sheenygirl

Update... Hi all, Thought that it was about time that I posted a quick update on how Sasha is doing. I did a lot of research after I recieved all your responses and am grateful for all the suggestions. In the end I investigated the Stem Cell Therapy route and decided that was going to give her the better quality of life than the alternatives. So Mid November she has the procedure done...on her elbow and her and hips. The result was amazing and fast. The anti-inflamatory effects kicked in within 2 weeks and now almost 2 months down the tracks she is a completely different and much happier dog. I have my happy puppy back!! She will always have an arthritic elbow ...but appears to now be pain free and can move about without any difficulties. The Elbow once scanned was found to be worse than we had anticipated so I am not sure what the future holds as far as how long the treatment is effective...but she has stem cells stored and may only need a top up in future if it deteriorates. I know that there has been some interest generated in this topic since it was aired on TV just before Christmas and I also know that Rebecca from Regenerus has also posted a topic on this in the general forum. She is very willing to answer any questions that you might have...but I just thought thsat I would update you all on Sasha's journey here as well. I am planning to put soem video together which willshow the difference in Sasha before and after the procedure...just havn't around to that yet. will post a link here when done. Thanks again to all ...2009 is looking to be a much happier and brighter year all round....and I wish you all the same. If you have any questions ...I am happy to help out as well.

Hi...thank you for your suggestions and for those that have sent me information in PM's . I appreciate your support and advice and will be following up on those vets and alternate therapies. But most of all thank you for giving me some hope back. I will not give up on her. She is too young and full of life...and as a friend pointed out to me today...she has arthritis not some terminal illness...so there is hope. To answer your questions raised in some of the responses ...She is on Gucosamine condroiten supplement...has been on fish oil...but need to put her back on. She is currently not on any cartrophen injections or tablets ( but has had them prior to surgery). I have been trying to keep her weight down....at the moment she is not overweight...but could be a bit leaner so will cut back a bit there ...it all has to help. Acouple of things that I would like some more info on if anyone knows 1. The stem cell research therapy. If anyone knows anymore about this or any vets that are using it. 2. Any good swimming spots/ therapy places...where I can get her in the water. She is a retriever so know that she would love it. Somewhere relatively close ( live in Northwest)..as she also suffers from carsickness and travelling is also traumatic ( she is my problem child!) Thanks

Hi, I am hoping that someone here may be able to refer me to a vet or specialist that can give me a second opinion before I have to make the decision to put my beautiful 20mth old Golden Retriever to sleep. Sasha started limping when she was just 4 1/2mths old in the front elbow and was diagnosed with Elbow Displaysia at 8mths. Sha had a large fragment removed from the elbow at that time. We were hoping that it would heal well and give her some quality of life for many years, but the fragment was very large and the elbow did just not heal. In the mean time I also notice that her back legs were not quite right and at just after 12 moths she was also diagnosed with hip displaysia in both hips. The vet said as a result of her throwing her weight on her back legs as she was growing up. She has had several cortisone injections into the join to try and get it to heal and one experimental type drug for arthritis also injected into the joint . She has been on all the supplements and does not seem to help. I had her back to the vets yesterday as I had run out of anti inflammatories and she was limping quited badly again and wobbly in the back legs as well.The vet took one look at her and sat me down and told me that it was time that I thought about putting her to sleep. I trust my vets opinion..and I know that he is highly regarded for dealing with these sort of problems but I can not live with myself without seeing if there is anything else I can do for her. She is on anti inflams...and will remain so until we have to make that decision. It has been absolutley heartbreaking for me & my son to whom she is his shadow and best friend. We have known all along that she was going to have problems but just never expected to have to be faced with this decision so soon. I guess to make matters worse is that I am going through a marriage breakup at the same time and she has become a rock for both of us. I know that we just can't deal with this emotionally right now...but also know that i can't be selfish and keep her dosed up on meds for our benefit. She is just so young and has really just started to mature into the most wonderful natured dog. She seems to be bright enough and happy ...and always greets us eagerly and with a wagging tail. The vets said that she is in pain and will only get worse. I just can't help but thinking there must be something else I can do for her. If there is anyone that knows of a vet or specialist that may be able to help in the Sydney area then I would appreciate that information. I don't think I can do this without at least having the peace of mind that I did everything I could. Thanks in advance

Hi, I am really sorry to hear that you are going through this. I know exactly how you are feeling. ED is such a cruel disease. I bought a Golden retriever puppy from a breeder in QLd and both parents had 0/0 elbow scores. My girl started limping at 4 & 1/2 months and after 2 sets of xrays and a 8 wk course of cartrophen injections she was finally diagnosed with ED ( FCP). She had the operation mid September last year and a "large" fragment was removed. She healed well after the surgery but I did notice that she was starting to lay on her back and put her back legs in the air...I started to worry as I had previously had a shepherd with HD and this was a sign that gave that away. In January this year she started Bunny hopping and it was back to the vets for more Xrays of her back legs. And yes we have discovered that she now has HD in both Hips. It is not severe enough to operate on but will gradually get worse as she ages. Both Hips scores from her parents were also good , and the vet has put this down to her putting too much weight on her back legs as she was growing ( to alleviate the ED). BTW. She was not overweight as a puppy and not exercised rigerously...nor were their stairs involved or any rough handling from anybody! To make matters worse the Elbow has not healed as we had hoped and she still is quite lame in that leg. She has since has 2 cortisone injections into the join to try and settle the inflation so that scar tissue can heal over the area where the fragment was removed and again this has not been successful. So she is back to the vets again this week, he has one last option to try involving an experimental arthritic drug that he wants to inject into the joint. I know this sounds a bit desperate ....but desperate is what we are. I put my utmost faith in this vet and everyone that I have informed about him only has great things to say about him. Fingers crossed that it helps. So I don't mean to worry you with my tale of woe. I know that you and your family would be going through a very worrying time right now. I know how shattering and heartbreaking it can be. I have a 7 yr old son who loves his dog desperately and replacing her ( the breeder has offered ) is just not an option, neither is the thought of putting her down. She has a beautiful happy nature depite her issues and we will take care of her the best we can as I am sure that you will do for yours. So my only advice to you is to get the treatment ( including the operation if needed), as quickly as you can ...don't let him take too much weight in the back legs and end up with issues there as well. I wish you all the best...let us know how he progresses.

Hi all, Thank you all for your advice and suggestions. I will start chasing them up and see if I can get booked in. I really would love to get her in the water as I think that she would really benefit from this but just havn't heard or come accross any centres in Sydney that do this. ILA... she only had a Fragment removed from the elbow and it was done through a full incision. The vet said to me that he was surprised at how large the fragment was as it was not showing up in both sets of xrays that had been taken...and in fact it was only when he performed the the surgery that he was he able to find anything at all. The first set of xrays only showed increased bone density but no clear signs of ED. The second set of xrays taken 8 weeks later ( after 8 weeks of cartrophen injections with no improvement) showed that there were further changes to the bone density and it was decided that surgery was the best option. Since the surgery she has been on sylvet ( tablet form of cartrophen) once a week for 4 weeks..and also for the last 2 months, arthrocart ( glucosamine & shark cartilage). It had now been 3 weeks after the surgery and Sasha is improving slowly day by day. She is still limping quite badly though and probably will for the next 3-5 weeks...at least that's what the vet has said. The vet has said it is fine for her not to be crated but still not to do anything too energetic just yet. He has not been able to give me a prognosis just yet...guess he wants to wait untill she has healed further. I have another check up in 3 weeks and will know more of what the future holds from there. It is really frustrating though as I have a 6 yr old boy who wants to play with her and she desperatley wants to play with him...am forever separating them to try and keep her quiet!!! How is Diesel doing now? and how long was it after his surgery before you noticed any improvement.? Malleerr...Wow you really have had more than your fair share of bad luck with Mallee...but still I am glad that she is doing well..It is really heartbreaking to watch them go through it...but you do what you have to, the main thing is that they are not in pain any more. I can really feel for you ...as my Shepherd that I had before Sasha also had bilateral HD. We discovered it when she was just 6 months old. I used to think it was funny how she used to lay on her back with her legs in the air. Sheena was the first dog that I owned and being a novice and uninformed, purchased her from a backyard breeder not knowing any of the possible problems I could face. I learnt the hard way with her. But on a positive note...she had a great life ..went on to obtain her CD-X and went on to live to a ripe old (pain free)age of 14 ( way beyond the 5-6 years the vet expected)!! With Sasha I made sure that she was from good breeder and that there was no sign of HD or ED in her background. The breeder is just as shocked as I am !! There are just no guarantees when it comes to genetics I guess...I can only shake my head and go why me...again??? I just figure that for some reason that I have been given what I can deal with and that these special dogs have chosen us to look after them as we are in the best postion to make sure that they have the best lives we can give them. P.S...Maybe I am just being paranoid now...but i have also noticed that Sasha has started laying on her back with her legs in the air!!!...must get the back legs checked out as well now!!! Anyway, thanks again for your suggestions and good wishes...will keep you posted on her progress.

Hi, After a rather stressfull last 4 months, my beautiful 9 month old Golden Retriever Sasha, was finally diagnosed with ED Elbow Displaysia (FCP) in her left elbow and is just recovering from ED Surgery (2 weeks ago),in which the vet removed a rather large fragment from her elbow. I am finally recovering from the shock that it happened in the first place as there was supposedly no trace of it in her breeding . But that's another issue in itself. Anyway my question is...I know that some of you may have experienced this kind of problem before and know that the surgery is over I am wondering what is the best recovery therapy that i can provide for her. I am thinking of aqua therapy or physiotherapy to help build the muscles in her shoulder ( which have wasted away over the past 3-4 mths from not using the leg properly). I am after any suggestion of therapists that any one may be familir with in the Sydney West/northwest area. I am based at Glenwood. Have attached a pictue of my not so happy girl 2 days after surgery,