Slap please...

C

Cedars

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 May 2009
Messages
7,830
Visit site
Chloe is so perfect atm =[ no limping, no soreness or pain. Using both back legs equally. Happy as larry.

Please tell me that she needs to go back to the vet because her legs ARE deteriorating =[ I know it, the vet knows it, but I can't bring myself to take her back because then they'll cut her open again and what if she doesn't come back this time =[

Here are some photos of her off the lead a few days ago:

a19a11a6.jpg


dbee3684.jpg


e1cb58bd.jpg


a7b8997c.jpg


1a23cde6.jpg


a5fc8c60.jpg


And the pretty girl last night:

455e7ef2.jpg
 
Surely if she is happy at the moment, you don't need to go back to the vets. I don't know what hr problems are, but you do have the decision whether they need to operate or not. She looks extremely fetching in her coat - my dog has the same one!!
 
She has hip dysplasia. In October, her right hip (the one that HASNT been operated on), was dislocating in and out with scary frequency.

Her coat is meant to keep her hips warm!! ;) But I bought it because I thought it was cccuuuttteee!
 
What does the vet say? Is it better, long-term, for it to be done now, or later?
It seems a shame to come this far and then not look at completing the process, especially as she coped so well with the first leg.
 
Vet says that basically it will only get worse and cause her more pain. The operation, in a sense, is just as easy now or in 6 years time, as they still just chop it off, but obv the younger she is, the better her chances of surviving the anaesthetic and generally recovering.

I know she needs it done and I will man up eventually, but I'm just feeling so sick to the stomach watching her pelt round the place knowing that we've got to do all this again.

At the moment, she's in Norfolk chasing chickens at my OHs dad's farm. Happy as larry.

:(
 
THe sooner she has it done the better - she is young and fit so will recover quickly and then can get on with her life like a 'normal' dog.

She has made a fantastic recovery from the first hip so I don't understand why you are getting in such a flap about the second one - it's got to better than recurring painfrom repetitive dislocations.
 
I would say go for it now then and get it out of the way - seriously, she sounds like she has coped brilliantly, B was on rest for a fortnight for a couple of stitches in his nether regions and it nearly gave me a nervous breakdown!
 
I think you have to be guided by your vet. The fact she is fit and well know makes it hard I am sure, but she is better going into surgery healthy than pulled down by pain. As you say yourself she has made a great recovery from the first op, no reason why she shouldn't do the same again.
 
I guess what I'm nervous of, and the vet has no answer for me, is that she'll now be supporting herself this time on her original bad leg, whereas before she was propped up by a good leg. I'm nervous that she'll drag her left leg down again when she's putting all her weight back onto it at the beginning. The vet basically has no answer for that, other than it might happen, it might not. But if it DOES happen, then she goes crippled basically overnight and we have to have her put down. Hmm.
 
Just keep her crated and support her the best you can. You can also look into those wheels/carts to support her until she is fit enough to walk unaided again.
However she is fit and has tonnes of muscle as you say, so I doubt it will be as bad as all that.
 
TBH, if she is doing well I see no reason why you would operate now rather than wait and allow a) her other hip to fully build up muscle etc. to help with recovery
b)Her lots of time running around pain free
c)Time to see if the hip actually needs the op.

Hip dysplasia can be a funny thing, with x-ray's looking sometimes horrendous and dogs running around find, and as the saying goes, if it aint broke dont fix it...
Unless the vet thinks you are being detrimental in waiting I wouldn't see the rush. Until they're about 6+ I wouldn't be worrying either about increased anaesthetic risk
 
When did she have the original op, I've got it in my head it was back in the summer? If her right hip was dislocating a lot in October it sounds to me as if it wasn't really a "good" leg, therefore is she coped okay before there is no reason why she shouldn't when weight bearing on the operated leg. Sorry, does that make sense.
Do agree to a point with SusieT, I have had dogs with bad hips, as in high hip score, who have never really shown any clinical signs, however in your case the vet does seem to think the leg is going to deteriorate sooner rather than later doesn't he.
 
Her op was early September I think. Her right hip is only good as its the lesser of two evils - the other was extremely severe with arthritis, whilst its just severe, no arthritis. The vet is sure that the leg has deteriorated (no point in xraying but he could feel it much worse than before) but wanted to wait until she was back on fighting form as she needs all her strength. But now she is back on fighting form, she is just like a normal dog!!

I suppose if I go to the vet he might say she's actually alot better and we can wait a while longer.

xxxx
 
Poor girlie and poor you!
Thought I'd just reply and hopefully give you a bit of a light at the end of the tunnel.

My lab was always quite quiet. When he was 3 we got our retriever as he was was starting to act like an old man and we thought it was because he was lonely. Turned out it was severe hip dysplasia. One side he had no hip joint! And the other it was there but still not properly formed. He was supported with hydro and catrophen until he was 5 ish. Then it started dislocating and it was so distressing. He isn't the type to complain but he was slowly losing his character. They are so resilient and it is in there nature not to show weakness. So after more X-rays it showed his hip was dislocating and rubbing against the bone causing 'bone mice'. Which is like having stones in your shoes! Very painful. Had the first hip done. OMG! a different dog came home! It showed just how much pain he was in. Long rehab with lots of hydo etc he went a couple of years no problems. Then went a bit subdued again at 7. Back to vets, same thing had happened to remaining joint :( so had the second one done. Once again such a difference! :) he is now 11 and on previcox because his bone density was so low that one of his hips was moving slightly causing some discomfort. He is perfectly happy and comfortable, even if he does have very selective hearing!!!! :D little monkey!

Hope you get your girl sorted and I hope you don't mind me posting our experience. I wouldn't put it off and we even had to change vets to get answers. Best thing way to see is it is to see what they're like at home. On walks the adrenaline kicks in and it covers pain.

Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery for her! :)

Elle
 
Thanks Elle is does v much help.

She's so much happier at home too. I think I need to realise that I hated seeing her unhappy before, so why on earth wait until she gets to that point again?

Booking a vet trip tomorrow I think....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top