thought it was going to be a lot worse so it's a relief to hear we are no where near surgical options. I have her on yumove and the vet said to definitely keep her on it!

The vet also said that she is in good condition and her weight is great and she has good muscle so he said if we keep all of that up she should be fine for the foreseeable and I will definitely be stringent about not letting her get fat-fat dogs are a bugbear of mine but I will be extra vigilant. We will be straight back if there are any signs of pain or deterioration but they don't anticipate there will be in the short term.

Thanks everyone for your advice and help. Will probably be back with more questions as they occur to me.

 

[ArklePig]

Poor dog has had a bit of a regression this morning in her lead walking, she is not totally herself yet after yesterday. She pulled so hard and took me by such surprise I landed on my bum, thankfully on grass. Back to basics I think but if this doesn't get fully sorted once and for all I'm going to need more professional help. She was doing so well at it too

Pic of the hallion's current pose just because. Butter wouldn't melt. I love how tubby and puppyish she looks when she is sleeping

 

[CorvusCorax]

Oh I'd not do too much with her the day after hip x-rays, they do get pulled about a lot to get them in the right position/legs weighted etc. Even if she seems like she wants to.

 

[ArklePig]

That's what I thought CC and the vet advised me a small sniffy walk would be okay, as she goes insane if cooped up. She is usually okay at morning sniffy walks but I should have known she would object to this and want to do her best sled pulling impression. Lesson learned for all of us!

ETA-d'uh it's just dawned on me she was extra wound up this morning and forgot her manners precisely because she had a weird day yesterday and missed yesterday evenings exercise which is generally more than her morning exercise. God speed Mr AP who is home with her tomorrow after she once again does not have her usual exercise tonight.

 

[ArklePig]

Award for most distracting coworker goes to Fodhla who has been an absolute nuisance since around midday. She wasn't even a bit interested in much brain games but valiantly sniffed out some cheese I hid from her. It's like the early days here today. She wasn't this bad after her last xrays but the bucket is well and truly full today as she is barking at everything and is super wound up . Could actually cry I hate seeing her not herself and she is doing my head in. Will have a lot of work to catch up on this evening. Just felt like venting, I don't know how we managed when she was constantly wound up in the beginning.

 

[CorvusCorax]

The sedation/anaesthetic will also make her feel very out of sorts, so don't panic! And try and keep her as warm as possible.

 

[ArklePig]

Thanks, I just feel bad for her because she isn't herself and I'd got used to her being happy and relaxed!and then I feel guilty that her being wound up is winding me up when I know it's not her fault. House is at 21 degrees today so she should be plenty warm, I always leave a blanket on her bed but she kicked it off today so hopefully that means she's warm enough.

I must be the most anxious first time dog owner to ever grace this forum. Thanks again and to everyone who reads my ramblings

 

[druid]

Ok, well that’s a fairly shitty result but mild sounds good.
I hope you can find an easy and successful management programme.
Tbh I wouldn’t get another dog, I imagine running in circles and rough housing is going to be a no forever?

Let them be dogs, many dogs have mild hip dysplasia without their owners realsiing. I'd rather they had a year or two less at the end after a life of fun and companionship with decent joint supplements and a bit of sensible management in terms of not ball throwing etc. than be wrapped in bubble wrap and not really get to be dog (not suggesting thsi would be the case for Fodhla!!).

I know labs working as gundogs with hips in the high 20s and into the 30s.

 

[CorvusCorax]

In my experience they are absolutely capable of doing the work, but they break down quicker/younger. Having said that I am dealing with bigger dogs.

 

[ArklePig]

That's a good consideration too @druid
We are not looking for a dog right now anyway, but might not be off the table for ever. The referral vet said that when she hits around 2 (she is estimated 18 months atm and both vets have agreed that seems apt) we will have a better idea of it. He was very adamant that we allow her off lead, keep her fit, and to swim and run and just avoid things that involve twisting, jumping, sudden stops etc. Tbh I have always tried to avoid that stuff anyway.

I definitely do baby her, but I do it quietly and let her be a dog. It's more that I'm always worried if we're doing the best for her. We will see how she gets on.

She photographs deceptively, but she is 18kg and absolutely tanked if that changes anyone's advice or provides more insight. She's the exact same height as our friends small collie. Everyone who meets her in person says she's much smaller than she looks in pics!

 

[druid]

And being fit and trim is a big asset in HD. I wouldn't be conerned about a companion for Fodhla in the future being an issue - it honestly wouldn't have even occured to me as a deciding factor with a mild HD diagnosis It sounds like you've got all the bases covered to keep her sound long term

 

[ArklePig]

We finally have some sleep after a long day of terrorising me and the neighbours. She is even clingier than normal! Hopefully she'll be a bit more normal tomorrow.

 

[ArklePig]

Angel status has returned, apparently she spent the whole day in her regular routine, snooze, sniff, chew, repeat. Just read over my posts from yesterday and I was, as they say in Belfast, up to high doh
Thanks to everyone who humoured me.

 

[ArklePig]

Proud Ma alert. As of Sunday it will be officially six months of Fodhla.

Today I am horrifically under the weather but I can't take anymore sick leave though luckily am Wfh today, so she is not going to get walked until lunch time. She seems fine with this, is just keeping me company, chilling, not being a nuisance and coping very well. I feel very guilty because she normally gets walked early and we have done that from the day we got her, a bit later on weekends, but it's great that she's learning to roll with real life. I love her so much the last 6 months have been a complete whirlwind but I wouldn't be with out her some photos of the whirling dervish in some of her calmer moments

 

[SilverLinings]

I love the photos of her sleeping (and all the other ones of course!), she looks all legs, and sooo comfy!

It has been so lovely to watch Fodlha settle in with you, she definitely looks like part of your family now. It is wonderful that you have been able to offer a rescue dog such a happy, secure and consistent home, she has certainly landed on her feet with you and your partner ☺.