Hip Dysplasia ,i Don't Know What To Do...help

[bridie]

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Posts: 62

Joined: 3/1/2010

Member No.: 32,772

State: QLD

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My 18 month old Chihuahua had ex-rays last week,I had a look and it is bad,both hips,no grading given,but the C part where the ball joint should sit was an enlongated looking L shape.Vet told me she would be cutting off some bone part and make it a sliding action rather than I suppose it may be called a rotation as per normal.Bindie had surgery yesterday,I was shocked to hear when I called to see how it went and how she was.Vet went in to do surgery & couldn't do it as I was told she couldn't do it as there was too much fat for her to do the job.So here is poor little Bindie with this huge cut,(must have been deep enough to know there was too much fat)all for nothing.I was told because it was a clean cut I would not need pain relief for her! I had some on hand so this am. gave her some & I am going back to Vets to get other asap.Bindie weighs 4 kilo & I was told she has to lose 2 kilo,put on a diet of a tablespoon of food a day,before her hips could be done.I have been given no diet advice,always seem too busy to have the time to talk me through procedures or what-ever. I have quite a few questions which I would like to address,to the Vet but she is not back until Friday! Number one,if she is experienced in this shouldn't she have known that Bindie was too big of a risk & advised me to get the weight off before an attempt at surgery was made????Is this a specialists field or lay-vets?I am thinking of asking for Bindies notes& ex-ray& get another opinion,hind site I should have done this.I have lost confidence in this vet to do this job,how much experience has she had,probably feel I'm questioning her professionalism as a Vet when I ask these questions that I should have asked at the very beginning,I now live with regrets.

It pains me as to whether I should be putting Bindie though all of this,or whether it would be kinder to put her to sleep,her life in my hands,I am responsible for her .Is there some-one out there who can advise & recommend a Vet.Is this operation successful in all cases?

I am still waiting on vets report by email also a copy of ex-ray by email,wheels turn very slowly at this surgery.I don't want Bindie to suffer for nothing as much as I want her to live,that would just be too cruel.I need to know asap as to what I should do for Bindie.

Surely some-one has been though this and come out the other end??

I will post on General Discussion as well as some-one who perhaps can help me may not read Breeders Discussions.

I live at Browns Plains QLD.

[dwynwen]

That's distressing - can see the weight would be an issue but that should be obvious to the vet surely.

I would go to a specialist for this type of surgery .. don't worry too much about the x-rays as a specialist would most like want to do another set (that's my experience anyway).

[poodlefan]

I also think you need a specialist opinion.

With weight off your dog, there's always the chance that surgery may not be necessary.

Halve her food. She needs to eat a lot less and fast weight loss will benefit her.

[Kirislin]

Seems odd that the vet couldn't tell from looking at her that she was far too fat to operate on.

How much and what have you been feeding her. Do you leave food down all the time because that's a no no. You need to get her weight off but exercise would be difficult, what about swimming, it's non weight bearing and will burn up some calories, that combined with a healthy eating regime should help her alot.

Edited May 19, 2010 by Kirislin

[Kirty]

Get the weight off and you will probably find that she doesn't even need the surgery. Halve her meals and give her some mashed pumpkin or grated carrot as a filler. Don't expect the weight to come off overnight, it can be a long process.

[bridie]

That's distressing - can see the weight would be an issue but that should be obvious to the vet surely.

I would go to a specialist for this type of surgery .. don't worry too much about the x-rays as a specialist would most like want to do another set (that's my experience anyway).

Yes,I don't know who? where?,don't want to give this vet another go too afraid of the consequences for Bindie,So very distressing I can't eat sleep just cry for her.Feel & look like sh-t .Not earning ,but I would spend my last dollar on fixing Bindie,I really need sound advice asap,don't want to put her out of her misery if there is some-one...some-thing I can do,she is so accepting,have her on Lambs wool & electric blanket to look at her just kills me....I feel helpless.I will put her photo on as Avatar,see how beautiful she is.Really doesn't look fat.I blame the Breeder for this,OMG what of the others there were 6 in the litter.

[poodlefan]

That's distressing - can see the weight would be an issue but that should be obvious to the vet surely.

I would go to a specialist for this type of surgery .. don't worry too much about the x-rays as a specialist would most like want to do another set (that's my experience anyway).

Yes,I don't know who? where?,don't want to give this vet another go too afraid of the consequences for Bindie,So very distressing I can't eat sleep just cry for her.Feel & look like sh-t .Not earning ,but I would spend my last dollar on fixing Bindie,I really need sound advice asap,don't want to put her out of her misery if there is some-one...some-thing I can do,she is so accepting,have her on Lambs wool & electric blanket to look at her just kills me....I feel helpless.I will put her photo on as Avatar,see how beautiful she is.Really doesn't look fat.I blame the Breeder for this,OMG what of the others there were 6 in the litter.

I think you need to calm down, get a specialist opinion and get the weight off your dog.

If what the vet says is true, she is obese. Responsibility for that rests entirely on your shoulders. Deal with that first and see what happens. If she was a fat pup, then that won't have helped.

Blame won't either at this point. Get that weight off.

Edited May 18, 2010 by poodlefan

[Kirty]

You cannot blame the breeder if you dog is massively overweight!! If she is a purebred Chi, she should weigh about 2.5kg. If she weighs 4kg, she is obese and this could absolutely be the cause of the HD.

Stop stressing about everything else for now, and just concentrate on getting the weight off her. She NEEDS to lose weight. You don't need to make any decisions yet, just help her lose the weight.

[bridie]

I also think you need a specialist opinion.

With weight off your dog, there's always the chance that surgery may not be necessary.

Halve her food. She needs to eat a lot less and fast weight loss will benefit her.

Thanks for the support,I will give her less.Yes,i really wish and hope there is another option rather than put her through surgery,seems too cruel,she love life,but I would not keep her because of my love for her,also don't want to be haste and make the wrong discision,this is hell,all I can do is think about her.

[Lab lady]

Stop stressing, you will only make her upset. Our dogs are much tougher than we often give them credit for.

[poodlefan]

I also think you need a specialist opinion.

With weight off your dog, there's always the chance that surgery may not be necessary.

Halve her food. She needs to eat a lot less and fast weight loss will benefit her.

Thanks for the support,I will give her less.Yes,i really wish and hope there is another option rather than put her through surgery,seems too cruel,she love life,but I would not keep her because of my love for her,also don't want to be haste and make the wrong discision,this is hell,all I can do is think about her.

No, not less. HALF

My vet says this is entirely safe for dogs that need to lose weight. Bindi needs to lose it fast.

[persephone]

Bridei- I am so sorry the vet started the surgery and then stopped. That must have been a shock.

However- if that weight is correct- then your poor little dog has a dangerous amount of fat to carry around ..and her hips/heart/lungs may all be feeling the strain

She needs you to be strong now- to help her get back to a healthy body :D

As said , feed her half of what she is now getting , with NO treats (unless it is part of her daily ration) It will be very hard for you to do- but it WILL HELP HER !

So - be cheerful for her - keep her happy and interested in watching/doing things .. :D Split her daily ration in two - feed her twice a day . If she is getting dry food- then put it in a treat ball or even a small plastic soft drink bottle and make her 'work' to get her food (when her leg's healed a bit)

She will be SO much more comfortable as her body gets back to a normal shape - a lot of the strain will come off her joints, too!

Keep us posted- come in here to 'yell' if you want .

It's all positive from here- you are helping your girl to feel better - as of today!

Edited May 18, 2010 by persephone

[Diva]

I think you need to calm down, get a specialist opinion and get the weight off your dog.

Ditto to this.

If you don't know where to find a specialist orthopaedic vet /small animal surgeon ring a few of the local vet surgeries and ask, or just look in the yellow pages under the vet listings - specialists usually list their specialties in their listing - or even try googling 'specialist vet Brisbane' (if that is where you are).

Or you could just tell your own vet you'd like to see a specialist at this point for a second opinion and get a referral, she can't really say no.

But above all do try to calm down, it's awful Bindie has to go through this but she needs you to stay calm so you can make good decisions on her behalf.

[Kirislin]

I also think you need a specialist opinion.

With weight off your dog, there's always the chance that surgery may not be necessary.

Halve her food. She needs to eat a lot less and fast weight loss will benefit her.

Thanks for the support,I will give her less.Yes,i really wish and hope there is another option rather than put her through surgery,seems too cruel,she love life,but I would not keep her because of my love for her,also don't want to be haste and make the wrong discision,this is hell,all I can do is think about her.

There might be another option, and that is to get the excess weight off her. She is double the weight she should be, she must look fat, I think you are just used to seeing her that way and dont realise how fat she is.

What have you been feeding her and how much have you been giving her?

[Tarmons]

Take Bindi to a Specialist Clinic either at Underwood or Chermside where there are Orthopaedic Vets who know what they are doing.

I find it hard to believe that the Vet did not see from just looking at Bindi that she was obese. Reduce her weight as others have told you and then get a referral from your Vet for her to go to one of the UQ Specialist clinics. Get a copy of her x-rays and the radiographer's report. [Were they read by a qualified radiographer or just glanced at by a Vet?]

Get an Orthopaedic Specialist Vet to examine her before you commit yourself to surgery. The recovery period from this type of surgery is long and requires physiotherapy etc in order to get the dog back on its feet. It is a very painful operation for a GSD and has a recovery period of 6 months of crating and controlled exercise for them. I can only speak from a GSD point of view- muscle wastage is a big threat. It may not be the case with a Chi.

[darlingdog]

Forum Member

Posts: 62

Joined: 3/1/2010

Member No.: 32,772

State: QLD

Warn: (0%)

My 18 month old Chihuahua had ex-rays last week,I had a look and it is bad,both hips,no grading given,but the C part where the ball joint should sit was an enlongated looking L shape.Vet told me she would be cutting off some bone part and make it a sliding action rather than I suppose it may be called a rotation as per normal.Bindie had surgery yesterday,I was shocked to hear when I called to see how it went and how she was.Vet went in to do surgery & couldn't do it as I was told she couldn't do it as there was too much fat for her to do the job.So here is poor little Bindie with this huge cut,(must have been deep enough to know there was too much fat)all for nothing.I was told because it was a clean cut I would not need pain relief for her! I had some on hand so this am. gave her some & I am going back to Vets to get other asap.Bindie weighs 4 kilo & I was told she has to lose 2 kilo,put on a diet of a tablespoon of food a day,before her hips could be done.I have been given no diet advice,always seem too busy to have the time to talk me through procedures or what-ever. I have quite a few questions which I would like to address,to the Vet but she is not back until Friday! Number one,if she is experienced in this shouldn't she have known that Bindie was too big of a risk & advised me to get the weight off before an attempt at surgery was made????Is this a specialists field or lay-vets?I am thinking of asking for Bindies notes& ex-ray& get another opinion,hind site I should have done this.I have lost confidence in this vet to do this job,how much experience has she had,probably feel I'm questioning her professionalism as a Vet when I ask these questions that I should have asked at the very beginning,I now live with regrets.

It pains me as to whether I should be putting Bindie though all of this,or whether it would be kinder to put her to sleep,her life in my hands,I am responsible for her .Is there some-one out there who can advise & recommend a Vet.Is this operation successful in all cases?

I am still waiting on vets report by email also a copy of ex-ray by email,wheels turn very slowly at this surgery.I don't want Bindie to suffer for nothing as much as I want her to live,that would just be too cruel.I need to know asap as to what I should do for Bindie.

Surely some-one has been though this and come out the other end??

I will post on General Discussion as well as some-one who perhaps can help me may not read Breeders Discussions.

I live at Browns Plains QLD.

Hi there, Yes I agree with the other posts here, you need to take a breath and CALM DOWN.

If it were me the first thing I would do is get a second opinion and also get some weight off of her and then I would re assess after I had done all this. I think it's way too early to be thinking put to sleep yet.

You must do something about her weight as a matter of urgency, instead of panicking about the treatments, surgery etc, the one thing you CAN do something about is start reducing her weight so she has a chance of better mobility and as others have said once she is normal weight she may not even need the surgery. I certainly wouldn't be putting her to sleep before all avenues had been tried.

I had a german shepherd dog who had femur head removal surgery due to hip displaysia and we had another 8 wonderful years with her so it's not all doom and gloom, just calm down and take it one day at a time.

Now I live in your area and I personally know the vet at Greenbank called The Bloomin Vet, he is a very caring experienced vet and might be worth going to for a second opinion. My shepherd was done by my regular vet with no problems but this was years ago now and maybe it is now passed on to specialists. .I am sure you could get good advice there also on her weight issue.

Hope you find the right information and can get the results you hope for.

[Nancyk]

If you have or can get copies of the Xrays and contact Veterinary Imaging in Sydney and have them read the xrays and advise you. Most "general" vets wouldn't have a clue how to interpret xrays and it sounds to me as if a mistake may have occurred.

Hard to say if you dog is overweight depending on her actual size and structure - but it certainly would be a good thing to get weight off her if she is overly heavy.

[persephone]

Hey, Bridie- can we have some photos of your little girl So we know who we are sending healing and active thoughts to ?

Now ... "Breathe" slowly and with a smile..... remember- YOU are going to help her get happy !

[SparkyTansy]

I agree with others advice. Weight on a dog is probably one of the biggest issues for dogs with HD. Get the weight off now, then take her to a specialist who will be able to assess her correctly and give you ALL the options. Until she has lost the weight, only light exercise on soft surfaces or in water. Muscle is very important.

[W Sibs]

First off... Chill. Relax. I started to get stress for you reading your post!!

This is fixable and managable Remember dogs are excellent at picking up moods and energy, so if you are always stress... so is your dog!

My boy has HD and can't be operated on.. so the most important thing for me to look out for is weight. So it's time to put your dog on a diet... like the others suggested, just half the meal everyday. NO treats till the weight is under control.

Exercise is important too. Like some light walking everyday or swimming is best. It builds muscles and put pressure off the joints.

If in doubt, you can ask to see a specialist... but I reckon the first thing they will tell you is to put your pup on a diet.