Bilaterally Disloating Hip/ Luxating Hips?

[Didles]

Hi all

OKay so we have finally got our baby home and we went off to the vet from a general check and to say "hi" then we walk out with this news.

" Bilaterally dislocating/ luxating hips- has a high predictive index of developing hip dyplasia" and "left front foot laterally deviated carpi"

So we are going to a specialist ortho vet but what I would like to know is;

*Anyone reccomend a good ortho vet in the Central Coast/Sydney/Newscastle areas,

*Any other measure we can do at home to help.

He is a Bristish Bulldog and fairly lazy has a bit of a run on the grass, but with the sad faces all the time you wonder about pain. To be honest he is quite content at sitting at my feet whilst I type this or sitting with the kids watching TV (too funny as we were at my mums yesterday and all 3 of my boys were glue to foxtel)

I am at the vet again tomorrow but would love some other opinions or suggestions to ask the vet.

Thanks all here he is,

[Guest Pandii]

No help from me, but god he is cute, looks like a stuffed toy laying there

[FionaC]

No help from me either but just wanted to say he is adorable

May I also suggest that you add the information about all the discussions you've had with his breeder about this - as from your other posts it sounds like the breeder is a wonderful responsible breeder who has been equally devastated by this diagnosis - just so people don't get the wrong idea about you being sold a pup with this condition

Good luck with him he really is very very cute!

Edited February 27, 2010 by FionaC

[Sandra777]

Very cute puppy! I'm no Bulldog expert and certainly not a Bulldog basher - but Bulldogs as a breed are very different to other breeds and whether this is right or wrong is not my point - but does the vet have a lot of experience with Bulldogs, especially puppies? Before you jump into anything major/painful/expensive I would get the advice from a really experienced reputable Bulldog breeder as to a vet who has seen a lot of pups and knows what is just being a Bulldog puppy and what is a problem

Good luck.

Edited. Just seen FionaC's post. Is this a vet recommended by the breeder?

Edited February 27, 2010 by Sandra777

[mokhahouse]

Hi your pup is very cute and I am sorry to hear all the bad news your vet had to offer you. I noticed your floors are beautifully shiny and smooth. I have a dog with ED and HD and if you are looking at keeping your pup, having surgery etc you might want to get some area rugs so the pup can move around with having to walk on the slippery surfaces. We took our family room rug up for the day yesterday and Mokha is limping today from trying to walk on the slippery floor otherwise confining him to areas with carpet if you can. Try not to panic until you have seen a specialist who can give you all the info you need. Good luck.

[persephone]

I also agree with the slippery floor surfaces It makes for difficulty in walking- esp. if joints are loose and puppy is not well coordinated anyway.

he is just too cute

[Didles]

Okay will say that the breeder is fantastic and supportive, she has offered us a full refund and would like to be kept in the loop with what is happening, could not have found a more caring or responsible person.

No, the vet is not recommended by the breeder but if anyone can add thoughts on any on the Central Coast Area please do. He has been our family vet since we moved here and has a great reputation.

The floors well he prefers the tiles and not had any problems with slipping, his main issue is getting up, tiles or carpet but I will get the scraps out and put them down as I see your point.

Thanks for the compliments he thinks he is all that too, trust me.

[Fordogs]

Definitely get a second opinion with a Vet who deals with British Bulldogs I have seen far too many puppies diagnosed with problems that the do not have. Can your breeder recommend a vet ?

Sorry but I do have 2 or 3 questions that may be relevant here ----

Is your puppy covered with Pet insurance ?

And did your vet suggest that they do the required surgery ?

Did he suggest that they do a Triple Osteotomy ?

[persephone]

and not had any problems with slipping,

He may not be slipping at all- however,unseen by you, the muscles/ligaments in his little legs will be working overtime to try and keep his limbs in the correct postion.

[Didles]

HE said that the best option is were the cut the pubic bone/hip area and turn so the joint sits in it a bit better, no pet insurance but money i not an issue, no the vet recommended a specialist to look at him, and do it. There is an issue as I felt his hip pop in and out easily Winston didn't bother he just layed there and took it.

Breeder has not/can not recommended anyone they live interstate, thats why I thought I would ask here.

[JulesP]

I assume that you haven't had Xrays done? I would get those done first, assuming that you can do so for a young pup.

If the Xrays confirm the vets theory then I would personally send the puppy back. I know you had all that trouble with the parvo pup as well but this is going to cost heaps and is going to be traumatic.

I really feel for you as I have a 12 week old pup so have just been through all the same excitement etc so can really understand how incredibly shite you must feel.

[Didles]

Problem is that at the moment the x-rays will be clear as they pop in and out so the position may be prefect for it to be in the right spot.

The breeder said it was up to us and if we sent him back she would understand, but decided not too I am following things keeping an eye on his weight and little exercise, I understand what you are saying but you would understand that we can't everyone has connected with him including my kids and it is a whatever it takes dog.

[JulesP]

What if you have to have the dog put down in 2 years time? I imagine that it would be much worse than sending the pup back now.

[whippets]

HE said that the best option is were the cut the pubic bone/hip area and turn so the joint sits in it a bit better, no pet insurance but money i not an issue, no the vet recommended a specialist to look at him, and do it. There is an issue as I felt his hip pop in and out easily Winston didn't bother he just layed there and took it.

Breeder has not/can not recommended anyone they live interstate, thats why I thought I would ask here.

You need to think with your head and not your heart over this. I'd be getting a refund for the dog. He is only a puppy now but you are going to have life long issues with this, even after surgery.

[Fordogs]

Whippets, I totally agree with you,

Diddles, you have not thought this out clearly, after the disaster of the other puppy you were going to buy you should have put a puppy on hold for now and done more a lot more research, you appear to have rushed into buying another with yet more problems. If this puppy does have luxating hips as your vet says you are in for a lifetime of problems. You have young children, will this puppy be able to run and play with them as they expect to do ? No, at least not for quite a long time if ever, certainly not before surgery and not post surgery for quite a long time and even then he MAY never be that longed for puppy that your family wanted.

Give this a lot of thought, return him now for a full refund before you become even more attached.

[centitout]

I agree with the others,find a vet first experienced with your breed.I once had pups diagnosed with entropian,sent me into a mad panic.Calmed down,got a second opinion,then had specialist look,and guess what-no problem!

The vets i had used hadnt even seen a bloodhound before,and i sent the best one off to a pet home due to "suspected" entropian-had a look at 6 mths old and there was no sign of the problem.

I too would think about returning the pup,he will have arthritis later in life from the surgery ,failing that,if you are determined to keep him,see if they will maybe help pay for part of the ops etc instead.They arent really obliged to do that though unless the pup goes back.

Good luck either way,he is a gorgeous boy.

[dancinbcs]

I suggest consulting Dr Karen Hedberg at North Richmond before spending a fortune on specialists. She is a breeder's vet and breeds French Bulldogs and German Shepherds herself, so would be aware of breed differences in development. She has lots of breeder clients with different breeds so would probably have some with British Bulldogs. Most breeders in Sydney and surrounds stick to just three vets and Karen is one of those three.

[Skye2]

I agree with Karen hedberg or rob zammit. They see a lot of breeders dogs and I know that most breeders with British bulldogs consult either of these two vets. You definitely need to see a bulldog vet when it comes to hips as their hips And bone structure are not really like any other breed. I had a similar situation with my bulldog pup and once I saw a vet that knew the breed things were a whole lot better than what I was first told. Remember bulldogs have the highest hips scores of any breed from memory something in the high 40's. When you have the pup anaethetised for xrays you also need a vet that is experience with the breed. Good luck sorting things out with your pup.

[Staff'n'Toller]

Find a Vet that is PennHip registered. This will give you the most information in a young dog, I think you can Xray by PennHip guidelines at 6mths.

Even though he is not slipping he won't be walking naturally and easily on a highly polished floor. I would be going to bunnings to get their heavy duty rubber backed carpet runners that they sell by metre lengths and putting it in all high traffic areas.

[sandgrubber]

I'm very confused by this thread. Pup looks adorable, but quite young . . . young enough that its joints are still mostly cartlidge and not well enough formed to show well in X-rays. Also young enough that things might change considerably as the bones form. Almost looks like a late swimmer. Sometimes, given the right support, young pups with potential problems can be shaped to come out right without surgery. I'm no expert, but agree with suggestions that it's worth seeking opinions from a vet who knows a lot about skeletal development and/or bulldogs.