Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... As some of the others have said, don't worry until you know and to be honest hearing the worst case scenario actually isn't that bad either because it gives you somewhere to go with it and not stressing over "what ifs". Willow went to see the ortho today & yes she has severe dysplasia - she is in quite bad pain after any exercise or walks (even under sedation when having the hips manipulated gave her pain!). If she is left she will get much worse before it gets better - possibly until she is 18 mths! Good news is that she is still under the max age for a double pelvic osteotomy (which is 8 mths, she is 7 mths) so she is going in on Wed for her surgery! I'm dreading the post-op care as its just me & the dogs & i work full time but I'll deal with it somehow. The bad news is - she isn't insured and the surgery is 3 hrs away but its worth the cost & a few weeks of post-op discomfort to have her develop healthy hips. If I left it in the hope she will improve a year down the line, I will only be worrying for the rest of her life that she's in pain or having to be treated for arthritis from an early age. Honestly I thought it would be the worst news I could hear but its a relief to get a definitive answer to her lameness & pain & knowing that within months she will be as 'normal' as any lab could be, lol. Best of luck with Penny I hope everything goes well for her and you xx
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... Hope everything goes really well on Wednesday, Shell. Once it's all behind you I'm sure you'll have a different dog
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... Oh Shell I'm sorry to hear about your pup! I don't know what I'd do if Penny gets a diagnosis of severe. I think I'm prepared... I'm anticipating the worst case scenario so anything less than that will be a bonus I guess. It really seems like a lot of our labs on her are having leg troubles at the moment... Or maybe we just hear less from the people who's labs are ok?! If we do go for X-rays I'm hoping they can fit her in quickly and we won't have to wait for weeks just for the appointment to have them done. I couldn't bear the waiting! I think I'm more worried about the results of Penny's X-rays than my own!!
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... [quote author=Penny+Me link=topic=4155.msg50450#msg50450 date=1390858525] Or maybe we just hear less from the people who's labs are ok?! [/quote] I think that's it People rightly come to a forum for advice (amongst other things) so on a forum you see a disproportionately high number of problems of various kinds. That's my theory Totally agree that the waiting is the worst..... Hope that your waiting time is minimal
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... We just got back from our appointment. Officially diagnosis: she has 'loose hips'. He didn't say hip dysplasia specifically but I think we all know that's what it is. He did say it was good that although her hip joints were loose she still has full range of motion which means the hip joints haven't 'broken down'. Not quite sure what broken down means but it sounded like a good thing lol I think maybe he meant any arthritic changes aren't bad enough to reduce her range of motion which is a good thing. We are booked in for hip, stifle and hock X-rays next Thursday. The stifle and hock X-rays aren't strictly necessary but he said they might be a good idea just to rule anything else out. And as I'm insured I figure that cost isn't important so might as well get them done. Glad I am insured as otherwise it would cost me £700!!! The hip X-rays will be sent away to have the laxity of the hip joints assessed using the PennHip technique, I've read up about it and it's pretty good, apparently more accurate than standard hip X-rays used for hip scoring. Once we get the results from the X-rays back we can work out the prognosis and a treatment plan. Feeling a lot more positive as from what he explained he found during her examination it sounds like Penny's hips aren't awful. They're not great, but not awful so at the moment I think we might be able to avoid surgery.
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... I wish you the very, very best with this - sending you the warmest wishes for a positive outcome. If my own experience is anything to go by (with something different, of course), getting a proper diagnosis, and finding a programme that will help (whatever that is) is a big positive step forward. I'm not sure where you are (I think I knew but have forgotten) - I'm in London. £700 would be very, very cheap...the full set of x-rays for Charlie cost more than twice that : . I used to think insurance was a waste of money - I have rapidly revised my view.
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... I wish you luck with the further X-rays and have everything crossed for Penny. xxx
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... Great news that everything is now moving forward. Your vet sounds really good
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... Sending my best wishes Shell and Penny's Mum.....sorry you are in the situations you are but you are both dealing with it admirably and compassionately x
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... That sounds like relatively goodish news. At least you know the situation now, and with any luck you won't need surgery done. Fingers crossed for the x-rays.
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... Wishing all the very best of luck for you both for your lovely dogs
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... Hi, Shell, So sorry to hear about Penny. I agree, waiting for tests and then results is horrible. You sit and imagine the worst and then like you say anything less is a bonus. Wishing you and Penny all the best. x
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... Penny's X-rays are tomorrow. I've had dozens of dogs from my kennels go through this procedure many times before, I know exactly what is going to happen and the meds that will be used to anesthetise her, the position they will put her in for the X-rays, the recovery time and aftercare. But I am totally freaking out! I'm so nervous! And it's really irrational. I keep thinking of terrible, terrible things like what if she has a reaction to the anaesthetic and she dies? She's going to be all alone in a kennel with strange dogs around and strange people she doesn't know. What if she's so scared they can't get her out of the kennel? (I know this happens and how traumatic it can be for the dog). Helppppp!!
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... Lauren everything will be fine for penny Its fine to worry, its part of human nature. I have to go through the same thing in 2 weeks time with barley, i know the results are not going to be good, so i am preparing myself for the worst in that he has to have surgery, so if it does not come to that it will be a relief. Sending you lots of hugs . Will be thinking of you and penny tommorow
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... She will do just fine. And you'll be there to take her home for extra cuddles, so it's all good. 8)
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... We are starting to think about the date to book Amy in to be spayed, walked in on hubby giving her a cuddle saying he can't send her for the operation. ( we are ). But I know how he feels. Do you find the results out straight away?
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... No, the X-rays will get sent away for analysis so it'll be about two weeks before we know what's going on. Penny doesn't have a clue what's going on, until she misses her breakfast tomorrow. That'll be hard lol those big pleading eyes!
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... Try and keep your chin up. I'm sure you wouldn't put her through this if it wasn't necessary! Good luck for tomorrow, will be thinking of you both xxx
Re: Seeing the orthopaedic vet... She'll be fine They will take good care of her. And she is definitely not going to have any problems with the anaesthetic. The risks are negligible.
