Hip Dysplasia In A Young Dog

[Guest BooMooandDoo]

Does anyone have any experience with hip dysplasia in a young dog?

 

How did you treat it?

 

What would you have done differently if you had known what you know now?

 

 

[Burpdog]

What breed of dog?

[Sighthounds4me]

In addition to what breed, what is the severity of the HD?

 

I know of many HD dogs who have been diagnosed early in life, but have done fine. With proper exercise, the hips can stay very muscular, therefore reducing the pain and instability. But it really depends on the severity of the HD - a dog with greater severity is less likely to do well.

[winnie]

Our neighbors Bernese Mountain Dog was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at less than a year old. He's not even 2 y/o yet and has had two hip surgeries. They also take him to swim therapy, etc. Igor is a wonderful dog and his owners care a great deal for him. It's too bad he's had so many problems at such a young age.

[Guest greytexplorer]

2 words: swimming pool

and use it often

[Guest BooMooandDoo]

The breed. . . coyote hound

 

Mazie and her littermate Zoo have both been diagnosed with hip dysplasia. From all the research that I've done, HD is not prominent in greyhound lines. . .so I'm assuming they got it from whatever they're mixed with.

 

Zoo's owner emailed me to tell me the news, so I had Mazie checked out.

 

Mazie has always been "bow legged" and had swivel hips.. . but we thought it was just "her little defect"

 

Lately she has been crying a lot, and really stiff after going to the dog park or long walks . .and it's gotten so bad that she's reluctant to move . . . .last night DH had to carry her to the door to go outside for last potty break.

 

Xrays show moderate dysplasia and since she's only 3 the Vet is concerned.

 

I have her on a complete joint supplement and the vet gave me rimidyl for pain (which I'm reluctant to use). He suggested that we should go to an ortho specialist to discuss surgery. . . but I wanted to see if there were any non-invasive regiments before going that route.

 

I just wanted to see if anyone else had any experience with the disease, regardless of the breed, to see what worked for them.

 

As for the swimming thing. . . Mazie LOVES to swim .. . . .so that would be the easiest therapy

[winnie]

You should definitely see if you have a therapy pool near you. This is the one near us that our neighbors take Igor too - Northern Virginia Animal Swim Center.

[Burpdog]

I would not put a young dog on a NSAID. Were the films sent off to OFA? Did you see the films? Was she sedated for the xrays?

 

I have heard of some people doing the clip with success. This has been years ago. I will go see what I can find--if anything has changed.

 

I'd definetely start her on a bovine chondroitin.

[Guest BooMooandDoo]

She wasn't sedated. . .she was in so much pain they said that she just laid there dead. They did three views and said she was amazingly calm. I had to carry her to the car the car on the way to the vet cause she was in so much pain. (we had gone to the dog park the night before. .. . .so yes it was my fault she was suffering) She perked up and walked back to the car on the way out though

 

I saw the films. . . .Not being a vet myself, I don't know what I was looking at. . .but the vet was pointing and talking. . and my head was swimming. He said the xrays will be reviewed on Wednesday by a radiologist and he'd give me a call.

 

What's clip?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest SusanP]

Back in the dark ages (the 70's), my labrador pup was diagnosed with hip displaysia. The vet did some sort of surgery cutting a tendon or muscle? Can't remember. But Joy lived to 14 and suffered from arthritis only the last couple of years. Never had a problem running or taking long walks. I don't know if they still do that kind of surgery, but it did work for her.

[Batmom]

Some helpful links:

 

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_hip_dysplasia.html

http://www.offa.org/hipgrade.html#ex

 

I *would* use an anti-inflammatory; not using one could make her problems worse. You'd want prelim and follow-up bloodwork, and a good understanding of the drug's side effects. But, many dogs tolerate these drugs for years with no difficulty at all.

[Burpdog]

They clip the muscle or whatever as Susan indicated.

 

In able to get proper xrays, you have to sedate the dog. I don't know what OFA is up to now number wise, but I had Dobe #565 I read a lot of xrays coming from Danes and I could (haven't done it in so long) see the xray and know what was what.

 

If she is in pain now, I would get her out of pain, however no way I would use any pain management long term. She needs a fix if there is one available. She is just a puppy

[Burpdog]

Here is a good explanation of the disorder and treatments available.

 

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cl...p;articleid=444

 

How old is she now?

[Guest BooMooandDoo]

Here is a good explanation of the disorder and treatments available.

 

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cl...p;articleid=444

 

How old is she now?

She turns 3 on Friday

 

She's hanging out in Truman's crate. . . . . .and seems to be comfortable at this point. I think I'm going to try the DGP herbal supplement and talk with the vet tomorrow when we go back in about getting baseline bloodwork before we start using the Rimidyl. The vet also said that we could use Metacam if it gets too bad. . .but did emphasize not to use the two together and I'd have to wait 3 days in between each. . if we decided to switch.

 

He recommended the following.

 

A COMPLETE joint supplement that has MSM, Glucosamine, Chrondroiing, Vit C . . .we're using the Tropical Oasis Joint Complete.

 

A fish oil supplement which will decrease inflammation

 

Raw diet (which she's already on)

 

Daily exercise to help strengthen the joints (which she gets)

 

I chat with him tomorrow when I have a clearer head and am not in as much shock. I just feel so bad that I've recognized the symptoms and didn't do anything about it sooner. I see what he says about sedating to x ray. . . . .he's not a fan of sedating unless it's absolutely necessary. He even stitched her up last year with just a local.

 

 

 

 

[Guest KennelMom]

Our cur was just diagnosed with hip dysplasia (and possible avascular necrosis - basically, the ball of the femur loses blood supply and dies). They did not sedate her for the xray b/c we were a 'worked in' appointment. B/c they suspect avascular necrosis, we go back in a few weeks so they can get a better shot under anesthesia and possibly see any bone degeneration in her femur. It's highly recommended that dogs be sedated for hip xrays so they can position the dog properly (and those positions are painful).

 

Depending on the outcome of the second set of x-rays, our two choices are most likely going to be total hip replacement (estimated cost of $4400) or excision of the femoral head/neck (estimated cost of $1500). Seeing the orthopedic specialist to evaluate our options and what would be best in her case is definitely happening. Until then, we are medically managing as necessary with Rimadyl (it really helps) and she's on a joint supplement. She doesn't seem to be in too much pain, fortunately.

 

Hip dysplasia is a new one to me....this is the first time we've dealt with it. Most likely, we'll do the total hip replacement. She's a very young dog (3) and we want to give her the highest quality of life possible. If she turns out to have avascular necrosis, I'm not even sure if they can still do a hip replacement.

 

I'm sorry to hear about Mazie

[retiredracers]

My co-worked also recommends magnet therapy now and after surgery (if you do surgery). I definitely recommend seeing the orthopedic specialist.

[Guest Hannah]

A fish oil supplement which will decrease inflammation

 

Take a look at Green Lipped Mussel extract, my vet reccomends it for joint problems (especially in the early stages of arthritis). Fluffy took it for a 18 to 24 months before her arthritis got too much for it and switched to Seraquin.

 

Fluffy says you need to get Maizie a kitty. There was some kind of research years ago about how a cat's purrs are good for joints and bones.

 

hugs and purrs for you and maizie

[Guest BooMooandDoo]

A fish oil supplement which will decrease inflammation

 

Take a look at Green Lipped Mussel extract, my vet reccomends it for joint problems (especially in the early stages of arthritis). Fluffy took it for a 18 to 24 months before her arthritis got too much for it and switched to Seraquin.

 

Fluffy says you need to get Maizie a kitty. There was some kind of research years ago about how a cat's purrs are good for joints and bones.

 

hugs and purrs for you and maizie

I'm getting Mazie a baby. . . .so unless she's going to clean out the litter box. . .no kitty for her :rofl

[Burpdog]

Make sure the chondroitin is from bovine--no shark cartiledge. Springtime's Joint Health has it all and you can add Fresh Factors. I'd be loading her up right now.

 

My DD had a Sheltie with legg pyrthese (I don't know how to spell it) and he had the head of the femur removed. He lived a long life She got a CD on him, the stopped--we didn't want to jump him.

[Guest BlackandBrindle]

Just seeing this

 

Poor Mazie moose. Let me know if there is something I can do for you (don't pick her up!!! get the vet tech to bring her in)

[krissn333]

I hope Mazie is feeling better soon - keep her swimming, that sounds like it will help a lot.

 

Heather, I knew a greyhound with avascular necrosis of the femoral head and he had some kind of surgery to repair it. Unfortunately he died a couple of days after the surgery from complications (he was quite a bit older) and I'm not exactly sure what his surgery entailed, but there IS a surgery for it for sure.

 

 

 

 

[Guest argolola]

Sending prayers from Florida.

[Xan]

First off, POOR MAZIE! Second, poor YOU! I'm sure you were just in denial about her symptoms.

 

Wabi had the surgery they do for hd, though it was because of her deformed hips, not hd. I read at the time (IIRC) that the upper weight limit is 40 lbs for that operation (Wabi weighs about 43), though, and, without casting aspersions, I think it's safe to say the Moose weighs more than that!

 

I don't know. I probably shouldn't have posted that, since it doesn't make sense. Labs usually weigh more than that, and they're famous for hd, right? Now I have to go check again!

 

Good luck with sorting out a good treatment for the Moose!!

[Guest Aggie94]

Good luck. We've been dealing with it in our shep x. He was diagnosed at 8 months I believe. I totally trust our vet so when we learned about this and he told us our 3 options, I asked what he'd do and luckily Max's wasn't too severe at the time and he said he'd just do the supplements. We tried the anti-inflammatories last year I think it was and while at first they worked great, they also changed him. He was depressed, didn't want to do anything, wouldn't eat, then started with the intestinal problems. Vet took him off right away. After a day, he was back to his carefree self. Can't use those. I have him on the Joint Care 3 from Drs Foster and Smith. He does okay. He does have a harder time getting up and he seeks out soft places. He'll also run around and jump like a nut! I have tramadol for when he over does it. He will be 5 end of July. Sorry you have to deal with it too. Thanks for the articles. Good reading for me too.

[Guest BooMooandDoo]

Mazie and Truman both had a vet adventure this morning. . . .

 

Truman got a growth taken off of his face. . . . . and now has two little stitches right under his eye.

 

Mazie was sedated for another set of xrays. Poor girl was so drunk when I took her home. It made me sad.

 

Basically, with the new xrays the vet thinks it's more of a mild than moderate displasia. The joints don't look as bad as the set they took yesterday. One thing he said he is concerned about her right patella. Because she's so bow legged, her right knee appears to be restructuring itself. . .whatever that means. . . .

 

We now have a good base line xray to see if there is any deterioriation in the future.

 

He mentioned that Moose could lose a lb or two BUT he also said that she had good muscle tone. . .and we should make sure she doesn't lose that. He recommended a few therapy pools and gave me a referral to the in-house acupuncturist. When I told him that she liked to swim, he said we should take her to the lake 2-3 times a week to save money and to give her a good work out.

 

The radiographs went to the radiologist. . . .and I should hear some thing tomorrow or Thursday.