Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 12:40 pm Post subject: Hi, we're new and seeking help & advice for my poorly Sa
[color=red:dd0779fa41][/color:dd0779fa41]Hi guys Im Anthea, and I own an 8 year old golden lab called Sasha. She is my absolute world, so I get alot of joy out of seeing you fellow labaholics on here speaking about your bundles of joy!!
Sasha has always been a 'daft' labrador, won't sit still, and definitely is full of beans!! She has been my rock ever since a relationship of mine broke down back in 2001. There is no 'Anthea', its always 'Anthea and Sasha'. Without her I wouldn't be the person I am now!!
Over the last year, we've had big mobility issues. Sasha had a cruciate ligament injury last year which led to a TPLO procedure being carried out last July. after a long recouperation, she came through it and was no longer depressed. Thinking we were getting somehwhere, I began to feel relieved that she had made such a wonderful recovery.
However, three weeks ago, Sasha became lame in her other leg. Having read lots of literature on the ACL injuries, I was sure that the other leg was suffering from the same condition, as in 30% of original cases the injury reoccurs in the other leg and relatively soon too.
Thinking the worst, we went to the vet who did xrays. thinking ACL could be the worst outcome was WAY off the mark. Initial xrays reveal she has severe arthritis in her left hip, and broken bone in the joint is the most probable cause of her lameness.
We have been lucky enough to have gotten an appointment with the specialist Davis White in Higham Gobion, Hertfordshire on 10th Feb, but Im so scared for both of us. I suppose Im looking to you guys for advice really. Has anyone got experience of hip replacement, or indeed, hip replacement in addition to TPLO???
Also, Rimadyl features in our daily routine along with glucosamine and chondroitin, and omega 3 oils. Ive heard bad things about the NSAIDS so does anyone know of any less risky alternatives?
Ive become abit fanatic about it all really. Ive even checked back to the original KC registration doc which shows the hip score of the sire as being 6/7. Is this good? can anyone translate what a 6/7 hipscore really means??
Hi there, i have just joined this list and saw your post and think i may be of help for the lameness. Our dog poppy got arthritis in her left elbow last year and we put her on rimadyl, but after speaking with my vet who said it can cause long term liver damage we decided not to case another problem by helping the lameness.
Now she has devils claw, flexicose and a magnet collar and i am pleased to say she is much better.
I have another friend who got one of these magnetic collars for thier dog as it was in so much pain it would'nt go out 4 weeks ago, now it bounces round the field. I have a magnetic bracelet and i take flexicose for joint problems but i have only just started so cant comment from a personal experience just yet.
I do hope this helps your Sasha, i am a big believer in herbal remedies as they were here long before conventional medicines. It is always best to get a vets opinion but mine supports me.
If you want to read more about flexicose as it contains glucosamine and chondroitin and aloe vera, the devils claw is an anti inflammatory and painkiller, then go to poppys website at www.poppydog.co.uk Theres a link on the first page to all 3 places i got my products from.
Good luck Anthea, let me know how you get on. My poppy is 8 too, she'll be 9 this May. Where are you from?
Hi Hazel, thanks so much for your advice. I'll look into the devils claw and magnetic therapy immediately as anything is worth a go!!!! shes only been on the gloucosamine/chondroitin just over a week so im still observing...
Sasha will be 8 on 1st March. We live in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, but only moved here in 2003 from Halifax West Yorkshire. How about you?
I'm happy you have found us, and i hope you will find the help you are looking for, for Sasha. It sounds like you & Sasha are very close, our labs certainly have an impact on our lives don't they.
I'm glad you have got an appointment with the specialist for her, i hope you will find some answers. I have found some useful links, hope they help. Keep us posted ok, all the best.
I cannot offer any advice I'm afraid on the problems you are experiencing but just wanted to welcome you as well - I'm sure you'll get lots of help here. The site's been a great help to us as new lab owners!
All the best to you both and keep us posted,
Nicola.
Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 3:32 pm Post subject: hip scores
Awww, she doesnt sound a happy bunny at the moment. Hip scores, as i understand them, is the amount of 'faults' along the joint and the surrounding bone on the left and right side. They shouldnt really add up to more than 15, or so I am told. Really you should look for low hip scores in the dog's lineage when buying a pup, and clear eyes also. I hope your baby feels better soon.
all the best
Hi Andrea
Metacam is an alternative to Rimadyl which does not appear to cause as many reactions in dogs. (although still a NSAID). Many dogs have been fine and have been greatly helped by rimadyl, but as you have found out, some have had severe reactions to it.
The most important thing is, if your vet hasn’t already discussed it with you, to ensure you know what the side effeds are and watch her very carefully for any signs of problems.
With regards to hip scoring – a brief outline.
A panel of specialist vets assess a given dogs set of xrays. They measure shape, angle and fit of the pelvic socket and femoral head. Nine points are examined and awarded points 0 = perfect, 6 = worst. These are then added together to give a maximum score of 53 points per hip , total 106. The score is then give, in your sires case 6/7 total 13. Fine for breeding (although you don't say what the dam's scores are) The mean average of all dogs (in a particular breed) is then published each year by the kennel club. Currently it is 15 in Labradors. The best explanation I have found is here
[url]http://www.thedogscene.co.uk/articles/health/hdscore.htm[/url]
This however, doesn’t give the whole picture. A score of 6 (as an example) could mean that there are very minor deviations on six of the points. It could also mean that one point has been awarded the worst possible score, which could cause a problem.
Also, just having one set of scores doesn’t give the whole picture. Dogs inherit genes from both parents. What are the dam’s scores? What are the grandparents and great grandparents scores? Do we know what siblings and other offsprings scores are, and thus know what this sire is throwing? It is possible that only one or a few pups in a litter are affected, siblings may be free, however they should still not be bred from. Genetic problems (and virtues) can skip several generations before reappearing.
HD is a polygenetic inherited trait (in other words caused by lots of genes, not one) Add to this the fact that genetics is only part of the story, growth rates, nutrition and exercise also play their part you can start to see that it is incredibly complicated, we still have a long way to go before it is really understood, and there are no guarantees. The most we can expect is that both parents are hips scored, that breeders do more than just scoring the parents and research grandparents, great grandparents etc and any offspring. And with proper care we hope our dogs will grow up HD free, but even then, HD can still strike when least expected.
I do feel for you. It’s so hard to watch our beloved pets suffer, but there is a lot that can be done these days and she is obviously in good hands. Hope all goes well with the specialist and keep us posted.
[quote:17f41c5f34="antheawad"]Hi Hazel, thanks so much for your advice. I'll look into the devils claw and magnetic therapy immediately as anything is worth a go!!!! shes only been on the gloucosamine/chondroitin just over a week so im still observing...
Are they tablets or liquid form as the liquid is much quicker at absorbing into the body than pills.
Sasha will be 8 on 1st March. We live in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, but only moved here in 2003 from Halifax West Yorkshire. How about you?[/quote:17f41c5f34]
I'm from Wakefield in West Yorkshire so not much further from where you used to live
Hi Hazel
I give my dogs flexicose - it's good stuff. I buy it on the internet and it's shipped over from the States, do you know anywhere in the UK that sells it?
In my investigations I have come across someone on eBay selling flexicose. his username is flexicoseuk but I'm thinking there is not much difference in price to have it shipped from America
In the meantime, here's an update. Sasha's normal vet returned to work this week and he confirmed the concern over Sasha's hip. He also said there was slight swelling to her knee. He has grown so fond of Sasha and is gutted at this recent development. He has referred her urgently back to the specialist, Davis White in Higham Gobion (one of the most prestigious and expensive specialists in the UK so Ive been led to believe!!) and we already have an appointment for 10th February sowish us luck - we'll keep you all posted.
You'll be happy be happy to know that Sasha's spirits are high at the moment. She is an absolute inspiration to me and my family in light of the circumstances. She's getting away with murder thought at the moment - no different to normal though ha ha. what Sasha wants, Sasha normally gets!!!
Hazel, thats a small world you living in Wakey, I have friends who moved from down here last year to Pontefract too. In fact, Im up home a week today to see my friends for a beer in Heckmondwike, and see my family in Halifax. Maybe when Sashy is recovering, I can bring her with me for a visit when Im on my travels???? I'd love to meet Poppy. Love your website by the way!!!
Re the hip scoring, thanks for the knowledge that you shared with us. I only had the score for the sire, not the dam. we didnt get sasha from a professional breeder as such. I think the family we got her from simply wanted a litter with their bitch and paid for the services of the sire by means of a puppy from the new litter. I dont think they scored her at all.
Thank you all so much for your lovely words of advice, support and kindness. I hope to speak to you all lots and lots in the future. I think ill log onto the gallery too to share some of mine and Sasha's special moments
With lots of love and licks and snuggles
Anthea and Sasha (aka pedigree name Sally Superlass!)
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Im Anthea, and I own an 8 year old golden lab called Sasha. She is my absolute world, so I get alot of joy out of seeing you fellow labaholics on here speaking about your bundles of joy!!
