mygirlruby Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 Hi. Hoping for some advice regarding my little girl, Ruby. She is a miniature labradoodle, 20mths old, 14kgs. I got her from what I thought was a reputable breeder in Victoria and had her flown over to me in Perth when she was 3mths old. The breeders have apparently been breeding labradoodles as seeing eye dogs for the blind people with allergies, since the 70s. Her parents are both labradoodles. She was EXPENSIVE, and came with a "genetic defect guarantee". Anyway, ever since we got her she has had leg troubles - we noticed that she would skip and yelp in pain and then be fine 2 minutes later when walking. It was diagnosed as bilateral luxating patellas, and we were told she would probab need surgery some day. 2 weeks ago she became lame on one leg all of a sudden, and we took her to the vet who said she needs surgery ASAP, and referred us to a specialist at Murdoch university. He organised the surgery(on the one leg 1st and the other on 6 weeks or so). During the anaesthetic, they took radiographs and diagnosed sever bilateral hip dysplasia aswell. They have just telephoned me to tell me this(as Ruby is having surgery at this very moment on her knee) and I am devastated, and wondering what to do???? HELP, anyone? Genevieve(Rubys Mum) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 (edited) Call the breeder. The breeders have apparently been breeding labradoodles as seeing eye dogs for the blind people with allergies, since the 70s. The Guide dogs don't use Labradoodles anymore, they tried and found that only 30% of the litter was actually hypoallergenic so they abandoned the breeding plan. Unfortunately this is what happens when you cross 2 breeds together who both have tendencies for Hip Dysplasia, and don't xray and score the breeding bitches and dogs before breeding with them. It's also buyer beware when you are shipping pups from interstate and you can't get evidence of original health tests for the parents. Sorry you have to go through so much grief, and your girl so much pain , hopefully she will be much better with her knees in the correct place, if you keep her thin depending on her build, you may see little symptoms of the Hip Dysplasia until she's much older. Make sure you find a good K9 physio and get your girl into some controlled swimming so she can build up the muscles in her legs again now. Mel. Edited June 21, 2006 by Staff'n'Toller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 (edited) Mygirlruby, call the breeder. Your "genetic defect" guarantee should mean that you should at least be able to get your purchase price back. If they are less than cooperative, your next stop is consumer affairs and/or the media. Keep your dog as lean as possible and swim her if you can. Muscle mass can help keep a hip together and not every displastic dog actually develops hip issues or lameness. I would definitely be wanting a specialist opinion on your girl's future. I'm so sorry you are going through this. A young dog should bring only pleasure, not sorrow. Responsible breeders of larger breeds do testing of hips on their breeding stock - whether they breed purebreds or crossbreds. Read the link in my signature about what makes a good breeder if you are interested in how to find one. Its American but you'll get the drift on what to do next time. No point in anyone getting into a DD debate on this thread - it won't help Mygirlruby or her dog. Edited June 21, 2006 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 No point in anyone getting into a DD debate on this thread - it won't help Mygirlruby or her dog. That wasn't my intention- sorry if it reads that way, just trying to educate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malleerr Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 (edited) Hey Genevieve, I would call the "breeder" as soon as you can - did you have any type of agreement in place with them as to hed diseases?? I know the pain your are going through, our R Ridgeback was diagonised with elbow dysplasia (4mth) and hip dysplaisa (6mths) both bilateral and she is just now becoming a somewhat of a normal dog again nearly 12 months on!!! In regards to the HD, if i had my time over again i would not have rushed into any surgeries straight away, even though Mallee was diagnoised with severe bilateral HD. I would give the meds and alternate treatments a go before doing any ops, as the ops for HD are pretty extreme and severe on both the dog and owners. Mallee first up had a bilateral Triple Pelvic Osteotomy which is where they cut the pelvis in three places and twist it around into a different position and pin and plate it back into place so that the hips joints are now in a different position releasing pressure from the joints etc. This operation failed Mallee and a week after surgery her pelvis collasped on her nearly causing her to die, and had to be rushed back in for emergency surgery which was a bilateral femoral head and neck excision - thats where the cut the top of the femur bone so essentially your dog now has no hips at all.......very extreme...the xrays really freak you out. Besides being hard on the dog it is quite a costly experience - we have spent well over $10,000.00 on Mallee with all her ops and dramas. But that was us and each case is different..... My opinion would be that if you and your dog can cope with dealing with the HD by exercise, diet modification and medication and/or alternative treatment, do so until the dog is in too much pain and/or her quality of life is really going down hill.....but that is just my opinion. We went through a lot with Mallee and i hate the thought of other people having to go through with what we did...HD is a nasty nasty disease... Anyway again they are just my opinions - i really hope all goes well for you and Ruby and with what ever decisions you make. let us know how you go and whether you ever hear anything back from the breeder - please get in contact with them, if they are ethical they should stop breeding from the parents so that no body else has to go through what you are. Oh and pics are also a must Take care Edited cos...i can't spell to save myself Edited June 21, 2006 by malleerr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 Staff n Toller That wasn't my intention- sorry if it reads that way, just trying to educate. Sorry S & T.. not targetting you but asking those who follow us to focus on the issue posted by the OP, and not raise the usual DD debates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mygirlruby Posted June 21, 2006 Author Share Posted June 21, 2006 My 1st time using this (have read it heaps but never used it myself), so hope I'm doing this properly and this gets posted!! I have rung the breeders. 1st I rang them last week when bilateral luxating patellas were diagnosed and the surgery was scheduled. They said they would refund the cost of the dog if the vet wrote a letter stating she had a "genetic defect" (which he will), and the breeders agree. The girl I spoke to there said she had worked there 1 yr and i was only the 2nd case she has heard of. I rang them again today, when the vet rang me to tell me of the severe bilateral hip dysplasia, and let them know how angry and upset I am, however I just bawled and had to hang up!! All the money in the world isn't going to give Ruby a long and happy life is it? I really want to do what is BEST for her, but what is best?? I will try to send a piccie of her, lets see if I can work out how.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mygirlruby Posted June 21, 2006 Author Share Posted June 21, 2006 My 1st time using this (have read it heaps but never used it myself), so hope I'm doing this properly and this gets posted!! I have rung the breeders. 1st I rang them last week when bilateral luxating patellas were diagnosed and the surgery was scheduled. They said they would refund the cost of the dog if the vet wrote a letter stating she had a "genetic defect" (which he will), and the breeders agree. The girl I spoke to there said she had worked there 1 yr and i was only the 2nd case she has heard of. I rang them again today, when the vet rang me to tell me of the severe bilateral hip dysplasia, and let them know how angry and upset I am, however I just bawled and had to hang up!! All the money in the world isn't going to give Ruby a long and happy life is it? I really want to do what is BEST for her, but what is best?? I will try to send a piccie of her, lets see if I can work out how.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mygirlruby Posted June 21, 2006 Author Share Posted June 21, 2006 oops - that got sent twice - I was trying to send attachment, but it says it's too big! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mygirlruby Posted June 21, 2006 Author Share Posted June 21, 2006 Lets see if I can attach a photo now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mygirlruby Posted June 21, 2006 Author Share Posted June 21, 2006 And another... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mygirlruby Posted June 21, 2006 Author Share Posted June 21, 2006 Call the breeder.The breeders have apparently been breeding labradoodles as seeing eye dogs for the blind people with allergies, since the 70s. The Guide dogs don't use Labradoodles anymore, they tried and found that only 30% of the litter was actually hypoallergenic so they abandoned the breeding plan. Unfortunately this is what happens when you cross 2 breeds together who both have tendencies for Hip Dysplasia, and don't xray and score the breeding bitches and dogs before breeding with them. It's also buyer beware when you are shipping pups from interstate and you can't get evidence of original health tests for the parents. Sorry you have to go through so much grief, and your girl so much pain , hopefully she will be much better with her knees in the correct place, if you keep her thin depending on her build, you may see little symptoms of the Hip Dysplasia until she's much older. Make sure you find a good K9 physio and get your girl into some controlled swimming so she can build up the muscles in her legs again now. Mel. Thanks for that. Have called the breeders who have said that if the vet writes a letter stating she has a genetic defect, and I send all accounts of vet bills, then they will refund what is less - the cost of the dog or the vet bills. BUT, no money is going to prevent Rubys pain and suffering and our heartache. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 (edited) BUT, no money is going to prevent Rubys pain and suffering and our heartache. No, and that's the tragedy of it all. All you can do is make Ruby as comfortable as possible and never again buy a dog unless you personally visit the breeder, see the health tests and view at least the mother. Unfortunately, in the end the only thing you can do from this experience is learn from it. Don't write Ruby off yet. From what you said at the beginning, her patellas gave her grief but not necessarily her hips? Diet, exercise etc can make a huge difference to her quality and length of life. Wait for specialist advice so you know precisely what you are dealing with. Edited June 21, 2006 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mygirlruby Posted June 22, 2006 Author Share Posted June 22, 2006 Just got Ruby home from the vet after her luxating patella surgery. Poor love is a bit sad and sorry at the moment. Makes you wonder if you are doing the right thing - she will need her other knee done, and both hips aswell! The vet has placed her on Cosequin DS capsules. Does anyone know nuch about these?? These will be long term, and the rimadyl she is alredy on is for the short term. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malleerr Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 Heya, Glad to hear that Ruby is home and recovering. When are you getting the other leg done?? Mallee has been on Cosequin now for about 9 months and we have found it to be execellent, there are different forms of it that you can get either the dog caps or the horse powdered form, we have Mallee on the horse powdered form after the recommendation of that by her surgeon - he says it works out cheaper, but i think i would have preferred the tablets as they would have been easier to deal with. Mallee was also on Rimadyl - and i am not sure if i actually liked it or not - it helped with the pain but after she came off them she has had terrible problems with her stomach and bowels and i have a tendency to believe its because of all the Rimadyl that she was on......i preferred the cartrophen injections and carprofen (spl) tablets.........i think it depends on the vet as to which one they will prescribe. What have you decided about her hips, have any operations been suggested to you or are you going to see how she copes once both knees have be done??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_Louise Posted June 23, 2006 Share Posted June 23, 2006 Hi mygirlruby, I can sympathise with your feelings about whether you are doing the right thing or not for your girl. After having 2 knee operations on my girl Chloe, there have been MANY a time when I have wondered if I've made the right decisions, especially at 8 years old. However, when I see her now getting about like a puppy again, I know I've done the right thing and it so gladens my heart to see her happy again... even through the suffering and restriction she has been on. I think that if you are guided by your vet and make the best decision for your girl from your heart, you really can't go wrong, no matter what the outcome, cause you have tried your best and given her the opportunity to recover. I am hoping your girl recovers from her first op well and goes from strength to strength. It is sad to see them going through all this, but it will be hard on you and your family too don't forget... It's a long tough road, but my experience has been worth it... even the extreme highs and very low lows. Best wishes to you and your baby girl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted June 23, 2006 Share Posted June 23, 2006 (edited) . Edited May 8, 2009 by cavNrott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linny Posted June 23, 2006 Share Posted June 23, 2006 Hi Ruby's mum. I'm so sorry to hear about Ruby. She's a gorgeous little girl. May I ask who her breeder was, and if they mentioned whether they test their breeding dogs hips and knees? I've heard that Cosequin can be very effective. Good luck and best wishes, Linny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mygirlruby Posted June 23, 2006 Author Share Posted June 23, 2006 (edited) Hi Ruby's mum.I'm so sorry to hear about Ruby. She's a gorgeous little girl. May I ask who her breeder was, and if they mentioned whether they test their breeding dogs hips and knees? I've heard that Cosequin can be very effective. Good luck and best wishes, Linny Edited June 24, 2006 by mygirlruby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rugerfly Posted June 23, 2006 Share Posted June 23, 2006 you poor bugger. Give your girl a big hug for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now