OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

Hello, I recently posted a message about our 2 gorgeous girls, Beaux & Bella who were suffering lameness intermittently, unfortunately we have just had a diagnosis from our vet that they both have OCD ... Beaux apparently has ED in all 4 legs and Bella possibly needs a hip replacement and ED in her front leg!!!!!!!!!! we are totally devastated ... we are seeing Mt Fitzpatrick this Thursday for MRI/CT scans and apparently base don our vets info they plan to operate on the elbows and possibly the hips - possibly the hips on another day.

Has anyone been through this or can offer us any advice please? I have read alot on line since Friday's diagnosis and it seems that a 6 week post op stint in cage sis required, obv with 2 pups its going to be tough all round and I feel sick about it as they have never been separated before, we have just started putting them in cages at night so they can begin getting used to them but this is a nightmare scenario. We also have wooden floors throughout our house so im panicking about how they will cope with that post op ... in fact im worried about everything at the moment

As soon as we get a formal diagnosis I will be going back to the breeder !!!!!! is there anywhere we can report her as we have been told this is clearly genetic...

Any advice or words of wisdom would be MUCH appreciated

thank you

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

Hi Lynette, I'm sorry but I can't help or give you any advice but I just felt so upset reading this, I can't imagine how you are feeling. The one positive is that Beaux and Bella are obviously in good hands with a loving family. I would definitely do something about the breeder (don't know what - I hope someone else on here can advise you!).
Keep strong, Harley is sending Beaux and Bella a big sloppy lick

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

Hi Lynette. So sorry - what a worry for you. Fitzpatrick is one of the best and pioneered a lot of the procedures.

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

I am so sorry to hear this - what awful news. Fingers crossed here for you that you and your pups get through this in the best possible way you can.

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

Oh lynette,how dreadful for you!I can't help practically either but like Naya said I just wanted to drop you a line to acknowledge your post and send my best wishes to you.
I know some of the members have experience of this and have overcome it bit I know it's is a committed slog to get there,you are up to the job though,be strong in yourself x

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

[quote author=Lynette link=topic=3426.msg37535#msg37535 date=1385398783]
We also have wooden floors throughout our house so im panicking about how they will cope with that post op ...
[/quote]

I wish I had something more to offer in the way of experience...all I can suggest here though is a solution to the slippery floor thing. I have hard slippery floors throughout. I went to both B&Q and Homebase (had to go to both to get enough) and bought out their stock of the cheapest, biggest, rubber backed doormats for the areas Charlie spends the most time in. You can leave them with about 1ft in between them, they don't need to be back to back. Works a treat. They don't look great, but hey.

So sorry that's all I could think of in the way of practical suggestions.

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

Thats such a worry for you Lynette.
At least you are getting expert advice and treatment. Are you insured? Hope so.
I think its a good move to do the crate training that you have started, and absolutely would advise to get some kind of flooring - I have inexpensive rugs, but that's a good idea about the rubber backed mats. I picked a couple up from Pound-stretchers for Lilly's "mat training" quite cheaply so might be worth checking out the budget shops if you have time.
Lilly has quite severe bilateral hip dysplasia and is on a regular anti-inflammatory - she has really well adapted to it and surgery isn't in the offing unless it escapes the pain control. She was diagnosed around 9 months old and is 3 and a half now.
One of her problems is slippery floors, even so.
She takes a few mins to adapt to different surfaces - including the floor in Pets at Home :
Wishing you luck Lynette - keep us updated.

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

Lynette I am so sorry to read your bad news, you have hard times in front of you, but I can assure you in the future you will forget. I have had a puppy with a fractured elbow, pinned and screwed, who had to be in a crate for a month, small room for a further month, it was very difficult and we had to sedate him sometimes, which just seemed to make him worse when it wore off. In retrospect, I should have done some clicker training with him when he was in the crate and taken him out in the car and let him watch children playing or just in the supermarket car park to watch the world go by and for socialisation. I wasn't allowed to give him a Kong as it would have affected the elbow as he tried to hold it.

I also had a dog who had a hip transplant and that wasn't as difficult as the elbow recuperation. I do feel for you, what really bad luck to have them both affected.

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

oh my word, you must be out of your mind,...jasper as elbow dysplasia,he was diagnosed by my vet at approx 6 month old after x rays, my vet told me he would need surgery ,
we went to see the surgeon he did mri/ct scans,he advised us not to have the operation,.....he is 11 months old now, in the last 5 months he as on two separate occasions he as shown signs of lameness.....after a full day of rest he as been back to normal,
the surgeon says jaspers was due to a trauma rather than genetic,.....i hope every thing goes well,....wishing you all the best of luck, please keep us updated

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

Oh this is so miserable for you all. I think the hardest bit is stopping them playing together (voice of experience here sadly) and definitely putting some sort of non-slip flooring down for them. I'm about to start a three month strict rest phase with one of mine and am not looking forward to it one bit so you have my sympathies

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

Lochan,3 months rest,I'm sorry that must be on your other post after seeing you surgeon ...Tarka thankfully is in good hands ..but what a worry x

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

I must say.....tough job with one, but quite a challenge for two or more dogs :'(

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

Just want to let you know that you have my sympathies too! It sounds like you are in great hands with the surgeon you are seeing.

It might be tough for a bit, but you will get through it and, after this is over, your dogs will have long and happy lives.

Hugs!

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

How dreadful for you, what an awful worry. Please do keep us updated, and feel free to offload here on the forum.

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

:'( :'( Oh my goodness sympathy from me too. What a worry. I don't know what to suggest regarding the breeder, but maybe there's somewhere to report them? I live in Canada and although I've had three dogs in my life, I've only ever "chosen" one, and it was a farm dog so not a purebred.

Please know we are here for you....come on the forum to vent, wail, or otherwise let us know how things are going. It truly has been a life saver for me at various times, we'll do our best to cheer you up if nothing else.

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

Thank you everyone, your thoughts, well wishes and advice are really helpful ... I am on tenter hooks for Thursdays diagnosis and am just hoping and praying that Bella will not need the hip replacement, perhaps hydro therapy and meds will help but long term I agree with all your advice, Im looking into floor mats now and will need to restrict their 'play' - they are quite rough with one another and always flipping one another over so this must have caused damage to their legs and hips but how do you stop them from doing it, they race round our garden which is quite large and adore play fighting, I am trying to stop them but its v difficult with two.

We also have a 3 year old toddler so it is going to be a challenge, a friend has suggested we keep them in the hospital for recovery to ensure they dont damage themselves here as with 2 its going to be difficult but I just dont think I could leave them for more than a night or two, equally I do wonder if this would be better for their recuperation, any thought sor exp here -- would they ever forgive us?

Im worried this surgery will damage their personalities and my relationship with them, crazy as it sounds im worried they will hate me for what we are about to do to them, hopefully time will mean they forget but im a real softie, my hubbie is far stronger at being tough and im the main carer as i work from home luckily so I know im going to really struggle with the strict regime and with coping on my own when i have my 3 yr old home for the day too

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

Good luck on Thursday
I think we all understand the guilt that goes with the difficult decisions we have to make about our dogs and their health in particular. You are most definitely amongst friends.

But most importantly I don't think dogs hold a grudge or even know what blame is. Your dogs will love you whatever happens and you will love them back and do the right thing for them

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

I am also very sorry to hear your awful news , one with problems is bad enough but two must be devastating for you . As Barbara rightly said, dont worry about the grudge aspect , I truly dont believe that dogs think like this at all , you are doing everything possible, so sorry

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

Best of luck - it must be awfully difficult not to feel guilty, but try not to do so. I've read a fair bit about ED and HD (just because I'm paranoid and read a lot) and it doesn't sound like you will have caused this. It's probably genetic. The vet could tell you no doubt.

I've never had to make the decision... but 2 pups on bed rest, and a toddler - if you can leave them for recuperation in hospital, I'd jump at the chance even though (and this sounds so silly) I miss Charlie terribly when he's not with me even for a day or so (just leaving for the airport now, so missing my puppy is acute right now!). It sounds like a very good solution, even for a little while.

 

Re: OCD diagnosis for our 2 pups with possible hip replacement ...

So sorry to hear about your two pups. A very difficult time for you, especially with young children to consider. Fingers crossed for a smooth and swift recovery for your pups, and I am certain that they won't hold any of this against you.