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

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

I have to agree with your friend, if you have insurance which will cover it (or can afford to pay anyway) I'd say keep them in the vet hospital for as long as possible. You could visit them and in the long run it will only put their recovery back if they come home & aren't kept still enough. They'll have the best care there and they WILL forgive you. Good luck & keep us all updated.

 

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

I'm afraid I can't offer any practical advice for the recovery period, but I wanted to send my very best wishes and hope that all goes well for you. We will be thinking of you here.
Regarding the slippery floors, we have carpet runners down through the main traffic areas, where the dogs run in from the garden. They're rubber backed, and stay put on the laminate. They weren't too expensive, we got them from a discount carpet warehouse place, where it's sold off the roll per foot. We've only replaced it once in 8 years, so it lasts well. Then in the living room we have a huge rug down. Basically it's one big dog kennel here!

 

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

Your dogs won't hate you for it at all. They will like all the love and attention afterwards though. My dog, Lady, had ops on both elbows and was on lead walks for quite a while afterwards. She did get a bit of pain but not too much and she liked having massages of her elbows to the extent that she would hold her leg up and look pathetic a long time after she was fit again just for the attention. ;D

 

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

They definitely won't hold it against you. My two have the misfortune to live with two vets so when anything needs doing we do it and they love us no less. Although Tarka, who needs her anal glands squeezing regularly, legs it whenever she sees either of us put gloves on, including gardening gloves and marigolds for the washing up.....

 

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

sorry but i had to laugh lochan,.....i can picture them legging it when you get your marigolds on

 

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

[quote author=Lochan link=topic=3426.msg37800#msg37800 date=1385502156]
They definitely won't hold it against you. My two have the misfortune to live with two vets so when anything needs doing we do it and they love us no less. Although Tarka, who needs her anal glands squeezing regularly, legs it whenever she sees either of us put gloves on, including gardening gloves and marigolds for the washing up.....
[/quote]

Oh lord! ;D ;D ;D

 

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

;D ;D
That is SO funny ;D
;D ;D

 

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

Lynette,

Sorry to hear about your ordeal, don't have much to offer by way of advise as I am a first time dog owner but what I find quite striking and similar here is the complete anarchy and high handedness of the so called breeders. Now I live in Delhi. India and we generally have an attitude here that's more like "anything goes" with life but what I find shocking is that In a more advanced society with stricter laws on pets and breeders you are so unhappily in such a tight spot for no fault of yours. I am sure there has to be a legal remedy to this dilemma that will at least help you with the obviously heavy costs of these procedures .

Be brave
Cheers!
Anil

 

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

good luck for today

 

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

Hi all, thank you again for your posts, Im afraid its been a bit full on here since my post and we say Mr Fitzpatrick yesterday who has given us the devastating news which is that both pups have the genetic disorder in both their elbows and their hips ... the long and the short of it is surgery on all four legs or euthanaisa, he out it that simply for us. The surgery will involve elbow surgery where they remove the bone to shorten the limb so that the bones dont fracture, they currently are splintering and so in a dire state. A DPO would then be performed at the same time on the salvigable hips, apparently they both have one salvagable and one not. Post 6 weeks recovery they would then both need total hip replacements which is 3 month recovery period.

Im not quite sure what else to say, we are so drained of tears and emotion now I feel like Ive been hit by a truck. The issue here is that they are 5.5 months old and about to come into season, have their teenage months and periods in a crate with hormones ravaging them and being confined and in pain. They will in be 10-11 months old before they will be able to run free again and whilst my heart is telling me they deserve this opportunity of life ( we have been told they will recover fully but there is no guarantee of not getting arthritis in later life in the elbows) and if we have a life line we have to take it for them, the other side to this is what psychological damage is done to 2 pups who are in effect babies, they wont understand the pain or why they arent being walked ,they will also be enterign the tough months of 'teenagerdom' in a crate.

I would need to put my life on hold for 4 months to care for them both but im not sure I could leave them in a hospital for that long, I dont even know of one where we coudl do this? I have also discovered from my research that it is NOT recommended to operate on puppie sunder 10-12 months with total hip replacements as they are still developing so i dont think there is even data to back this op, however, we have no other options at this stage except euthenasia which currently i cant contemplate.

Apparently there is NO legislation to hold the breeder accountable - surely this need to change, I am horrified. Our vet bills will exceed £20k in total and our insurance iwll only cover £3k per dog per condition even though I am paying £50 a month, I think this premium went down the minute i told them the dogs were labs! They also will not cover us after this for the condition for life so we will be on our own.

Be warned, check your policies apparently you need a lifetime policy to cover this condition, once diagnosed you have the money they state and once spent there is no more cover.

Sorry to sound full of doom and gloom but im not in a good place right now and v confused about what to do for my babies, i feel i cant win either way, putting them through this ordeal is going to be horrific and is not going to be easy for our life or my 3yr old who is already playing up due to the stress levels here ....

my dilmena I know but thought I shoudl update you all on the terrible news and the decision process we now have to go through ...

 

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

My heart breaks for you and your pups :'(

What a very difficult decision for you, sending you all the very best!

 

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

Lynette,I am broken hearted for you,honestly I haven't got words to offer any comfort to you ,you poor things and those poor puppies ......I think I need to have a bit of time to digest your post,it's probably the most upsetting thing I've ever read on here ......
You have a really difficultdecision to make.....i think you probably know what you will do but take your time so you feel right with it and know that you are doing the best you can in what is a totally devastating situation that is totally out of your control....the breeders?i mean,I just haven't got words xxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

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

ps. Please, please any new lab puppy owners go and get your dogs checked ASAP before the potential condition deteriorates, online it says lab pups should be checked thoroughly at 10-12 weeks for signs of dysplasia as it begins to occur v early on and by 4-5 months can be obvious upon medical examination, there are also stage checks that should be done throughout their early life apparently which I had no idea about - had I left this 6 more months the condition would be terrible. All we noticed was intermittent limps, if you get that please get the dogs examined ASAP, luckily i only left it a few weeks but the genetic disorder is v bad in our pups so we are v unlucky.

All I can tell you is our dogs are like old ladies at the end of the day, they cannot life themselves up and the x rays show that their hips are not properly in the joint, they are therefore in excrutiating pain most of the time, sadly dogs just cant tell us this and most labs suffer like this for years before it is recognised.

If you are looking to buy a new lab PLEASE please get hip scores and go to a reputable breeder, our story should never have to happen to anyone else or their puppies, we are trying to decide how we deal with the breeder but we have no legal fall back on this whatsoever.

 

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

I am deeply sorry to read your news and it must be utterly heartbreaking and so difficult for you to comprehend and take in. One thing I can be sure of, is that the pups will not hold it against you if you decide to have them operated on and they will get through it. However, what is the prognosis, will they be fully recovered and able to lead a normal life afterwards? Nursing them is going to be very difficult for you, especially as you have a small child as well. The cost is horrendous. Is there any possibility it could be done cheaper? A friend of mine had a pup with elbow problem and was quoted £3,000, she told the vet she couldn't afford this, so an orthopaedic surgeon came to her vet's practice and did it for just over £1,000.

Have you heard anything about the other pups in the litter? Have you told the breeder? They must not breed again and although you may have no claim against them, they should take on board the heartbreak for you and the suffering for the pups, both the bitch and the sire should be neutered and if they are good breeders they will do this.

I cannot imagine the sorrow you must be feeling, it must all feel so horrendous for you and my heart goes out to you.

 

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

That is terrible. I'm so sorry you are in this situation.

The horror that's been created for you and your family because (likely) no health tests were carried out on the parents. You very may not feel like taking it forward, but I do wonder whether some general consumer protection might be applicable about the professional standards that you could expect a breeder to have - if the breeder was acting as a business. I can quite see that this kind of case would not be feasible for you to tackle as an individual. But I think it would still be worth contacting your local trading standards. It would just be a letter...it might be worth a try.

 

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

Lynette, I am so, so sorry to hear this. Remember that you do not have to rush a decision - take a few days to do as has been suggested and investigate surgery options, but also remember that however much we all feel for you, you need to take the decision that you are comfortable with. No one will criticise you for taking the decision that you and your family decide is right for you. We can all unite in condemnation of the breeder, and support for you. xxx

Clare

 

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

I am so, so sorry. As Clare says, take a few days and think it over. Look carefully at your dogs and your life, don't rush anything, and just consider carefully what you, your family, and the pups can all manage. Devastating for you. How despicable of the people who breed without any consideration of the pain they are putting animals, and the people who buy them, through.

Whatever you decide, I know it's not worth much, but we from this forum are here for you and will listen to you and support your decision.

 

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

i am so sorry for you your family and your puppies, heartbreaking news......you are in my thoughts x

 

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

This is awful and I am so sorry for you and your pups. Heartbreaking stuff, and everyone on this forum will be sending their best to you in such a difficult time. As far as the breeder is concerned, you may have some redress. Some years ago, a breeder of Rottweilers (I believe it was in the Glasgow area) had a brood bitch with elbow dysplasia and despite knowing this, bred from her. All of the resultant pups had severe ED. Trading standards assisted in a prosecution in which the breeders were done for knowing, or ought to have known, that pups from this particular bitch were likely to have problems. The breeders ended up paying for surgery on all the affected pups I believe. The case hinged on the fact that the brood bitch was known to have problems before she was bred from. If this is the case for you, you might have some redress. Finding this sort of information out will usually require a court order for the breeders vet to release appropriate information (they are not allowed to release such information without a court order). Financial redress apart, it still doesn't make your life any easier. Just as a suggestion, would it be possible for you to kennel the pups somewhere (gundog trainer, someone who does residential training) during their recovery period? They would have the company of other dogs, could be next to each other but still not be moving around and you could visit regularly. Would be no worse than the the old-fashioned six months quarantine for imported dogs in the past. Just a thought, hope this helps a little...

 

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

I have been following this thread but have as yet no experience of this to share. I can offer my heartfelt sorrow at your situation though. Sending a big hug from me and Charlie. Xx