Totally, utterly gutted

Cinnamontoast

Cinnamontoast

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Just been to the vet for an x ray on Zak. OH noticed he was holding his hip oddly this week. Guess what? Dysplacia, not bad according to the vet but looking at the x ray, the head of the femur is not sitting in the socket properly, quite obviously. I'm completely gutted for the pup and for the OH.

The vet says this may resolve, bearing in mind Zak's only 9 months but unless the ball of the femur miraculously grows into place, I don't see it. He's had the first of four cartrophen injections and is asleep on the OH's knee. The vet says his hip is not perfect, but not bad. Restricted exercise coming up, lots of time for training.

Totally gutted. :(
 
Did vet discuss surgery? Given the young age I'd be keen to treat agressively personally to get it as manageable as possible.
 
ach hun i really feel for you, its one thing after another isnt it? On the positive side, once muscle is built up round it that can go a long way to helping if it not too severe. I know a few people who have been told the same as you have been about Zak, and after lots of exercises,physio, hydro etc these dogs are still out there doing well in agility, one i know of is agility champion. I do sympathise though as its a gut wrenching feeling when somethings wrong:( I have my suspicions one of my dogs has something odd happening with hearing, I know Il feel sick in the stomach until I find out if Im right:(
 
poor dog. we found out that my dog. he is a lab (so its quite common) we decided not to give him surgery as it would out him through too much stress we give him a glucosomine once a day before his morning meal. he is going to be 7 this year and onlt gets a little stiff if i take him on too long walks. just dont over do exercise too young and you will be fine :)
 
I mentioned surgery, having just read another dysplaxia thread before collecting him. Vet said only in severe cases and I don't know anything about this so I'm going to hold fire, give the cartrophen a chance to work and research madly.

As he's only 9 months, I'm guessing that we should wait til he's fully grown? I dunno, I know nothing about this. Any advice and happy stories welcome.
 
Oh Gah! That's rubbish news........:(

I'm another who has nothing constructive to offer, except to say that I hope that between your vet and yourselves, you will find the best solution for Zak.

Keeping everything crossable crossed for you all.

C xx
 
Hi love, go through all my old posts on Chloe as she's been through this-she had the first op at 12months ish.

If you can't be bothered and want to talk about it PM me and il give you my number.

See photo on other post for how she is now. Xxx
 
Generally, it is understood to be hereditary but two brilliant hipscores on parents doesn't automatically mean the same for the pups, according to the I've done today.

Dunno if you all remember, but we went a week to the day after Jake was PTS, in a sea of grief and got the pups from the first litter we saw. I knew even then that it was the stupidest thing we could possibly do.

Regardless of what happens, Zak will get the absolute best of everything and we'll do whatever it takes to keep him mobile and comfortable.

N, I'll pm you, Hun. It does seem unfair, doesn't it?

SusieT, he said surgery only for severe cases. I think it may bean idea wait as the pup's so young-I'm just not sure, think I need to talk to a few people who've been through it.

Flamehead, I'll re-read your Chloe threads and then pm you. Thank you for your offer; people on here are so kind. I'm in bits and this is really helpful.

The whole Jake thing is still very raw; it just seems bloody unfair.
 
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Yep, I know about HD and all the irritating variables, hence the question - but the breeders should be notified, even if they do feck all, **especially** if the parents have good scores, and may be throwing pups with bad hips - you may stop it happening to someone else. And you did ask the question last week x
 
CaveCanem said:
Yep, I know about HD and all the irritating variables, hence the question - but the breeders should be notified, even if they do feck all, **especially** if the parents have good scores, and may be throwing pups with bad hips - you may stop it happening to someone else. And you did ask the question last week x
Click to expand...

Thanks, Hun, you are absolutely right and I'll do it tonight. He said he was having the mum spayed as he decided it was too hard having a litter! However, you never can rely on what people say, so I will drop him a line tonight.
 
I think you are preaching to the converted with CC re the facts about hip scoring CT.:p I also know only too well how bad scores can pop up from low scoring parents, I am looking at a 10 year old with just that.:( However, it sounds as if your vet doesn't think Zak is too bad, so hopefully this is just a tweak and with careful management it won't bother him for many years. Please don't be too depressed about this, I would be guided by your vet and if he doesn't think surgery is needed yet then don't go for it. The reason dogs aren't x rayed until they are 12 months old is because the hips can alter so much in the first year, gentle exercise to build the muscle up and hopefully he will soon improve.
 
Bramble had her hips x rayed at twelve months as she was looking a bit stiff getting up after sleep. Found the same thing but both hips not brilliant - not dreadful either but some signs of arthritic changes already! I was gutted to say the least. Both parents had good scores but I did notify breeder who told me another pup from the same litter was in the same position and the bitch wouldn't be used again.

Vet talked me through options but was reluctant to talk about surgery as it is difficult in a smaller dog apparently. We did four weeks restricted walking and hill work to build the muscles and a ten week course of hydrotherapy (which the insurance would not pay for :mad:) and she was also on small dose of Metacam during this time. I also introduced glucosamine and chondroitin into her diet.

She is now two and on no medication, no stiffness or muscle wastage at all and only a bit of "bunny hopping" when she runs. We make sure she swims plenty and do a hill walk on the way home to try and keep the muscle in her back end. Otherwise she is a perfectly normal :rolleyes: springer. Vet suggested that this might happen as he had seen a few cases that had "righted" themselves at maturity. She is however likely to get arthritic in early middle age rather than later on.

Its horrid but hopefully not the end of the world. I feel for you though xx
 
I really feel for you, I have gone through the same with both my girls - an 11 y/o GSD and a 9 y/o Goldie. My Goldie has such severe HD apparently that as she walks, the bone is more or less dislocating and it makes her walk 'in sections' like a wasp - it never caused her any problems up until 2 years or so ago, and the vets were not concerned about the way she walked until she began getting stiff and sore and now she has to have hydrotherapy to build her muscles up on her back end (obv frequent long walks are not recommended for her). Her parents both had good hip scores.
Our GSD also has been diagnosed with HD - again, both good hip scores from parents. She is not bad though, just mild.
Feel free to PM me - it isn't fair, no, but the blessing is you have caught it while he is young and things may sort themselves out in time or you have the optimum time to try and rectify things.
K x
ETA - it is fairly easy to live with but no less gutting to find out I understand. If my girl is going to be out on a long walk we just give her a dose of metacam before hand, she has her swimming lessons to keep her joints supple and we use glucosamine and seraquin in her food.
 
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Oh gosh :( I've nothing helpful to add, but wanted to say how sorry I am to read this and I hope thing improve soon. xx
 
Emailed the breeder. :(

Sorry, CC, should have known you'd know your stuff :o

I'm not thinking end of world, just gutted for Zak and OH (Jake was 'his' dog).

With careful management, I've no doubt Zak will still be able to enjoy an excellent life. We have a hydrotherapy unit round the corner, happily, so I'll be enquiring about that when I'm back at the vet on Saturday. not the way I was thinking of starting him with swimming but no doubt great for him. :)

Kellysheros, thanks. Where do you get your seroquin from?
 
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Buggeration :(

I've nothing constructive to add that's not already been said - but sending all the good wishes and vibes I can muster. Folk in here are fab for support, we'll all be rooting for you guys :)
 
From the vets cinnamontoast - she has one tablet a day in her food and bless her, she just eats the tablet first and eats her food then. The hydro will do him the world of good, I can't recommend it enough.
K x
 
Nothing really to add, just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear this. Can understand just how gutted you must be x
 
Been thinking about you tonight. I understand how totally gutting this is but you must take comfort that this really isn't a huge problem. I've been through the despair youre feeling now-you'll read it in my posts!!!-but now Ive got my gorgeous bouncy 2 year old lab back, who excelled herself today by leaping from the top staircase to the bottom, then over the table and onto the sofa!!!

Glad you've emailed the breeders. Mine disappeared out of contact but think they know it's their fault a bit...

Chin up love!! Momentary blip-you'll be totally amazed how they recover. I also did A LOT of research on the differences between the two surgery options so if you need research I'm your lady!!

Last thing, I honestly could not have gotten through Chloes surgery without the support from everyone on here. It is a fab resource.

Xxxx
 
Thank you so much. I cant tell you how fabulous it is to come on here and know people can give me bril advice. I've done lot of research into supplements today and am off to Asda in the morning.

I'm ok. I think I just was devastated at first. He's so young and he's the OH's pick. We'd just been talking about Jake and getting emotional :o so it was all a bit much. We've had crap luck with legs, one horse and one dog PTS. :(

He's curled up on my knee on the lazy boy with me on the iPad, has been there all night. He never spends more than 5 minutes on knees so I'm very happy. The vet reckons he's a bit big for a lap dog.:o
 
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Silly vet.... no such thing as too big for a lap dog!


*gently repositions 40kg GSD to allow blood flow to right leg*


Laps is what they all be designed for! :p:D
 
Pah, 40kg? That's nothing! I had all three up earlier (weighed them last week at 20kg each) but was obliged to reduce to one when the OH mentioned that the hinges on the lazy boy might snap:o

I confess that Zak is between my legs: had to move him off my knee earlier and found I couldn't walk when i went for a wee earlier. :o
 
MY gr had mild dysplasia with careful managment he should be fine.You can help him early and have recognised the problem which is half the battle .Good luck with vet visits.:)
 
My staffie has elbow displaysia. He had the injections which made a massive difference and is now on the Hills Mobility diet with some wet food added. It is lower calorie and seems to be highly palatable. It is expensive food (was paying £69 foir a 12kg bag from my vet) but it can now be bought on the internet - £50 inc delivery, although this time round I have bought a smaller bag as the 12KG rather took over my kitchen. The option was to have surgery on both elbows but having talked it through with my vet I was not keen to do this as, even hopping lame, he is a very active little dog. He was cross enough with me when he had to stay at the vets to be sedated and x rayed just a day. So, its not the end of the world, can work around it if its early enough. BTW - do shop around for the injections - My vet in Surrey was charging me £10.26 per injection, dog weight 15 kilos. My friends vet in Berkshire was charging her £35 for her springer cross (16 kilo dog).
 
Glad you are feeling a little chirpier cinnamontoast. Cuddles always make it better don't they? :) (even if it means losing the circulation in your legs!)
I'm sure you can manage it effectively - he has age on his side as well as caring owners!
K x
 
Sorry to read this:( Haven't read all the replies, but my vet recommended Joint Aid as a good supplement (he doesn't sell it!). Henry is starting it tomorrow.

Hope everything works out ok.
 
The creature will need entertaining because he is the madder of the two pups. :eek:

Epic fail on a walk in the woods today-the other two were off and he was miserable, so we all went home. :( We took him to get some nice pig trotters at Morrissons, then to Pets at Home, where he tried to nick lots of toys then picked a kong. Back at home, he had a stuffed kong while we took out the others. Result!:)

I took the opportunity to put the canny collar on Bear and he was fantastic, no more standing getting frustrated and upset. (we have tried and tried with lead walking, nothing has worked:(). Both will be getting lots of individual attention and training and Brig will get big dog privilege by coming to the yard.:D
 
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