possible op for naughty pup :(

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noodle_

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Naughty puppy (only naughty after destroying my glasses,phone,stealing food etc - but we forgive him as hes so flipping cute).... has ive noticed been hopping when running - our older dog has mild Hip dysplasia so i though "oh no"... kept an eye on it (Remember my threads about him)? anyhow... did nothing - he was fine in himself etc I was going to x-ray hips when he had his neuter... however i decided i was overreacting and didnt.

3 days ago i noticed he was mildly lame on his back leg, i was due to take older dog for cartrofen so thought id take Maxi along too for a check...

vet (new one...again..), had a good feel of older dog - he said her left hip is lovely and fine ( :D ) right hip which is he issue is ok but its a "please dont flex me" response - we didnt and left her as we know her issue and theres nothing that can be done right now.

Little pup i noticed apart from the 2/10ths (imo)! lameness, clicks a lot when we pick him up for cuddles... his hips i thought with his hopping... so mentioned it to the vet - so vet manipulated his legs/hips - hips were ok he said but knees resulted in my placid pup squeeling and wanting to kill the vet... which is not his character at all.

he said about lexating kneecaps (both knees are an issue - right mostly)? I need educating on this subject? Vet has suggested x-rays and possible surgery (which i have to say im not happy about) he's 7 months old, cocker spaniel.
IF we go ahead for primary x-rays i will ask to be reffered to Leahurst which is local to us and has the best facilities where we are in the North West. Id request full hips/knee etc x-rays as vet has suggested...

Opinions please?? He was quite stiff once the vet had finished with him which was a bit :/ for a 7 month old pup

thanks
 
I'd hang fire on surgery TBH, he's only seven months, he hasn't finished growing yet, it could be a lot of things.

I'm a member of a FB group where people are posting hip x-rays of dogs which as pups, vets had been adamant would be crippled and needed surgery, and they turned out to be fine. Would tread carefully with a youngster, he's not fully developed yet, it could be growing pains/pano or anything and TBH I would be grumpy and stiff if someone was stretching and manipulating my legs too.
 
Thanks - he's not going for an op anytime soon! if he was squeeling on every step then mabey.

I think idbe wrong not to send him for x-rays though?? just to rule out hips and see what it actually is?

i do think 7 months is too young to be messing about as like you said he's still growing!?
 
Yep, you can screen hips and elbows etc (and knees presumably) from about six months but again, you won't really get a true indication until 12-18 months as they wouldn't be fully formed until then.
 
hmmm right - is this a waste of time x-raying now?

trouble is....the vets now noted it down... and we don thave the same cover on his insurance as i do on my other dog (i dont think)! as lifetime cover?

my older dog is with more than and my younger dog is with direct line (i dont pay this so its not down to me..)! and i think his policy is yearly?

point is - i coudl leave him 12 months but then if he needed an op further down the line we are screwed...!

But if we x-ray now and then leave him for another say 6 months? and if needby x-ray again and operated if he was that bad...? des that make more sense?
if he has lifetime cover could x-ray now and leave him for 12 months?

being realistic - im more than aware of vet bills ! hence thinking carefully as the vet has now noted about his dodgy knees!
 
As CC says, it is best to x rays hips at at least 12 months, not sure if it is the same for patella/knee. It would only mean waiting 5 months or so if he is 7 months now. Depending on whereabouts you are I can really recommend my vets for x rays, they use sedation not GA and are excellent at reading plates predicting scores on hips and elbows.
 
Were cheshire - i have used leahurst in the past who have proved to be very good?

As much as i like my vets id rather be reffered and speak to a specialist! but not if its too early?

sedation rather than GA would be my preffered option!

I will check our insurance policy today as i dont know where its filed....and think about where to go next... i think for my peace of mind as i didnt have this with older dog - full x0-rays now and again in 6 or so months may be an option? i know he's going to grow but if theres an issue already there it will just get worse with growth??

i dont know...im just assuming these things?

he's happy as larry btw currently just destroying a yoghurt pot he's stolen off the table. hes a little ****... :D :D
 
If it was my own dog I'd go to Leahurst and have it worked up.

Luxating patella's (ie the hindleg kneecap moving in and out from its correct placement) are common in small dogs...think of all the jackrussels you have seen "skipping" as they run,but it is not normal for them to be painful to palpate and is not as common in a breed like cockers.

Unlike assessing the hips which 100 percent need xrays to rule in and out issues, the grade of patella luxation can be assessed relatively accurately in a physical exam. There are 5 different grades. For the patella to be painful when it moves in such a young dog suggests it is quite severe or that there is another underlying problem as well.

If it is a luxation then the sooner the problem is fixed by surgery the less damage will be done to the underlying bone that the patella is jumping out of place over and hopefully the arthritis in later life will be less severe.

So in this case I would put a young dog through sedation/Ga if very painful and get accurate xrays of what exactly you are dealing with as well as giving the vets a chance to properly examine the level of luxation while the pup is out and wont be hurt by the manipulations.

The fact that you have insurance with a limited timeframe?or did i read that right? would make me more inclined to say go to a specialist and find exactly what you are facing.....you may find that leg excluded in the future so further work up then wouldnt be as easy due to expense and if it is a case of severe patella luxation the surgery can be quite expensive.
 
Thank you Aru

Talked about it to the bill payer (for once not me although i will contribute)! - and decided im going to get a refferal to leahurst... i am concerned that he is only young - the vet was pretty convinced it was his knee....however i want his hips x-rayed too.

Going to work out tomorow what my days off are from work over a 2 week period (luckily?) i work shifts/weekends so weekdays are free - and get him reffered and booked in.

I am not too wrried about GA.... as he's young but we want to know if there an issue now before it goes too far.
 
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