Labradors Forums banner

Severe Hip Dysplasia

6K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  megaloo 
#1 ·
Good morning. Our 7 year old chocolate lab Canusa has severe hip dysplasia. 10 months ago, after consulation with our vet and an orthopedic surgeon we decided to have FHO surgury done. Given that our dog was in otherwise good health she thought there was no reason that "Nusa" could not make a relatively complete recovery. Well we are 10 months removed from the surgery and things could not be much worse. Nusa walks with a limp and despite a desire to play, runs with a bunny hop. She will not walk up ANY stairs and has a difficult time rising from her dog bed. Nusa is worse off now than prior to the surgery and clearly is not herself. We returned to the surgeon (who we like very much) last week and she confirmed our thought that Nusa had not responded as she should have to the surgery. We had x-rays done yesterday and found that the surgically "corrected" hip has evidence of "boney" reminants around the site. The other hip has also deteriorated considerablly from where it was less than a year ago. The surgeon raised a number of options including the possibility of surgery for the other hip. Unfortunately she has not offered to help pay for the procedure. At this point we've spent over $2500 and have a dog who is worse off than she was before the surgery. Financing another surgery will certainly be a burden.

My questions are many:
a. Have people had similar experiences and if so what have they done?
b. Should we have the other side done and ask the surgeon to cut us a break in terms of price?
c. Accupunture has been suggested. Have people had success with this mode of treatment?
d. Are there drugs other than Dermax, Glucosamine, Chondroitin and MSN (she already on these) that might alleviate the pain?
e. Are there other options or issues that we have failed to consider?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks. :( :(
 
See less See more
#2 ·
So sorry to hear of the problems Nusa's had. Obviously you need to keep on with the vet treatment but additionally have you tried TTouch? I don't have much personal experience of it (I only have one of the books on it) but a lady I see from time to time in the park has a GSD with hip problems and she absolutely swears that TTouch has helped enormously. Essentially I think it is a 'how to stroke your dog' technique (!) but it does seem to have excellent results in many cases.

http://tteam-ttouch.com/

is the website of Linda Tellington-Jones who invented the method.

http://www.pawsnlearn.freeserve.co.uk/ttactuk.htm

This is a UK website I've found that appears to have a lot of information about the techniques.

The book I have is 'Getting in Touch with Your Dog' and has various techniques for things like calming your dog down, building trust and confidence and easing painful joints. I thought you might like to try it as it's something you can do yourself and at the very least would be pleasurable for you and the dog.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...660/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/026-0093888-0117255

Do hope you find something that helps.
 
#4 ·
Hi ,sorry to hear about Canusa,dylan has'nt got hip dysplasia but has got bilateral elbow dysplasia and is doing well after his first op about 6 weeks ago, i do have some experience of acupuncture as Ben my old lab used to have sessions about 10 years ago then for about a year before we lost him he was having sessions over here,i would deffinatley recommend acupuncture as it really works and as dylan has got arthritis in both elbows at only 15 months he will be getting accupuncture when he needs it.You could also try a magnetic collar,i know that Ben had a good reaction to one and wore one till we lost him.As for asking my orthopedic surgeon (who we liked very much too) to help with the payment that is up to you, but it does sound like you are blaming her or maybe i have got it wrong,she must have pointed out that the proceedure is not always successful,i do feel for you having to watch yor dog suffer and hope that things get sorted soon,Take Care,Lynne.
 
#5 ·
thanks

To all of you who have posted responses. I have visited many of the posted links and plan to get a copy of "Getting In Touch With Your Dog" later today. If nothing else it will give Nusa and I some bonding time. I welcome other entries and input-especially with regard to accupuncture and/or next steps.

Thanks again. Hopefully we can get Nusa's condition under control soon.
 
#6 ·
I have a friend who had a dog with a hip problem. He was treated by an Osteopath over in the UK who also treated animals. This was very successful. Also she took him to the hydrotherapy pool for swimming which also helped.

I am wondering why it was necessary to operate on a 7 year old Lab with hip dysplasia, had the dog had problems all through life?? I would have thought by getting to this age without surgery, methods other than surgery should have been considered.
 
#7 ·
Hi Canusa,

Welcome to the site.

Am so sorry to hear of the problems Nusa has been having, it sounds like the last year or so has been a difficult time for you all.

Have found a few more links:

http://www.nuprosupplements.com/testimonials.htm

http://www.labradornet.com/ddyspla.html

http://www.cah.com/dr_library/hipdysp.html

http://www.cah.com/dr_library/acupuncture.html

http://www.holisticvetconsult.com/dysplasia.htm


Have you considered getting a second opinion from another vet? I know you said you get on well with your vet/specialist, but it might be useful to get someones elses opinion.

I know you have alot of reading to do, and i really do hope you find some answers soon.

Thinking of you and Nusa - keep us posted. We will all be here for support.

Kind Regards

Julie
 
#8 ·
Megaloo

Would you mind explaining what an osteopath does. Is it possible to find a vet-osteopath in Vermont :)

Julie-thanks for the note. You're correct, I do have a lot of research ahead of me. I'm going to try Ttouch tonight...stay tuned.

Thanks again to all.
 
#10 ·
Hi Soph,dont know if its my post you are refering to, but i have just put one on,Dylan has only been on it 24 hours and yes he is much better on it so i would definatley recommend trying it,hopefully he will continue to improve with it as he can't take rimadyl,metacam,synoquin or glucossamin/chondontorin.Lynne.
 
#11 ·
Hi
I am sorry I have only just come back to the post. An Osteopath mainly uses manipulation, but this particularl lady also does acupuncture.
I think you can find a search for an osteopath in your area if you go into www.ask.com. All the best Meg
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top