bianca.a

Thank you Rugerfly :) Well we have appointments on the 8th with both Dr Laverty and Dr Ferguson!

Is that Eagle Point Cottages by any chance? We stayed there with our 2 when we moved here! For a newbie who wants to come and watch, would you mind telling me when and where the trial is please?

Oh and this is the reply from the first specialist about exercise restrictions: Hi Bianca, I would recommend exercise be REGULAR and LOW IMPACT. This to me means walking on a lead, walking in the shallows, swimming, under water treadmill. You should avoid all off lead activity, playing Frisbee, chasing ball etc. This approach to exercise will help develop muscle mass on the pelvic limbs. I would only use the Previcox if you believe it is helping make the hips more comfortable. Otherwise stop.

I received an email back from Dr Ray Ferguson today and he wants to see Cooper asap. He mentioned maybe trying to avoid surgery! So I will try and get down tosee both clinics in a couple of weeks.

Thank you Tash and Megan :) Doveton is a little to far for me to go but I so appreciate it. I think there is a PSA club in Sale so if I can track that down I hope someone there will have some ideas too.

I don't so much agree, I think you can have the healthiest, most well bred pet but in the end, things happen. They could be a year old and be bitten by a snake, fall from the couch, get a really nasty, resilient infection or just be plum unlucky, some breeds are just prone to things you can't see coming, and could by no means prevent. Things happen and I like to think if one of my critters was stuck I would be able to think a bit clearer and make the right decision for them if I knew I had the funds at hand and assume that would alleviate at least some of the pressure. Like I said, I work in insurance, and know for a fact it's a great business structure. As is I work in warranty claims for appliances etc, and it's highly profitable, if an 600 dollar fridge isn't repairable we offer a same same replacement, but get it substantially cheaper, and they usually insure that one too, but if it were my full fridge at Christmas I wouldn't be too phased of the semantics etc, I'd just be pleased all my Christmas Dinner wasn't ruined. I kinda feel like it's the same deal, when it comes to it, I doubt i'd be resenting anyone much or thinking how they did it, I'd just be pleased the option for treatment was available. You're right in the vet sense too though, I find it really disconcerting walking into a vet and finding they only have one or two types of food on the shelf and are wearing their logo etc, it's very hard to take them for impartial when they likely have a quota to fill. I agree, things just happen I have both my dogs insured thank dog. Cooper my 10 month old comes from a great breeder, hips and elbows scored, zero history of bad hips but I have just found out that he has severe hip dysplasia. Estimated cost for both hips to be totally replaced is $13000. I will still have to fork out some of that but at least I will recoup some of the cost.

Hi Erny, I am so sorry your boy has all this going on Monica Segal is one to check out (in the US though) http://www.monicasegal.com/ There is also a yahoo list K9 Kitchen. Wishing you the best.

Thank you Tash, do you mean a physio?

Thank you! I have a list of questions a mile long!

Thank you! I will hold off the hills then. That does make so much sense. I just need it to warm up for swimming. The specialist via my vet said restricted exercise so I will find out exactly what he means. My foster dog leaves this week so then I will have more time to knuckle down and contact some names I have been given and also try and track down hydro-therapy around this little town. I have emailed about the Greyhound products thank you very much. I really do appreciate all your help. I have never faced anything as major as this before and just want the best for my boy.

Thank you all so very much. I will be getting more than one opinion for sure. I have also read that walking up hills can be beneficial, sounds stupid of me but would anyone have any idea of ideal gradient? Thank you Dancinbcs, do you recall what type of harness or would it not matter? Thank you Nekhbet, do you think that would be something short-term? I will email to ask about price/delivery.

Thank you all so very much. I will be getting more than one opinion for sure. I have also read that walking up hills can be beneficial, sounds stupid of me but would anyone have any idea of ideal gradient? Thank you Dancinbcs, do you recall what type of harness or would it not matter? Thank you Nekhbet, do you think that would be something short-term? I will email to ask about price/delivery.

Thank you all :) Cooper is kept lean but honestly I could probably trim him down by maybe a kilo so am rationing him! Pockets, thank you he is on supplements and I have just ordered some more to just target the joints. I need to find somewhere within driving distance for hydrotherapy. Tarmons, wow thank you so much for sharing your girls story! She must be a real trooper and is very inspiring! Did you use any specific exercises to firm up her rear? Cooper has always been on fish oil and Vit C, thank you :) Persephone, it is amazing isn't it?! Thank you :)

I am so very, very sorry to read this You and Bison are in my thoughts

Thank you both so very much :) He is currently on Vit C (I had read that pups under 12 months shouldn't be on Ester C?) Thank you :) That is really great advice about the bottom of the lake thank you, I hadn't really thought of it other than making sure there is nothing sharp and nasty for him and I! I can just imagine what people must have thought! No doubt I would look equally special carrying a 32kg big black dog into the water :laugh: I will check thank you!

Thank you :)

Thank you all, he is such a sweet boy Aussie - yes he was sedated for the xrays. The vet had said that he could not straighten his left leg out for fear it may 'pop' out Thank you Dancinbcs - I will read that now. I heard back from my vet today, he had spoken to the specialist - Peter Laverty - and his words "his hips are diabolical". So he is saying he will need a total hip replacement on both sides but not until he is at least 15 months old or until he has finished growing. He would only do one side at a time. The FHO and TPO are not an option for Cooper. He will get stainless steel implants and they should last his whole life. Apparently stem cell therapy is more for age related degenerative conditions not for this type of situation where it is structural. My vet said when Coop was sedated and he was manipulating his hips, he does not have full range of movement. He is to stay on the Previcox until then and we will do blood work to check it is not affecting his renal or liver function. I think I will give it a couple of weeks and then try reducing the dose and see if there is any difference. So I will call or email Peter in the next few days and find out more and then contact some other recommended people. I have the name courtesy of the breeder of a GSD specialist. I have also ordered these supplements from the US: http://glycoflex3.com/ http://www.vetriscience.com/jointagen.php I just need it to warm up a bit (spring in nearly here) and I will take him to the lake. I have read that instead of swimming, it is better to walk them through at chest height as it works the hind more than swimming. So we can do that everyday. Thank you all again, for your lovely thoughts and wisdom and advice

Bugger, I just lost my reply. Thank you all so much for replying, I do appreciate it very much. No, his hips do not seem to be related to his front right elbow. The vet thinks that it more than likely a soft tisue injury. He has anti-biotics in case it is the start of a bone infection (from the drains) and anti-inflams (Previcox). Thank you BC Crazy, that is my Miss Molly! Here is Cooper from yesterday.

My friend has 2 Macklins, so I thought your girl looked familiar!

Awwww she is stunning! Nothing beats a black GSD! Is she a Macklin by any chance?

Sorry his elbows were fine at 6 months and then yesterday (only took right) his elbow and shoulder are also fine. And stem cell, I have been told about some great success with this so another thing I will also mention to the vet, thank you.

Thank you all for taking the time to write, I really appreciate it. To be honest my vet said about the total hip replacement and admitted that is not something he does thus sending off for an outside experienced opinion. He also said that he looks after a Golden whose hips are probably comparable to Coop, but this dog is managed conservatively. So much to learn, but I am really not going to make any rash decisions. Now that I am really looking, he is loose in the rear. I have noticed the muscle wastage but assumed it was due to the restricted exercise due to months of elbow issues. I feel guilty for not chasing this earlier. Cooper has always been a talker...he moans and talks. It's hard to describe and we thought it was just him but maybe it is him being in pain. I just don't know. I really appreciate those of you who have said to research but perhaps pts would be best. I know it is not said lightly but for me, unless he could have no quality of life I am not considering it. That may be selfish I know, but I feel I have to give him a fighting chance. He really is the best pup I have ever had. I love him dearly but I will do whatever is best for him. I will contact other specialists (thank you) after I hear back from the specialist. Again, thank you all so much.

Thank you so much :) I was sure that I had done my research properly and I do trust the breeder but all night I have been doubting myself. It is just one of those things I guess, I just really hope that the others from the litter are ok. Wishing it was next week already so I know a bit more. Thanks again, you are very helpful.

Thank you dancinbcs. It has been really odd with the elbows, he was tiny as a pup (much smaller than the average for his age) and I have always kept him lean. He has had xrays of both elbows at 6 months and they were fine. Today his right elbow and shoulder were also xrayed and again fine. His sires elbows and hips are 0:0 0:0 his damns elbows and hips are 1:1 6:2 - I'm guessing that is not so great?

Thank you Xyz, that is encouraging. Yes thankfully as my vet *thinks* it is approx $6000 per hip. 80% back will be a huge help.