Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:07 pm Post subject: Need advice on hip replacement
I'm new to the forum and need some advice. My beautiful 6 month old chocolate lab has just been diagnosed with chronic hip dysplasia. I have been told it is common in labs - but I just need some feedback regaurding the operation - cost & recovering time etc... Any information would be appreciated.
I'm absolutly devastated.
Please keep an eye on this as there are quite a few labbies here that have had the operation (s).
Someone will be along soon to answer your questions xx
I am sorry to hear about Bruce!
There are members on here who have gone through hip replacement, Wendy (charliesmum) has been through Charlie having double hip replacement and i'm sure she can offer you plenty of support & advice.
Sorry Wendy, hope you don't mind me pointing this poster to you?
oh and on http://www.lab-health.co.uk/ there are stories for you to read.
I'm really sorry to hear your devastating news. I know exactly how you are feeling. My dog Charlie was diagnosed with severe HD at 6 months.
However it really is not the end of the world.
I won't pretend it will be an easy time for you as it won't, but well worth it in the end.
Have you seen a specialist? I assume he has had x-rays done to diagnose the HD.
The best age for a hip replacement is around 1 year of age. Charlie was 11 months when he had his first one done and 1 year when he had his 2nd. This was last Sept/Oct.
Have you got Bruce insured? The cost of the op varies but averages out around £3000 per hip.
As for recovery time, Charlie had to have a month complete rest, or as much s posible. He had a hobble on to hold his back legs in place so he didn't do he splits and pull his hip out (not all vets do this). After a month Charlie had more xrays and was then allowed lead walks 3 x 5 mins per day, building up by 2 minutes per day up to 3 x 30 min walks per day. He was then allowed short off lead time on flat ground, again building him up. After 3 months he was allowed unlimited walks so we have been gradually building up his stamina and having longer walks.
He is due to go back to the specialist in April for his 6 month post op xray and he will need yearly xrays for the rest of his life,
As there are one or two other dogs on LF due to have their hips replaced I took a video of Charlie on his walk yesterday so people can see how well he is doing. Have a look at his link
Thankyou for replying so soon.
Charlie looks so good in that video he is a beautiful dog.
I do have insurance for Bruce however am worried about them trying to claim it as an existing disease - although it was diagnosed during the incsurance period. How did you cope with this?
He is also in a lot of pain. We are waiting to see the specialist but the vet did say it was so bad he would need the full operation. I am so worried.
How did you keep Charlie happy for the 5 months he had to wait for his operation? I can hear him downstairs now crying and my 5 year old daughter is asking my husband why she can't play with her dog.
When we saw the specialist he gave us Rimadyl for Charlie which seemed to help him. We also reduced his walks a lot which seemed sad as he really had loads of energy but we knew he would suffer for it.
As for the insurance we are with M&S and they were brilliant. we've claimed the full £7000 with no problems. Did you see the vet with this problem before you had him insured? As long as you didn't then the insurance should pay up. Which company are you with?
I notice that you haven't subscribed to LF. You will only be allowed 5 posts in total if you don't, It's cheap and well worth joining
Please don't hesitate to ask anything else that you need to know and we'll do our best to help you
I just wondered which part of the country you lived in and which specialist are you seeing?
Also do you know if his Bruce's parents were hip scored? or had any other health checks?
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