Guest Piximatosis Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Over the past couple of weeks Kaeleigh's hips have been going steadily downhill. She's been screaming when her back legs are touched/moved and one night was sitting down, went to stand up and just screamed herself hoarse until I physically lifted her onto her feet. So she was booked in for x-rays today, and result is that she has severe advanced hip dysplasia. Vet manipulated her hips while she was under and they both click quite badly. Her right hip is worse but both are noticeably out of place. She only turns 12mths old next monday. Can I please have any and all advice on managing this for her? My immediate thought was to get her onto a supplement like Sasha's Blend to help preserve what little cartilage she does have. She takes fish oil and vitamin e tablets on a regular basis anyway so will keep this up. She eats a mostly BARF diet with the occasional meal of dry food. Brand is Nutro Natural Choice and I use the Lamb & Rice formula. She weighs 25kg and Vet believes she is at a really good weight - doesn't need to be any skinnier but any fatter would potentially make it worse (which is fine, I don't like fat dogs anyway). Does anyone have any experience with using acupuncture or a chiro for HD..? She is in pain but it's not unbearable at this point - she doesn't limp for example. If I can possibly find a place to take her swimming I will but as it is, I don't even KNOW anyone with a pool (that they'd let a dog swim in anyway!!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassie Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 (edited) Don't have much advice just want to send lots of hugs and kisses to Kaeleigh I know of a Bernese who had HD (though not sure how severe exactly) but he went onto the Sasha's Blend supplements and I believe it helped a fair bit. Check out their website http://www.sashasblend.com/?id=australia for more info. Also I know here in Adelaide there is a doggie swimming pool where you can take dogs of any age, breed, size, etc for a swim. They supply life jackets for novices. It's not very expensive either, about $10 for your first visit and then it gets cheaper if you go more regularly I think. I did a Google search for one in Sydney but couldn't find anything sorry, but perhaps your Yellow Pages could produce something helpful? Or you could ask your vet or doggie friends if they know of anything similar? Best of luck and hope shes feeling better soon Edited August 8, 2006 by cassie the bernese lover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Clover Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Pix i dont have any advice for you, but just wanted you to know both you and Kaeleigh have been in my thoughts . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitKat Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Aaww hun Thinking of you and Kaeleigh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CavsRcute Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 My Cavalier was diagnosed with HD at 2 but looking back I'm sure it was there earlier. We do lots of different things 1. Liquid glucosamine 2. Cartrophen injections for arthritis 3.Mainly raw diet 4. Acupuncture treatments 5. Canine physio for exercises 6. Chiropractor when her back gets sore 7. Trigger point therapy 8. Walking in the soft sand and gentle swimming when we can If you have any questions, ask away, as I have been there and done that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Have you talked with your Vet about the possibility of full hip replacement in the future? Just wondered, Mel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Piximatosis Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Hey Mel - yes I have - she doesn't recommend it as with a dog of Kaeleigh's size the success rate isn't great. Kaeleigh also wouldn't cope with the confinement after surgery - anyone who has ever met her will back me up on that!! She would have a complete and utter meltdown and when she gets to the point where she can't function without surgery, it will be kinder to her to put her to sleep. Although here's hoping we have a number of years before we hit that point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozzie Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 (edited) What is she crossed with? Our litter of GSD x ACD... most were sticken with HD... weird... Cuddles for Kaeleigh Edited August 8, 2006 by Rozzie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Piximatosis Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Dad was a purebred GSD and mum was a GSD x Kelpie. Her brother's hips are even worse. Yet another of her brothers was diagnosed with HD at 7mths. Hybrid vigour at its best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozzie Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Yep right... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShesaLikeableBiBear Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Sorry to hear about Kaeleigh. Just as a thought as it has extra joint supplements as well have you considered changing her from Nutro Lamb and Rice to Nutro Lagre Breed Adult?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flaves Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 Piximatosis, i am so sorry to hear about Kaeleighs HD. THe poor baby. Give her a hug from me Barks and Mitchi After hearing this i am going to put Barker onto sashas blend and continue his mainly raw food diet. (after seeing your pics and speaking to your via pm i think he is of the same breed) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TigerJack Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 when she gets to the point where she can't function without surgery, it will be kinder to her to put her to sleep. Pix sorry to hear about Kaeleigh. Would you consider a dogcart for her when she gets to that stage? It would still allow her mobility without having to weight bear on the joints. I ask because I have a little disabled dog who I expected to require a wheelchair by now. I researched it but he luckily doesn't need one yet. While looking at all the sites I noted that a big percentage of the dogs in their pages were GSD's with hip dysplasia or spinal problems. So size of dog can be accommodated. Its a big comittment though so I know there's alot to weigh up before going down that path. (I have kept my list of cart links so let me know if you want them.) Best of luck with her Jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catzatsea Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 Hi Piximatosis, www.naturalvet.com.au They have helped me more then I can say with spud and his laxated patellas...... They are located in Russell Lea and take their time to get to know the dog/ lifestyle and teach you suitable excercises etc. I have spud on two blends right now - both to help his joints and both are natural medicines. There are many other Dol'ers on here that can also vouch for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malleerr Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 Ohh Piximatosis I am sorry to hear about Kaeleigh. HD is just the worst. Have you considered doing all the alternate treatments until the pain etc gets to bad for Kaeleigh and then having a femoral neck and head excision done. I know that generally speaking they are not usually recommended for larger dogs, but that is the op that Mallee ended up having at around 9 mths of age and she is a Rhodesian Ridgeback (30 kilos). I have also heard of a couple of GSDs having it done with success. Mallee had severe HD in both legs, the right being the worse (it always seems to be the right legs for some reason) and had a bilateral TPO done which failed resulting in either having her PTS or the bilateral FNHE. That was done last November. After a while healing she is now bounded back into life and if it were not for the massive scars you probably would not pick it up. Just an idea........something for you to think about. Mallee was confined for quite a fair while due to the first op failing her, but she was definatley a dog that we thought would never be able to be crated or confined and she handled it really well. Good luck with it all hope it all goes well for you both. BTW - we have Mallee on Cosequin which seems to be working well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 (edited) HI I'm Rufus' foster carer. Rufus is Kaeleigh's sister and they were xrayed together yesterday. Even though a doggy cart is great idea, these poor kids elbows aren't great either. What spured me to get Rufus xrayed was actually a problem with his elbow so I don't think they're going be doggy cart candiates. These 2 kids are very active and would just have a melt down if they had to be confined for long periods of time, these 2 will even scream and cry when left. Sadly Rufus is more advanced than Kaeleigh. So many different non-surgical options to consider... Edited August 9, 2006 by sas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flaves Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 Is there something preventative I can do to stave of HD? Or is it something that no matter what is done, they will get it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 I haven't researched that part on it yet. However my understanding is that it is mainly a genetic disorder, so you can't stop genetics, however by using pre-ventives medicines can slow down the effect. HD can also be a product of over-excising a young dog or by a young dog being overweight etc etc. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Myschafis~ Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 One of the best ways to maintain this is excercise, slow and controlled for this level of HD....Swimming I highly recommend once she has built up the muscles, work her up to something low impact like sand hills (slow and controlled) then get her doing hill work. You will built up the muscles around her pelvis and femurs to support the HD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lokelani Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 Hi Piximitosis, I have no advice for you, just lots of hugs and good vibes being sent your way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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