Guest Greytblackdog Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 (edited) Hi everyone. I lurk a lot here and I know you guys are incredibly knowledgable so I'm hoping someone out there has some wisdom for me. A little background: Seka is 8.5 years old. She ran only 3 races (poorly) and we adopted her at 22 months old. Just after her second birthday she had the weight baring toe on her left back foot amputated due to sand migration from a puncture wound she got on the track. We knew removing the weight baring toe would alter her gait, but she was no longer in pain, ran, played, etc for the next 6 years. Over the past year, I noticed her back legs were getting weaker. She wants to go on long walks, she just can't do it. When we get home, her back legs are so weak she can't go up and down a few stairs. I wanted to go the chiro/acupuncture so I had my vet take x-rays so we could take them with us for treatment (which is 2 hrs away). In the process of taking the hip x-rays, they discovered an old fracture in her left femur. FRACTURE!!! Off to Auburn University we go. They confirm the diagnosis, telling me this trauma happened when she was around 6 months old because the crack is below the growth plate (I don't know how they can see these things). So she ran on the track with a crack in her hip and because there was no treatment of the fracture there is some slight growth deformation in that leg, hip, socket, etc. Now at 8.5 it is arthritic and painful. They suggested FHO surgery where they cut the head of the femur off and let the muscles do all the work. I know greyhounds have sound hips. Of all the specialists we have seen with her over the years for her gait, pain, injuries, not one suggested hip x-rays or if they were done they weren't done properly. I just wish we had caught it earlier. But that's not where we are. Does anyone have experience with a greyhound FHO? Any information would be helpful on recovery and how they are doing now. Thanks for your help! Heather & Seka www.greytblackdog.com Edited February 9, 2012 by Greytblackdog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feisty49 Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 I have no experience with your boy's issue but I looked at your blog site and your fur babies are gorgeous. I also watched Roxy open his present. How funny the way he bit, pulled and then tossed the paper aside. Wishing you much luck and I hope Seka's hip problem can be resolved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kudzu Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Oh no! Poor Seka. I would never have guessed to watch her moving. Heather, I wish I had some advice but I don't. Venus had started with some arthritis in her right hip related to an old muscle injury but it's nothing like what Seka is going through. Hopefully someone has some experience with FHO. Laura from SEGA & SCG with Venus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philospher77 Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 I will chime in with what little help I can. My first greyhound, Trinkett, presented with a fracture of the femoral neck. After debating the 50/50 chance of it being osteo (amputate) or just a break (FHO), I decided to try the FHO with the thought that I could amputate if worse came to worst. While it's a pretty major surgery, she seemed to come through it alright, and was starting to use the leg and put some weight on it. However, it was actually osteo, and the bone refractured, so I had to have it amputated after a couple of weeks. So I do not know what the long term would have been like. It does make the leg a little shorter, and you may want to look into physical therapy after the surgery to help build strength and coordination back up, but I would do it if I were you and could afford it. Quote My blog about helping Katie learn to be a more normal dog: http://katies-journey-philospher77.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Probably doesn't help much, but I had a CAT who arrived (a stray) with a shattered hip socket, and he had a FHO. He came through it just fine, and was walking the next day (of course he went from what had to be intolerable pain to a lot less pain!). Not sure about long term as he ended up being put down for another serious health matter about a year later. I would consider, if I were you, having those x-rays sent off to OSU before you make your decision. Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Dr Dyce at Ohio State University has been doing total hip replacements. Dr Couto calls him the Dr with magic fingers. I would totally consult with him before I did an fho on a greyhound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Greytblackdog Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Thank you so much. I've contacted Dr. Gillette at AU, Dr. Dees? in Hollywood, FL and now I will absolutely send the info to Dr. Dyce at OSU. I'm just hesitant. She uses the limb. She's not totally lame at all (2 on a scale of 4) but I don't want it to get worse. She's very stoic so I have no idea how much pain she is really in. Thank you for letting me know about the leg length thing. I thought that might be the case, but surgeons don't ever give you enough details. Thanks for the comments on Roxy. She's a handful that is for certain. At 7 she still thinks she 3 and is VERY silly. Heather & Seka www.greytblackdog.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joejoesmom Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Dr Dyce at Ohio State University has been doing total hip replacements. Dr Couto calls him the Dr with magic fingers. I would totally consult with him before I did an fho on a greyhound. I would first try submitting a consult request through the greyhound health and wellness program. Ask if they would be able to get Dr. Dyce's opinion on recommended treatment (in addition to the greyhound health and wellness program's confirmation that there is no osteo). Dr. Dyce works in a different department (he is in charge of orthopedic surgery). OSU typically charges for consults with him. If Dr. Couto's team can't get the free consult, you could see if Dr. Dyce will do a phone or email consult for a fee. OSU will be able to give you an estimate for both the FHO and hip replacement surgeries at their facility. I have heard that OSU is less expensive than vets in other areas (particularly east coast). If you do decide to come to OSU, there are local greyhound owner's who may be able to put you and your hound up in their home (saving the cost of a hotel). Here is the link to the consult form: https://greyhound.osu.edu/consultationservice/ And a little bit on Dr. Dyce: http://vet.osu.edu/JonathanDyce http://www.orthovetsupersite.org/interviews-by-geoff-sumner-smith/interviews/2066-interview-with-jonathan-dyce http://vet.osu.edu/assets/pdf/hospital/newsletter/2010/spring2010.pdf Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Greytblackdog Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Dr Dyce at Ohio State University has been doing total hip replacements. Dr Couto calls him the Dr with magic fingers. I would totally consult with him before I did an fho on a greyhound. Jane, I cannot thank you enough for this information. I'm willing to go anywhere for her. She is my heart dog. I have a dumb question, what additional tests do I need to have run to determine if it isn't (or is) osteo? Heather & Seka www.greytblackdog.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joejoesmom Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 (edited) Dr Dyce at Ohio State University has been doing total hip replacements. Dr Couto calls him the Dr with magic fingers. I would totally consult with him before I did an fho on a greyhound. Jane, I cannot thank you enough for this information. I'm willing to go anywhere for her. She is my heart dog. I have a dumb question, what additional tests do I need to have run to determine if it isn't (or is) osteo? Heather & Seka www.greytblackdog.com Based on what you said it is likely not osteo. Typically the folks at OSU can look at good quality x-rays and have a good idea. If you can get the x-rays in electronic form, attach them to the consultation form (I think you can attach 6 files). If they think osteo is a possibility but they aren't sure, they might recommend an ultrasound guided fine needle aspirate. Do NOT let anyone talk you into doing a bone biopsy. If it is osteo, a biopsy can actually fracture the bone, leaving you with no choice but to amputate or euthanize immediately. A healed fracture looks considerably different from osteo, so I have no reason to suspect that it is osteo. However, since you need to send the x-rays anyway, and the greyhound program is staffed with oncologists who give free consults; you might as well ask them if they see any sign of cancer. In case you weren't aware, the GHWP (greyhound health and wellness program) is staffed by two veterinarians who either have or are pursuing doctorates in cancer research. Since they are veterinarians, they can also consult on illnesses other than cancer. They can also talk to other vets, especially the oncology department. The oncology department is staffed with vets who have additional schooling in internal medicine and then even more schooling in oncology. The GHWP, the oncology department, the hematology department, and the blood bank all report to Dr. Guillermo Couto. The small animal surgery department reports to Dr. Dyce. Jane edited to add: One of the GHWP veterinarians, Dr Marin, is the one who usually responds to consult requests. Unfortunately, she is out on a three month leave and won't be back until April. I'm not sure how they are distributing the workload. I know they try to respond within 72 hours (excluding weekends). If you don't get a response, contact them again. If you need to contact me, feel free to email me at Jane Edited February 10, 2012 by joejoesmom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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