Dexter's Hip Dysplasia Update

[Cosmolo]

Well we went to the vet again today for a re check of Dexter's hips. The vet is concerned about the apparent soreness in his shoulders which we need to monitor to make sure he doesn't have OCD as well.. He has good and bad days but we certainly notice his strange gait/ limp more than we used to. He seems to have no muscle tone in his hindquarters too. Has been on carprophen and a joint formula until now

We are getting referrals for both the surgical specialist and Dogs in Motion physio, he had a cartrophen injection today and we are keeping him on a low dose of carprophen. Will also get some fish oil tablets and ester c in the next week.

Is there anything else we can be doing? While we are talking to the specialist, we are not keen on the idea of surgery and recovery and seriously have no idea how we would keep him as still as he needs to be post op.

Has anyone read a document called Dog Owners Speak out on hip dysplasia? I downloaded it and have read through- lots of stories about people whose dogs were diagnosed and did the different types of surgery or did not surgery at all.

There is so much conflicting info out there- wait till he's finished growing/ don't wait till he's finished growing, do surgery/ don't do surgery etc

Very confused about what to do from here. Hoping talking to the physio and the surgical specialist will answer a few questions. Any DOLers perspectives welcome

[CavsRcute]

My girl first started limping on her front leg and many dollars later was diagnosed with HD. The reason she was limping was that she was trying to protect her hips.They also thought it might be OCD.

She now has monthly acupuncture, stretching exercises from the physio every day, supplements and 3 monthly trigger point therapy.

It was really the therapy that sorted out her front leg problem, as her muscles were so tight.

Good luck

Edited July 19, 2008 by CavsRcute

[Kajtek]

Have a look at http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...5&hl=bullet.

Gold beads (permanent accupuncture) have fixed the problem for my sister's Rotti. She had problems in ALL her joints and her hips

[taters]

My girls has hip displasia

She is also on Cartrphen injections and joint guard, was told she would be needing surgery if no improvement

We took her to dogs in motion and she went once a week for 4 weeks in the underwater treadmill as well as us being given excercises to do with her at home and daily massage for us to do on her as well

The underwater treadmill did wonders for the muscle wastage and we were then taking her swimming once a week for maintenance.

My girl will not be needing surgery, and if she startsto stiffen up I will start her swimming there again

I swear by Dogs in Motion, they are absolutely fantastic

[Nekhbet]

Speak to the specialist and definately the physio cannot hurt - I have my 10 month old rotty HD, arthritic elbows and no one has really been very useful so far ...

I know it is confusing ... hip replacement, femoral head removal, denervation, ester C, fish oil, chondroitin, joint guard, adult food, large breed puppy food, krill caps, glucosamin, sashas blend, exercise, DONT exercise, massage, acupuncture, cartrophen, carprophen etc etc etc

my head hurts ...

I suppose you can try the non invasive methods first, if that doesnt work then step up the supplments/meds. Then ultimately decide on surgery. Remember too that long term Carprophen has an effect on the liver and kidneys so you cannot remain on it forever.

[GreatBigPuppy]

There's a vet clinic, I can't for the life of me remember which one it is (it's in melbourne near Malvern) which has a specialist vet who deals with orthopedic problems specifically. Someone may know who I am talking about. Older gentleman. Only works intermittently. It is a proper vet hospital (run much like the emergency clinics but it a normal vet hospital).

[Cosmolo]

Thank you for the replies- thats great to hear taters. Nekhbet- thats exactly how i feel- with all of those things floating around in my head. Will now have a look at that link- thankyou anna.

[Cosmolo]

That sounds really interesting anna- do you know if the natural therapies vet in South Rd Bentleigh does it? I wouldn't know where to start looking if they don't.

[kamuzz]

My girls has hip displasia

She is also on Cartrphen injections and joint guard, was told she would be needing surgery if no improvement

We took her to dogs in motion and she went once a week for 4 weeks in the underwater treadmill as well as us being given excercises to do with her at home and daily massage for us to do on her as well

The underwater treadmill did wonders for the muscle wastage and we were then taking her swimming once a week for maintenance.

My girl will not be needing surgery, and if she startsto stiffen up I will start her swimming there again

I swear by Dogs in Motion, they are absolutely fantastic

Where is this located? Have a feeling it is not Sydney.

[Nekhbet]

dog in motion is doveton, melbourne

Prahran Vet Hospital is a natural therapies clinic

[Rappie]

There is a lot of information out there and it can be hard to get your head around. A multi-modal effect is going to give the dog most benefit - so a combination of joint supplements, moderate exercise, supporting mobility (massage / acupuncture /physio), diet, pain relief and surgery if indicated. I know there's a lot of info out there regarding the negatives of the NSAIDs, yes, I try to limit my use, but for many dogs it can be a quality of life issue. Sometimes they are used for the first few months while all the other supportive treatments start to have their effects and then you can taper the dose to minimal levels that keep the dog comfortable.

As for surgery there are a few different approaches, and some are time limited.

Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis can be performed in young dogs, up until about 20 weeks of age.

Triple pelvic osteotomy can be performed up until about 9-10 months of age (sometimes later) but whether this is indicated really depends on the state of the hips and any degenerative changes that may already be present.

In an older dog you are basically left with a femoral head excision, or a hip replacement (a specialist procedure). Both of these are essentially salvage procedures, meaning that they occur later in a management plan. An FHE usually has a very good success rate in small dogs, and variable success in large breed dogs. Hip replacements are only available for dogs >20kg and can have a limited lifespan.

Feel free to PM me if you want to.

[Danelady]

Aquapaws Canine Rehab Centre on the Mornington Peninsula also have Acupuncture and Hydrotherapy.

[InspectorRex]

If you are in the Melbourne area I would be taking the dog to see either Dr Ray Ferguson or Dr Mark Foley at Monash Vet Clinic in Clayton. Both are Vet orthopaedic specialists and very very good at their jobs. I have see the results of some of their ortho surgery etc and it was amazing.

They will both give alternative advice if you don't want to go down the surgery path just yet.

They saved my boy many years ago after he was attacked on the hind quarters by a person with a lump of wood( 4 x 2)and he went on and lived to be over 14 years of age - no surgery- just chiropractics and supplements.

[taters]

My girls has hip displasia

She is also on Cartrphen injections and joint guard, was told she would be needing surgery if no improvement

We took her to dogs in motion and she went once a week for 4 weeks in the underwater treadmill as well as us being given excercises to do with her at home and daily massage for us to do on her as well

The underwater treadmill did wonders for the muscle wastage and we were then taking her swimming once a week for maintenance.

My girl will not be needing surgery, and if she startsto stiffen up I will start her swimming there again

I swear by Dogs in Motion, they are absolutely fantastic

Where is this located? Have a feeling it is not Sydney.

No it's not in Sydney, but there is one that is

Sydney Animal Physiotherapy

they have an underwater treadmill can't see anything about a swimming pool though

There are also newer NSAIDs around now that aren't as bad with the side affect, like Previcox

Long term Catrophen is not a problem but Carprophen is

Edited July 20, 2008 by taters

[Scarlettsmum]

Oh, I've been down this road! My dog Scarlett was diagnosed with hip dysplasia last September after extensive x-rays and tests. I had already tried Sasha's blend, cartrophen, physio, chiropractor with mixed results. She was not obviously lame, it was most noticeable when she was trying to get up off her trampoline bed. To cut a long story short, she had a total hip replacement last December. BEST THINK I'VE EVER DONE!! Scarlett was 25kg and 20 months old when she had it done and she hasn't looked back! Yes it was very expensive (we had to take out a personal loan) but a hip has a 20 year lifespan so it will see a dog out. It was done at Werribee by THE best orthopaedic surgeon Dr Wing Tip Wong. A brilliant success and I would do it all over again, she means the world to me.

[Cosmolo]

Scarletts mum- Dr Wing Tip Wong is the specialist our vet has suggested we talk to- how did you find him to deal with? Did Scarlett have HD in both hips? I would be interested to know which chiro and physio you used too. May i ask how much it was approximately? Feel free to pm if you would prefer.

I have heard nothing but good things about Ray and Mark- and may speak to them as well, depending on what we find out from Dr Wong- i'm pretty sure thats who our vet is going to refer us to.

Rappie- i don't find the carprophen to have any effect on Dexter whatsoever- we are lessening the dose but i will ask the specialist if we should continue with it at all.

Will also ask about his shoulders and whether we should x ray them too- we x rayed his elbows first time round as well as his hips- but not shoulders : (

Dexter is 8 months old and weighs around 28kg at the moment

Edited July 20, 2008 by Cosmolo

[Scarlettsmum]

Scarletts mum- Dr Wing Tip Wong is the specialist our vet has suggested we talk to- how did you find him to deal with? Did Scarlett have HD in both hips? I would be interested to know which chiro and physio you used too. May i ask how much it was approximately? Feel free to pm if you would prefer.

I have heard nothing but good things about Ray and Mark- and may speak to them as well, depending on what we find out from Dr Wong- i'm pretty sure thats who our vet is going to refer us to.

Rappie- i don't find the carprophen to have any effect on Dexter whatsoever- we are lessening the dose but i will ask the specialist if we should continue with it at all.

Will also ask about his shoulders and whether we should x ray them too- we x rayed his elbows first time round as well as his hips- but not shoulders : (

Dexter is 8 months old and weighs around 28kg at the moment

Cosmolo, Wing Tip is THE best for THR'S. I work at a veterinary practice (horses only though) and I have personal friends (not in this state) who are vets.....all said that Wing Tip is their first choice. He is brilliant to deal with, he really cares about the dog and it shows! The day I went down to pick Scarlett up, she was being walked around the grounds.......by kennel staff?......oh no, by Wing Tip himself! The cost for the surgery alone was about $4500 I think, but you need specific tests beforehand and of course a visit for Wing Tip to measure the hip so he can order the correct size. Neither of Scarlett's hips were fantastic, but the right was the worst. I only got the right replaced, Wing Tip said that this would suffice and it certainly has! The best chiro/physio you can see is a chap called George Schofield, he would be about 90 I reckon, and is fantastic.

If you could see Scarlett romp and play you would be so surprised! I had a myofunctional therapist out for my horses on Friday, she sees dogs too....she commented on what a brilliant job Wing Tip had done on Scarlett and what perfect movement she had. It really is the best thing I could have done.......everyone tells me that Scarlett is lucky she has me, but I reckon, no, I am lucky to have her, she has done so much more for me than I could ever hope to do for her.

I recommend getting a referral for Wing Tip and going to see him, you have got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Good luck and let me know how you go.

[alanglen]

I second the reccomendation for Wing Tip, if my girls get hurt, I shall find him wherever he is, he cares so much and is very very good. Also very open to all options. He will explain well and he looks after his patients extremely well.

[Cosmolo]

Thanks for the recs for Dr Wong- thats great to hear. Scarlett- do you have other dogs? How did you find the recovery after surgery? How old was your dog when the surgery was done?

Edited July 21, 2008 by Cosmolo

[Scarlettsmum]

Yep, I have other dogs. Scarlett was 20 months old when she had her surgery. She had to be crated for 6 weeks and only outside on a lead to do her business. She coped remarkably well and the time just flew. My son built a ramp for her at the back door as she wasn't to use stairs. If I had my time over I'd do it again!