Monah Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 OH dear! When are you thinking of having the first op? Maybe you could write us some sort of blog about it all and his recovery for those of us who may have to do this in the future? I'd be really interested and I'm sure others would be too. Poor Hugo. I'm sure he will go very well and be OK, but it's a long haul isn't it? Lots of love and hugs to your lovely boyxxxxxxxxxx Chiara, did they also check out his mobility and flexibility? I'm guessing that they did of course as that's all part of it. Hope everything goes really really well xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiara Posted August 21, 2009 Author Share Posted August 21, 2009 Hi yes I would definitely like to keep a blog... not sure how to do that here do you know? He didn't check mobility or flexibility... not sure why. But it's clear that there's no way around the hip replacement so we're going ahead on the right hip first, if they have a suitable size implant in stock he said we can have it done as soon as next week if they don't it can be 3 to 4 weeks as the implant has to be brought in from overseas. It's definitely been great to have this forum to talk about this issue, I was very surprised with the great interest and all the help we have received. So thank you all and I will keep on posting about hip replacement surgery and recovery and hopefully it can be of help to others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 No arthritis later on? I was told by the specialists i spoke to that a hip replacement is a 'salvage operation' and arthritis can still be an issue down the track? Wish you the best of luck and hope the recovery from the surgery goes well. Hope you will update this thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiara Posted August 21, 2009 Author Share Posted August 21, 2009 hummm that's interesting... what type of hip replacement did you consider? We are looking into cementless system with Kyon implants. I'm just reading up on this new technique, however I asked the specific question will there be arthritis in the hip later on in life and the answer was no. Will have to read up on this one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monah Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 No arthritis later on? I was told by the specialists i spoke to that a hip replacement is a 'salvage operation' and arthritis can still be an issue down the track?Wish you the best of luck and hope the recovery from the surgery goes well. Hope you will update this thread I was told there is no guarantee of no arthritis later on, and also that xrays are only a tool in deciding on surgery as the xrays can look awful, but the dog may be better than the xrays suggest. Mine is an example as her xrays are just horrific. Every vet is different and obviously they have examined the dog and know what they are doing. However, I do think, from my limited!!!! experience, that it is very important to see what movement there is in the legs, flexibility, how they walk, run, etc. which can only be done in 10 minute or so sessions OUTDOORS so the vet can see from a distance. Ours spent two sessions of over 10 mins each doing this and rechecks at every appointment. Also how they get up etc. Pain levels by manipulating the legs and back. Our girl has a lot more movement in the back end than she did at one yr. , two years etc. Now at nearly 3 yrs there is more improvement again. Of course, I expect this will go the other way when she is older, but I know of dogs who are still fine with no surgery at 12 yrs of age and only go downhill a lot later, when many dogs without HD would also go the same way. It's a hard decision for any dog owner and we can only go by what we are told. I'm sure it will make life better and more comfortable for Chiaras dog. It will jsut be a tough recovery period. I'm hoping the stemcell therapy will be readily available when my girl is a little older as that is the path I intend to take when we need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiara Posted August 22, 2009 Author Share Posted August 22, 2009 (edited) I read about stem cell therapy but I don't know if it can be applied to hip dysplasia and how it would work, most of the information out there is about the benefit for arthritis. Does anyone have any information about this? We are still debating however we are leaning towards surgery, I'm sure it will be a difficult few months but the prospect of a full recovery is very attractive. Then again maybe it's wishful thinking and I'm just rushing it because I want my pup to be all better asap... If only he could talk to me!!!! Edited August 22, 2009 by chiara Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rottifan Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Hi there, Just another suggestion to match the many that you've had. My boy was diagnosed with severe elbow displaysia at 8yrs old. No choice of operating due to bad bones, severe arthritis came with it. He was put on 3 different pain killers also perscribed to human cancer patients to attack the pain receptors at the joint, the spine and in the brain - new treatment combination out of the uk by my vet. The vet suggested I try acupuncture for pain relief. The only option left when the medication wore off was to have steriod injections into the joints and then the green dream after that. Devastated I ended up asking my hydrobath lady of similar cases she knew of and she said to try a guy who used to work on the police dogs Doc J amieson. After chiro treatments (my boy was found to be way out of alignment) the limping stopped instantly because it was instant pain relief once pinched nerves were released and after keeping him in alignment I could see as he started walking normally again his muscles built up which has kept him in alignment. He's on no pain killers now and the vets are amazed at his composition and change in behaviour and now refer other patients to the same chiro. Worth trying different avenues even if surgery is an option. Good luck hey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavalier Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 No arthritis later on? I was told by the specialists i spoke to that a hip replacement is a 'salvage operation' and arthritis can still be an issue down the track?Wish you the best of luck and hope the recovery from the surgery goes well. Hope you will update this thread I was told there is no guarantee of no arthritis later on, and also that xrays are only a tool in deciding on surgery as the xrays can look awful, but the dog may be better than the xrays suggest. Mine is an example as her xrays are just horrific. Every vet is different and obviously they have examined the dog and know what they are doing. You cannot get arthritis in a hip that has had a total hip replacement. After the surgery the joint is an artificial metal joint. There is no "cartilage on cartilage" joint to form any arthritis. Chiara - your specialist is correct in saying there will be no arthritis in the hips later on in life - it is physically impossible for the arthritis to develop! Good luck with Hugo. We are considering total hip replacement for our 4 year old German Shepherd boy. Managing him conservatively at the moment, but his xrays were no where near as bad as Hugos by the sounds of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rugerfly Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 The FHO is the salvage proceedure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monah Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 No arthritis later on? I was told by the specialists i spoke to that a hip replacement is a 'salvage operation' and arthritis can still be an issue down the track?Wish you the best of luck and hope the recovery from the surgery goes well. Hope you will update this thread I was told there is no guarantee of no arthritis later on, and also that xrays are only a tool in deciding on surgery as the xrays can look awful, but the dog may be better than the xrays suggest. Mine is an example as her xrays are just horrific. Every vet is different and obviously they have examined the dog and know what they are doing. You cannot get arthritis in a hip that has had a total hip replacement. After the surgery the joint is an artificial metal joint. There is no "cartilage on cartilage" joint to form any arthritis. Chiara - your specialist is correct in saying there will be no arthritis in the hips later on in life - it is physically impossible for the arthritis to develop! Yes that is correct, no arthritis in the HIP, but the op does not prevent arthritis. When there is hip dis. the arthritis is very often in the spine. I read into it that the vet said NO arthritis, meaning anywhere anytime, which is not right. If you are expecting a dog not to be affected with arthritis later on, and this is taken into account for having the op, it is not the case. It is better to have everything out in the open when such a large op is being done, and specifics are very important. One of my dogs ended up having very bad arthritis in her front legs and joints!!! So much for the hips! Good luck with Hugo. We are considering total hip replacement for our 4 year old German Shepherd boy. Managing him conservatively at the moment, but his xrays were no where near as bad as Hugos by the sounds of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monah Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Sorry my post ended up in Cavaliers post!! sorry sorry sorry. Mine starts at THAT IS CORRECT..... I really apologise, god knows what I did there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavalier Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Sorry must have been a misunderstanding there....yes the proedure does nothing for the other joints in the body which can still readily develop arthritis, however in this dogs case it is the hips that are the crippling problem. The femoral head excisional arthroplasty is the salvage procedure - not the total hip replacement. Total hip replacemet is gold standard!! The only reason you do a femoral head excision is if the owner cannot afford a total hip replacement or if the total hip replacement fails for whatever reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Interesting. Thats definitely not what my vet said- we weren't talking about FHO as that wasn't an option for my boy at all. He described it as a salvage operation because there would already be arthritis there which would not be fixed by the hip replacement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavalier Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 (edited) Interesting. Thats definitely not what my vet said- we weren't talking about FHO as that wasn't an option for my boy at all. He described it as a salvage operation because there would already be arthritis there which would not be fixed by the hip replacement. When you think about it that doesnt make sense at all. A total hip replacement involves removing the hips ball and socket joint completely and replacing it with an artificial titanium one. All the bone with arthritis is removed, so it no longer affects the dog. The dog cannot develop arthritis in a titanium joint. Its completely impossible. If you dont have any natural joint you cannot have arthritis! Total hip replacement is the gold standard option for medium to large dogs with severe hip dysplasia and severe arthritis in the hip joints. The second best option (especially for smaller breeds and the only option for toy breeds) is the femoral head excisional arthroplasty. Edited September 4, 2009 by Cavalier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 (edited) I understand that- i am not suggesting arthritis will develop in metal.. But what about the surrounding area where arthritis is already there? ETA We were given hip replacement and TPO as the options as my boy was under 12 months and could have the TPO. (although i then spoke to a different specialist who said the presence of arthritis doesn't always preclude the dog from having the TPO- so many opinions, so much conflicting information. Edited September 4, 2009 by Cosmolo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavalier Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 I understand that- i am not suggesting arthritis will develop in metal.. But what about the surrounding area where arthritis is already there?ETA We were given hip replacement and TPO as the options as my boy was under 12 months and could have the TPO. (although i then spoke to a different specialist who said the presence of arthritis doesn't always preclude the dog from having the TPO- so many opinions, so much conflicting information. Its difficult to explain when you dont understand the anatomy. Arthritis only develops in a joint, you do not get arthritis on normal bone. Also, arthritis is only painful in a natural functioning joint where you have arthritic bone grinding on cartilage/other bone. Because you have an artificial joint replaceing the natural hip joint, even if there is arthritic bone development on the rim of the acetabulum, it will not cause any pain because the bone that it used to rub on to cause the pain has been removed and replaced with metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 I am simply repeating what i was told. I am not a vet so no, i probably don't have a good understanding of anatomy. Your second paragraph is a good explanation, thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rugerfly Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 Cosy what you are explaining is the proceedure for a FHO rather than a THR. They remove the crap thats already chipped away etc and remove the head, so they clean out the bits hanging around in the socket etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I am just repeating what we were told- as i said, the FHO was never an option so was dismissed and not discussed. I understand what a hip replacement is, i was just told that arthritis could still be an issue AND that it was a salvage operation, hence why the vet wanted to do a TPO at that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rugerfly Posted September 6, 2009 Share Posted September 6, 2009 Yep no problem :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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