My beautiful girl =[

C

Cedars

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Has severe hip dysplasia. Right hip is severe, left hip is "extremely severe", with less than 10% of the "ball" in the "socket".

Treatment options are:

1. Treat with steroids, painkillers, hope it holds out for a few weeks/months, PTS when it gets too bad. Not willing to do this as the pain will never fully go away and she's too active to be in pain.

2. Remove both "balls", hope muscle grows back (extremely risky).

3. Full hip replacement on both sides (v risky).

We're seeing the vet again on Tuesday to make a decision, but at the moment, we're set on the full hip replacement. Basically, if they survive, its perfect, they live out the rest of their normal lives with no problems ever with their hips again. If it goes wrong, the leg bones shatter on the table and they put her down there and then. High chance this could happen.

Rang breeder who cried and is getting her lot scanned and will ring the other owners of their litters. Mum being spayed tomorrow anyway.

So completely, totally devastated. Can't lose my beautiful baby girl.

If people could please give me advice on firstly price of cremations/arrangements after a death, secondly on any views on full hip replacements, thirdly on any good animal photographers in the stroud area, and fourthly, how the hell do I say goodbye to my beautiful baby?

So upset =[
 
Im so sorry!

But don't think the worst yet. I know a large number of dogs that we swim with that have had hip replacements and only one of them has any lasting problems and then its only he gets stiff after long walks.

I think being as she is young and we all know that labs are somewhat bullet proof :D she would be a grand candidate for replacement. Just make sure you get a surgeon who is VERY experienced in replacements.

Good luck.
 
u say goodbye by knowing u did the best u could and by lots of hugs and kisses to her in the mean time.

seriously know what it feel like to say goodbye. honestly dont feel guilty she doesnt blame u and just be there for her and let her know u love her.
 
Im very sorry to hear of your dogs problems, just a thought is there any channce yourvet could refer you to the "bionic vet" that was on tv recently. He seemed to have great results with difficult cases. Dont know if it would help you but just a thought.
 
Oh i am sorry to hear this. However, i would not give up hope just yet. In the circumstances and with how veterinary medicine has vastly improved over the years i don't think a hip replacement is out of the question at all. Our neighbour's dog had some problem with his hips - I can't remember what exactly but I assume he had what you have described in the 2nd option done. It did look quite odd as he had no hips but it did not seem to affect him at all and he moved and functioned perfectly normally. His op was done a fair few years back now and he was a large collie. He was sadly PTS last week but that was not related to his hip issue - just old age - he was 17.

Good luck with your dog, I hope all goes well.
 
So sorry to hear this, but please don't give up. I knew of dogs that had the hip removal op years ago and they were fine, recovery takes a while but never heard of it described as extremely risky (although I am not a vet of course). Has your vet referred you to an orthopaedic specialist, because that would be my first course of action. Fingers crossed for you.
 
Sorry to read this. Don't give up hope though, there are options and ways forward, you havnt lost her yet. x
 
Don't give up by any means. Hip replacements are not routine as such, but not uncommon these days. Is yoru vet experienced with the procedure or will they refer to someone who is? With both hips being done I would want someone who was doing the ops day in day out essentially to be doing it.
It will be hard but a young dog stands a better chance of recovery.
 
Oh FH, what a bummer.
I would go for the option that causes least pain - now there are quite a few people on her who have dogs with replaced joints, Three is one that springs to mind, and their dogs have coped brilliantly.
Please don't lose heart and I am glad the breeder is taking it seriously.

I hate to sound like a stuck record but it is cases like yours which should show others why hipscoring breeding stock is so important, so that owners like you and dogs like Chloe don't have to go through this - it isn't a failsafe, but it can help reduce the number of incidences.

Best of luck with everything x
 
Shes crying on the sofa next to me at the moment, think the general has knocked her for 6 =[

Going in to see the vet on Tuesday, he isnt the one doing the operation he said its a "specialist" - although I'll obviously check that out, you're right about it being a specialist definitely.

CC - Even if I knew what I knew now, I would still pick Chloe 1000 times over, she is the best dog ever. BUT, if people only ever bought health tested dogs, then we wouldnt be going through this. I dont regret her at all but don't wish this moment on anyone!

Good to hear about good experiences of hip replacements. He didnt give me a percentage of risk but I'll want that on Tuesday. What I also want to know is if we could stay with her when she goes under for the general. I want our faces to be the last she sees if she does have to be put to sleep on the table =[

Need to speak to insurance company at some point as well. Any thoughts on whether NFU will pay out for hip replacement? xxx
 
So sorry to hear the news.:(

I think you need to be guided by a vet who is an orthopaedic specilaist - if everything else is in her favour for the hip replacement I would think she is a good 'patient' - she is young and fit and more importantly thin so her recovery would be good. Of course any joint replacement will be helped by swimming/hydrotherapy - so at least with a lab that bit of the rehab will be a piece of cake!!;)

Give her gentle hugs from me and the boys.:)
 
Thanks Slinks. She says thanks for the hugs =] websites are saying about 10-15% of cases have complications that are lethal. Not sure whether I think thats high or low.
 
flamehead-it really is less stressful for the dog if the owner is not there,as then they are not worried about 'defending' their owner or getting affected by the owner nerves regarding the operation, just a thought!
 
Try and focus on the fact that 90% don't have complications. About 30 years ago one of my mums GSDs fell off the top of a fire escape, she shattered her hip and had to have the ball removed. She also fractured her femur, although she always moved slightly unsound afterwards she recovered to lead a full and active life.
 
SusieT said:
flamehead-it really is less stressful for the dog if the owner is not there,as then they are not worried about 'defending' their owner or getting affected by the owner nerves regarding the operation, just a thought!
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But if its the last time I get to see her alive?
 
MurphysMinder said:
Try and focus on the fact that 90% don't have complications. About 30 years ago one of my mums GSDs fell off the top of a fire escape, she shattered her hip and had to have the ball removed. She also fractured her femur, although she always moved slightly unsound afterwards she recovered to lead a full and active life.
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Some websites saying closer to 5%. Wow, that must have been a pretty impressive fall! Poor doggy. Good to hear that she recovered happily though, thank you.
 
Much better you see her when she's not being restrained and having legs clipped and needles put in!
Say your goodbyes in the waiting room
 
Flamehead - I feel so desperately sorry for you and Choe :(

My labrador has elbow dysplasia and the awful stress of diagnosing, deciding what to do (he was 6 months old at the time) was just awful, so I know a little of what you are feeling right now.

At Chloe's age and condition she has the very best chance of recovery from whichever option you pick.

I wish you both the best of luck xx
 
Thanks Ravenwood. Is appreciated. Just can't believe its happening to us, you know? Feel totally shell shocked. Sounds like you know exactly what I'm feeling right now =[

Annoyed that we booked our meeting with the vet so far away as I now have about a thousand questions for him. Apparently can only operate on one hip at a time...so we're talking 6 months of no exercise. But I don't see the point in having the hip ball removal as they don't return to full mobility and free of pain - can't see the point in putting her through it if she's not going to come back to perfect?

Feeling so guilty. At 4 months I remember watching her walk and thinking "that dog walks funny". But just assumed it wouldn't happen to us.
 
Jesus, I've done nothing but cry at threads tonight. I am so terribly sorry for you, but I will give you a big beam of hope.

Jake had both knees replaced by the specialist-the tibia plateau levelling operation. I'm not sure we would have had it done had we been more experienced but by God, I'm glad we did. He had 6 weeks of complete cage rest after each op-one after the other as the 2nd cruciate went as soon as he'd been up and running for about 6 months. After his ops, he never had another problem with his knees and we subsequently sent the specialist a fab picture of him outrunning his brother in the woods. His being PTS had nothing to do with his knees, obviously.

I'm guessing that hip replacements are more severe than knee replacements? I would say that you can certainly try and then you know you've done the best for your little girl. What you have to think of is how her quality of life will be while she's recovering, how you will cope with her recovering and how she will be afterwards. Ask the vet and specialist a million questions.

My most sincere best wishes with this. I hope you have the best outcome for Chloe and you. Big, big hugs.
 
LOL cimmamontoast you just made me well up! Lol.

No idea about the difference between hip and knee replacements. Same heartache regardless I guess.

Hope she settles tonight, she's really crying and whining at the moment.
 
Hugs. I really think everything will be ok. She is a young dog but I do understand your worries.

Everytime mine are operated on I worry myself sick. I give them lots and lots of cuddles and have been known to set up a bed downstairs that they can clamber on to! Not that i am a big softy or anything. The night before i took Hooch to the vet for the final time ( i didnt know it was the final time but knew she was ill) i slept downstairs on the floor, with just the cushions from the sofa as a mattress and we had a really good snuggle up.:)

So maybe you could do that!:)
 
I am so very, very sorry to read this :( It is very apparent how much you love her.

The only bit of advice(ish) that I can offer is that NFU have been VERY, VERY good at paying out for all the treatment that my horse has needed, and I think it's a big positive that they are your insurance company.

Thinking of you. xx
 
Flamehead - when Toby was finally diagnosed, they offered to do keyhole surgery (I realise this is different from Chloe's condition) but at the time it was only in one elbow. They gave me a success rate of little over 60/70 but that it was almost guaranteed that the other elbow would go too.

I declined the operation and they told me that it was unlikely he would live past 5 yrs. His other elbow went shortly after and I have kept him on Cartrophen injections, Glucosamine and Chondroitin supplements and he has led a full working life (within reason - I have to choose shoots with the easiest ground, keep out of boggy areas, no roadwork at all etc etc) But...he will be 7 in November and will be out for his first day's shooting this season on Friday.

What I am trying to say is that - quite often, vets give the worst case scenario (and possibly quite right to do so) but that if you go ahead and have those operations, I am sure they will be a success - if not, and if she really is that bad, then what have you got to lose?

Whatever you decide to do will be the right thing in the end :D xx
 
Ravenwood said:
What I am trying to say is that - quite often, vets give the worst case scenario (and possibly quite right to do so) but that if you go ahead and have those operations, I am sure they will be a success - if not, and if she really is that bad, then what have you got to lose?
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This is exactly it. The only thing we have to lose is that if she dies on the table, we don't get the chance to be with her when she passes. But she can't carry on like this.

KatieHouston, no, no pain meds, just glucosamine tablets until we see the vet on Tuesday. She's recovering from the general which is why she's feeling so pants - although she is obviously in pain from her hips its the same pain she was in when she went in this morning so thats not the reason. Think she's just very disorientated.
 
Puppy said:
The only bit of advice(ish) that I can offer is that NFU have been VERY, VERY good at paying out for all the treatment that my horse has needed, and I think it's a big positive that they are your insurance company.
Click to expand...

This. My only worry is that I think her limit is £5000, and we're already £500 in to that. But I'd just have to take a loan off my parents for the rest and then pay them back.

Does anyone know whether, if she were to die on the table, they'd let me sit with her afterwards?

xxxx
 
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