I have my 13 year old puppy (lab mix) and I wouldnt trade him for the world. When I got my dog he could fit in the palm of my hand, I got him from the pound at just 4 weeks old. Within less than 2 months of getting him he started to favor his front 2 legs. We took him to the vet, it wasnt hip but knee dysplasia. At this point me and my gf at the time were already too attached to just kill him. So at 6 months we got his first surgery. By the time he was 1 and a half he had 3 surgeries of which none were successful so he kind of has a go toe on one of his back feet but for the most part walks around on his front legs. He doesnt seem to be in any pain and always has a smile on his face. He can scurry quite fast and gets up and down stairs without a problem. Even at 13 he jumps out of my extra tall pillowtop bed every morning no problem. Many rednecks and less than animal enthusiasts suggested to put him to sleep. I say as long as he is not in pain why, just because hes not a perfect little show dog, is that what you would do with your child if they were born with a defect? We had a great vet, all 3 surgeries only cost about $1600 and he let us pay it out over a couple of years. Also I have found since then many colleges have programs where they will work on your puppy for free using all of the latest and greatest technology. Nothing you read on these answers will replace the opinion of your vet after a thorough examination though. See what your vet has to say and call your local colleges and talk to some of the professors in the vet classes. Good luck!
2006-10-26 11:55:37
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answer #1
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answered by leseulun 2
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There are so many things that could be bothering your dog, you need to take him to the Vet. It could be something far worse than hip dysplasia. He is suffering now & you should have had him to the Vet already. We cannot manipulate the joint to see if it is the hip or if it is his back or if it is both plus some internal stuff. I had a Lab that went lame but I didn't pay much attention to him cause the day before I found a friend dead in his apartment & my mind & heart was being torn apart. On the third day I took him to the Vet. His liver was inlarged & there was no treatment. He hadn't shown any signs or symptoms except for just laying around & not responding to the other dogs or me. I had to have him put to sleep. I lost a friend of 35 yrs & three days latter I lost my 13 yr. old dog. I was a basket case. Your dog needs to see a Vet ASAP.
2016-05-21 23:11:20
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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I had an American Cooker Spaniel that suffered from hip dysplasia. Her hip dysplasia was so bad that she refused to walk on the leg that was causing her so much pain. She got the surgery to help relieve her discomfort but she still continued to avoid walking on the leg that suffered from hip dysplasia. The doctor thought she might be doing this behavior out of habit though. Sometime she walked on the leg and other times she did not. I do not know if this surgery helped relive or stop the progression of hip dysplasia in dogs.
2006-10-26 19:54:52
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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That's a young baby to be dysplastic. There are many options, and I'm sure that your vet will discuss them with you. Total hip replacement is an option and necessary in some cases. I did know a golden retriever who had total hip replacement at 9 and was running agility courses (slowly but surely, and with no pain) at 11. Financially , that surgery is tough. Many dogs have great success with acupuncture, and I knew a few people with dysplastic Australian Shepherds that had great success. Good luck, this is a really though decision.
2006-10-26 11:58:09
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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Oh dear. So young.
If she is showing signs that early she is definitely in quite a bit of pain.
(By the way, have you told your breeder? Reputable,responisble breeders give a written guarantee against hereditary defects - and dyslpasia is one of them. Such breeders either offer to takeback the puppy, give you another either now for that one or down the road or help with the costs of the surgery.)
Is it bilateral (both hips) or unilateral (on hip)? That can make a difference on the treatment.
Personally, I wouldn't do a hip transplant on one so young who is still growing (and so are the hips.)
One procedure that has been around for years and has always had excellent results is the pectinotomy. Certain muscles are cut, the head of the femur is allowed to drop down some and it then forms a false joint. Most dogs walk out of the clinic sound. Until the false joint is completely forms and they develop the musculature to compensate, they will come up a little sore now and again - easily handled by some pain meds.
After this surgery you need to help her develop the msucle to compensate - and that is not on the couch or walkies. Beaches are great - impact doesn't stress the bones and joint BUT does require real work from the muscles and tendons. Swimmiing - swimming and more swimming. I'm talking about beaches /running and swimmiing 2-3 times a week on average.
Over 30 years ago I had a Golden come up with dysplasia at the same age. (A complete genetic feak - 5 generations of OFA excellent and good on the hips,and 2 prior litters from the same dam/sire and all fine. The bad genes finally outted in the end.) Any way, his hips were so bad, it was what they called a Class IV dysplasia meaning it simply could not get any worse. We did the pectinotomy or Pectineal Myectomy (hip transplants were an option but still experimental back then an about $20000). He had his heavy duty pain meds- I'm talking Percodan here - that he would need on occassion.We went to the beach, to a lake, he ran on the beach, he swam.....and by the age of 2 1/2 he could leap 4 ft straight up into the air grabbing for a toy. He went backpacking with me - he carried his own packs with his food - into the mountains for 1-2 weeks at a time. He could run for 5, 10 miles..... If it hadn't worked, the next step was the experimental hip transplants.
Now the younger vets (under 50 crowd) have trained primarily on the very high tech procedures and don't know much about the pectinotomy (or whatever they are calling these days) but the older vets swear by it. (And it is far less expensive - wonder if that has something to do with how in or out of favor it is?) the surgical selection is
Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO): under 10 months, mild dysplasia and no secondary arthritis
We are talking breaking the pelvis, realigining bones etc. Only done if there is no damage to the joint. VERY expensive. Dog is in hospital. Probably best done at a vet shool and teaching facility or by an orthopedic specialist.
Total Hip Replacement (hip transplant) ditto on expense and hospital
Femoral Head and Neck Excision (FHO) (older dogs where can't do total replacement but the joint has degenerated) Very extreme. They lose range of motion and joint stability but 100% sound. Best done on dogs under 45 lbs and occassionally larger dogs
Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis: (under 20 weeks)
Personally, if she isn't in excruciating pain - can't rise, can't walk, can't control it with pain meds - I would get her out on a beach and/or in the water.
I have seen dogs whose hips xrayed nearly as badly as my Golden go 100% sound in such a regime so that no one knew there was a problem until xrays were shot at 2 years old for the OFA certification. We are talking xrays where the vet said "what hips -there is no head to the femur and no socket - NONE! How is this dog moving so well and being so active and never lame????"
No leaping up for frisbees. No jumping. No kids sliding down the dog's back. No extra food - we are talking keep her on the lean side.
It is so hard to say what to do without seeing her and the zrays. What does your vet recommend? He has seen both.
Now if I'm taking a guess without that information and if I had to make the call and
(1) She gets a little sore now and again but it isn't unmanageable with strong pain meds, I would first do the exercise thing to strengthen the muscles and tendons in the rear end,. This can give her an incredible amount of compensation for the hip joint deformity - the muscles get so strong that they literaly hold the femur in place despite the deformity of the socket and femur ball. This take a great deal of dedication on your part - I'm talking 2-3 days a week, 4-7 hours at a time. You can always do a pectinotomy or hip transplant later.
At the time (30 + years ago) the vets were astounded that I had brought that Golden back to 100% plus soundness. Now it is recognized that exercise is critical because of the ability of the muscles to compensate.
(2) If that exercise is helping but not quite enough or she is mildly to moderately lame but not constantly lame and the pain meds aren't working, then I would do the exercise first and then the pectintomy and more exercise.
(3) Extremely lame and it is all or nearly all the time and she can't do the exercise and the pain meeds don't do it, then its a choice: try the pectinotomy followed up by the pain meds as needed AND that exercise regime OR pay for the Triple Pelvic Osteotomy . This is a budget ($200-400 of surgery versus $3000+) and time decision that only you can make. If you make the decison after she is 10 months, then the FHO if she isn't too large but if so, the the full transplant.
(4) I would only go the full transplant as a last resort
I have had the pectinotomy work a treat but, as I said, I was fanatical about the dog swimming and running on a beach to build up the muscles to support the joint. I never made any excuse not to take him - not storms or snow, or other things to do. We went to the beach. PERIOD
Also you will need to get her on to fish oil capsules and glucomsamine. to help delay the onset of arthritis (and she will get arthritis because the joint is deformed and bearing the weight incorrectly). Any fish oil capsules are fine. I recommend the "Joint Care Plus MSM by Doctors Foster & Smith (long time pet supplier owned by vets)
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/
Give her an orthopedic bed to sleep on - maybe one with extra warmth from the pad. (F & S have them)
Good luck
2006-10-26 13:03:31
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answer #5
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answered by ann a 4
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my shih tzu dog had it as a puppy and it was so painfull the vet decided that pain killers would be for the best he has been on a low dose for the last year surgery is not an option as the vet has said its too severe and would not make any difference good luck
2006-10-26 11:39:26
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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The type of treatment or surgery depends on how the hips are displaced. Talk to your vet. He should show you the xray and explain what can be done.
2006-10-26 11:39:10
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answer #7
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answered by strawberry 2
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I dealt with this 2 years ago with a male Golden Retriever who was 9 years old. He could not walk anymore and I had to carry him down the stairs and hold him up just so he could poop/pee. I spent thousands trying to help him but nothing worked. One morning I woke up and he just looked at me with those "help me" eyes and I knew it was time to put him to sleep. Sorry!!!
2006-10-26 11:38:35
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answer #8
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answered by italiana2683 2
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WEll i havent been though this and my bunny is sorta weird and doesnt have ears i gues su can jsut go to the vet (if u hadnt already) jsut make him feel happy as if he where uhm...like a REAL dog with no disorder thingy
2006-10-26 11:39:24
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answer #9
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answered by Banana and crackerz 2
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talk to the vet, but after the surgery definatly get him to do aquatic therapy. they have underwater daog tredmills specifically for that, saved my friends puppy's life (otherwise he wouldn;t have gotten over the surgery)!
2006-10-26 11:41:59
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answer #10
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answered by getshorty 3
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