Re: Hip Dysplasia Oooh lawks Lily's hips are certainly quite severe, even for a 10mo.....it never ceases to surprise me how some dogs run about quite happily with hips like that yet others with much milder changes on xray are hobbling about. There is a very interesting study of littermate labs either fed ad lib or fed to be on the slim side of normal. Those kept slim had a vastly reduced incidence of hip arthritis and lived on average 2.5 years more than their portly ad lib fed littermates. I reckon my labs wish I had never read that study as they look like Lily - 25kg and on the slim side of fed, but hopefully benefiting in the long term.
Re: Hip Dysplasia [quote author=Lochan link=topic=3890.msg47176#msg47176 date=1389707987] There is a very interesting study of littermate labs either fed ad lib or fed to be on the slim side of normal. Those kept slim had a vastly reduced incidence of hip arthritis and lived on average 2.5 years more than their portly ad lib fed littermates. I reckon my labs wish I had never read that study as they look like Lily - 25kg and on the slim side of fed, but hopefully benefiting in the long term. [/quote] I don't suppose that study could be found anywhere on line, could it?? This is all fascinating stuff! Brew would love me to be more generous with the kibble, but having had an overweight lab as the family dog whilst I was growing up, there is no way I would wish to see her like that. I guess that dogs must be just like people, in that the way they perceive pain will differ... Two people with the same injury / complaint can behave quite differently. Clare
Re: Hip Dysplasia Clare, the study is a few years old and off the top of my head I can't remember where it was published (think it might have been American Journal of Vet Research) but I've been quoting it to owners for years and will dig it out for you. Many of these sites require a subscription to view the articles though.
Re: Hip Dysplasia Jacqui Willows hip x-ray wouldn't be far off Lilly's and she also does that spine arching when walking too. Lilly looks great and seems to be happy running around - does she get sore at all after running? Are you planning on any surgery for her or is she doing ok on the anti-inflammatories? Willow is also long legged - she just looks like a smaller version of Lilly ;D but would still be under 20kg (7 mths) so is fairly slimline given she could eat all her own and Jack's food before you blink lol.
Re: Hip Dysplasia Hi Shell, Lilly gets a half dose Previcox anti-inflammatory with her tea every day, and although she clicks a lot, particularly after getting up and when she does her wee bit of circling to curl into a ball, she doesn't APPEAR to be in pain. We haven't seen Lilly limp for ages, and half wondered about stopping the pills, but don't want to rock the boat as when we have stopped before, ages ago, she just seemed "more grumbly". If she has a particularly heavy day hooning around, we sometimes give her a full dose of Previcox with her tea. We aren't planning surgery at the moment but playing it by ear. If we think she is showing signs of pain or distress we will be right back to see the ortho vet. I must admit, it does bother me a bit that we haven't planned surgery, and something Lynnette said in her long post struck a chord - something along the lines of how dogs can hide their pain well. At the moment we are just very aware of what we do and how Lilly behaves both at the time and afterwards. It certainly doesn't seem to stop her doing anything, and zooms around with the best of them. Sometimes I am sure she is part whippet. How is Willow doing?
Re: Hip Dysplasia We've just about finished our 2 wks of no structured exercise and she seemed to be doing ok except tonight the two of them buggered out the gate when my back was turned and went for a play with one of the neighbour's dog. She came back after bout 15 mins & is in agony when trying to get up, she can just about walk! - going to have to get back to the vet tomorrow. I can't believe the difference in her in just a few weeks, she was fine & had been enjoying her walks (longer than she can manage now) & always on the beach - and within weeks she's nearly crippled! My vets are farm vets and will have to refer me to an ortho surgeon - they dont seem to be too sure about what's going on with her but are saying that HD does not suddenly appear like this but there's def something wrong, poor baby, it's heartbreaking listening to her cry :'(
Re: Hip Dysplasia Poor Willow I don't think Lilly actually cried with it - just limped and got "grumpy" I think sometimes its just a trigger - it doesn't just appear, but your dog copes until something just pushes it over the edge as it were. For us it was walking on the ice/snow during the "long cold snowy winter" we had. Which is a shame, because kind of spoils the fun of doing stuff like that if you have an injury of whatever kind Making sure she has carpets/rugs rather than slippy floors might help, and also a comfy bed - Lilly likes her beanbag, always has, and prefers it to a normal bed - well OURS of course is preferable : . Making sure she doesn't need to jump eg into a car, walk upstairs....I'm sure you know all this. I do hope your vet can help....sounds as if you are all distressed by this
Re: Hip Dysplasia So sorry to hear this Shell. When are you going back to the vet? Let us know the news as soon as you have it. Hugs to you and your pup.
Re: Hip Dysplasia So back to vets - they can't do anymore for her so have referred us to an orthopedic specialist who can see her on Monday - only a 3 hr journey but fingers crossed it can be sorted :-\
Re: Hip Dysplasia Have they given her something for the pain and to settle her?really sorry this has happened,feel like I'm saying that to such a lot to owners at the moment .....bit those who have experince of this condition always seem to give hope that diagnosis and suitable treatment / management results in success xxx
Re: Hip Dysplasia Hi Shell My elderly lab (14 in April) was diagnosed with HD in 2008. At the time she was overweight which I think was my fault because my husband had suddenly died 6 months before and I think I over compensated with spoiling her. (naughty mum lol). She had all the x-rays done at vets and was then on weekly injections of cartrophen for a month and they also suggested hydrotherapy. She has been going to hydro now for over 5 years and apart from a few flare ups at the beginning when she's needed another course of cartrophen she's been fine. At the moment she's got other health problems so hasn't been going so regularly. Hydro has certainly helped her, she used to walk really stiff on her back legs and sort of bandy but now her legs are straight and she bounces along. Her insurance covers the hydro which is a good thing. She has arden grange light to keep her weight under control, she weighs 30.4kgs which the vet is happy with and it has also got glucosamine in it. Hope this helps, but I would imagine there's varying degrees of severity with HD but good luck.
Re: Hip Dysplasia Well we're back from the vet hospital and unfortunately Willow's hips are pretty bad so we have 3 options - 1) do nothing 2) a double pelvic osteotomy or 3) a hip replacement. To do nothing will mean that although she will improve by time she is 18mths as the bones will have fully developed & the pain will decrease HOWEVER she will get a lot worse before then and to be honest I couldn't possibly see her in any more pain than she already is (even after the shortest of walks). As she's only 7 mths, the DPO is the best option (the surgeon will only perform it on a dog under 8 mths) so she is going in on Wed for surgery Once that heals we can check to see if she needs the other hip done but that's not absolute as she may be ok with one done. The accident on the beach 6 weeks ago has just brought the condition to the fore, the surgeon said it was there but just hadn't shown symptoms yet & if it had started at 10 mths then the operation would not have been a viable choice so in some way I suppose that's good news, the bad news is she is not insured :'( time to remortgage the house lol!
Re: Hip Dysplasia I am so sorry you have had this diagnosis for Willow you must be heart broken :'( Poor Willow and poor you not having insurance You know what's best for your girl and I will be thinking about you and Willow on Wednesday. Please if you have any spare time let us know how she gets on. Again I am so very, very sorry :'( xxx
Re: Hip Dysplasia Oh I am really sorry to hear this Shell Not the best news. I guess it will be a bit tough, but you will get through it, and Willow sounds like she needs something done Will be thinking of you too xx
Re: Hip Dysplasia Will be thinking of you both on Wednesday - hope everything goes smoothly and let us know how you both are when you get the chance. Clare
