Cosmolo Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Does anyone have any experience with dogs who have both hip and elbow dysplasia? Dexter has been diagnosed with both and while we are managing him conservatively at the moment (he is doing very well for the most part) i am thinking ahead to a time when he may need surgery or something else? It concerns me that any surgery would put so much extra pressure on his other joints which are affected as well? Has anyone had a dog with both before? What did you do? What were the results? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I got the full compliment here - 2 bad hips, 2 bad elbows, collapsed hock, skin allergies and the occasional balding. Lets not forget that lovely lump on his front paw too I dont want to do surgery it is immense pressure on him. his elbows showed arthritic changes months ago (he's about 14 months now) and we manage him with supplements, exercise, chiro, acupuncture and massage. As much as I want him to be around forever I have seen his x-rays and everyone else put a death sentence on him months ago. He's being managed until he cannot walk anymore which i think is fair enough. His body was not made to be doing what every other dog does but his quality of life is fine he can jump, play and go for walks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted October 22, 2008 Author Share Posted October 22, 2008 Thanks nekbet. So life expectancy is just until whenever the dog can't move anymore? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 it's going to be a couple of years. The reason I dont want to do surgery is that he is 1) still growing and 2) already 43kg and I have to try damn hard to stop him getting any heavier. I have kept his weight even for 3 months but its hard because he's a growing boy. If I let him bulk up then he cannot get up at all and we're back to counting days. He has very little hip socket at all, arthritic changes on his hip and arthritic changes in his elbows. I love him to death but if he lays down for a couple of weeks, well, he will never get up again i make sure he does at least some form of exercise every day, I push him even if he's a bit sooky and he's fine for it. He loves walks, the beach, the city etc but why should i cause him extreme pain and more complications through surgery. Plus dont even ask how much it is to do all the surgeries and follow up specialist care - with little guarentee it will definately fix him. He's not a small breed, and he's not a small example of his breed either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted October 22, 2008 Author Share Posted October 22, 2008 Dexter is 33kg at the moment, still growing and we are keeping him very light. I've spoken to a surgical specialist so i know the costs involved- its the recovery and stress on his other joints that concerns me the most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) is Dexter already arthritic? Diesel's a complete lemon and I've watched him scream and crawl enough in pain to put him through more. Between parvo and hip displaysia the poor pup has had enough torture in his life so I'm letting him live it out comfortably. not saying Dexter is at the same stage but carry a 40kg rottweiler around to pee and watch him cry himself to sleep day in day out and I dont want to be the cause of any more. hey CHarles. ever dealt with a collapsed hock before? Edited October 22, 2008 by Nekhbet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted October 22, 2008 Author Share Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) The specialist said he has arthritic changes in his hips already- not sure about elbows. He doesn't cry or anything when he's sore- but he has the highest pain threshold of any dog i know so it can be hard to tell just how sore he is. Edited October 22, 2008 by Cosmolo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 (edited) he may not be as sore as you think. Different dogs different reactions My GSD Kreuger didnt really cry a lot but towards the end he did. He was reluctant to get up, he'd try and play then you would see him wince and he would limp back and lie in the warm dirt. He became snappy, relucatant to socialise and on our last walk together his hip made a huge *pop* noise and his hind leg wobbled around going *pop - pop - pop*. I was heartbroken but I had him set free from his misery he even offered out his front leg like "i'm ready to go mum". He had his other compliment of problems as well so we did what was ultimately best for him. ... shoulnt add to threads like this I have a job interview and now I'm crying *hmph* Edited October 23, 2008 by Nekhbet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Labs Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 The specialist said he has arthritic changes in his hips already- not sure about elbows.He doesn't cry or anything when he's sore- but he has the highest pain threshold of any dog i know so it can be hard to tell just how sore he is. Hi Sorry for both of you.... Can I ask Cosmolo have you had more than one opinion? Have your rays been read by someone like Bob Wyburn? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crest_Fallen Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 We once had a British Bulldog puppy that had his knees popping in and out and were also told his hips were bad too. He hated to walk anywhere. He had the op done on his knees and he recovered really well. The vet advised us to keep him lean and fit so we did walk him for at least an hour a day. He was the fittest bulldog you ever did see. He had no further problems with his hips due to his fittest level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted October 23, 2008 Author Share Posted October 23, 2008 The X rays were looked at by Dr Wing Tip Wong who i believe to be extremely good? I don't know who Dr Wyburn is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted October 23, 2008 Author Share Posted October 23, 2008 Just how unusual is it for a dog to have both HD and ED? I thought there might have been a few more people who had had the same problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldielover Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 My first golden had both HD and ED... managed conservatively. She went missing at the age of 7. Her ED was diagnosed at around 6 months and HD a year or so later. This was a while ago now... she didn't seem to be in any pain but i suspect she had a very high pain threshold. She was slow to get up and wasn't interested in longer walks or anything strenuous but otherwise was fine. Back then options were more limited than now, but i personally would not opt for surgery unless there was no other option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILuvAmstaffs Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 PM Malleer, her dog has bilateral ED as well as HD & has been operated on for both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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