[rosebudlr]

Hello all. I dont know how many remember me but I listed as a newbie just over 1 month ago and posted with a "biting" problem with my Beautiful German Shepherd puppy, Miss Lizzie. She is today 4 months old AND we had our last set of puppy shots done at the vets office today. I brought up a concern of mine with my puppys seeminly weak back legs. X-rays were done along with some manipulation and ( I am sure most know what is coming here), My beautiful girl has severe Hip dysplasia. He told me that they rate severity on a scale of 1 - 4 with 4 being the worse. Miss Lizzie at only 4 months of age is at a 3. This is only due to get worse as she continues to grow.

I am horrified. I just had my loving dog (a toy poodle) euthanized at age 18 only in Jan. and one of my reasons for getting a new puppy was to help recover from the lost of our first baby. I went thru a horrible time with her loss. Now I am facing the fact that in time, who knows how long, Miss Lizzie most likely will not die a natural death but have to be also euthanized to end her suffering of pain.
I am one of a limited income so I must state that I am aware that there are surgical procedures which can be tried , but the procedures at the cost of 3 to 4 thousand dollars is more than I can even think of trying to pay.

At the advice of my Vet, I called the person I purchased my puppy from to let her know what was going on because I know that she told me that she intended to breed her dam again later this year. My vet said the woman should NOT do this as more pups will be born with problems. The litter I bought my baby from was this dam and sires 1st litter each , I asked about Hip dysplasia in family lines, I was told neither had any in their lines as far as she was aware. When I told her of this, she got angry with me and stated that how do I know it is her dams fault and maybe it was from the sires side. I dont know alot of the genetics but I told her she needs to find out somehow before she trys to breed and register another litter with AKC again and sell them as she could be looking at legal troubles.
She was really snippy and I can almost guarantee that she will not call the other buyers to make them aware. (My vet also said she needs to call all the buyers of this litter to let them be aware , as some of them may also have the affliction and owners are not aware yet.)
No, there was no guarentee given about the defect. I would not trade her back for another anyway as we have formed a strong bond already and have done so much together already. She is a member of my family now. But I am so HURT! I cant stand the thought of having to euthanize another dog in the coming future (who knows how soon) and go thru the pain and loss again. She is so beautiful, I just love her.
The seller did not even offer any refund or even partial refund. She just went silent , and then only talked in nastyiness afterward.

I will of course have my baby spayed at 6 months to prevent any possible pregs . I never intended to breed her anyway.

Any advice ?
Thank you,
Leigh

 

[onyx'girl]

I got my pup spayed at 6 mos and she was limping a day or two before this. So I asked to have her rear leg/foot checked while there. Vet did x-ray(without consulting me), then proceeded to tell me Onyx had severe HD. I freaked. Went to consult and was told the protocol for replacement or removal of the femoral head. I took a pic of the x-ray and posted it here. The great forum members told me vet positioned her wrong and therefore made her hip look bad. She did not have HD, but pano. We were very lucky.
You can manage this with supplements and if your dog truely has it, it is good to know when pup is young so you can start treatment early. Good luck, hopefully it isn't as bad as it seems.

 

[LandosMom]

you really need to get xrays done at an ortho vet under sedation.

is she in pain? 4 months seems awfully early to know anything definitive.

 

[RebelGSD]

My vet diagnosed my 6mo pup with beginning hip dysplasia based on x-rays. The ortho specialist was consulted to prepare him for surgery. The specialist said his hips were great and the pup had pano (based on the same x-rays. I cannot get it how someone can misdiagnose like this.

 

[crazyboutdogs]

you need to check your local lemon laws and laws on buying a dog with this kind of issue. if anything and you opt for surgery, the breeder should agree to at least help with some of the medical costs. i'm hearing that high doses of Ester C has helped to improve dogs with severe dysplasia. i would definitely go after the breeder.

 

[rosebudlr]

Yes, she had the Xrays done today.(Under sedation) I got a chance to view them myself and my vet also brought out a xray from a healthy normal hips view so I could understand what he was saying. I can see a huge difference and socket mishape. Also, she cried in pain as he manipulated her hips but I did not know of pain until I came to think about her activites. I could get her to chase a ball 2 times at most, after that, she refuses to run and will watch and walk up to the ball. When we walked, she would suddenly just sit down. At obidience school, before class, all dogs are given play time together for that important socialization they all need and they play hard. When it was time to come into the class room to get to work, she would lay down and refuse to do anything. I had assumed she was just tired out ( I couldnt understand though why she was so tired when all the other pups had so much more energy to spare) but now I realize that because she was in pain she didnt want to do any more. She would do what I asked but reluctently. So, it really does all fit into place now.

 

[rosebudlr]

I also want to say that I myself had noticed for quite some time that she had a unusual gait with her hind legs and that they seemed weak and wobblely. When she walks, the back legs are so close together they rub each other as the legs move. and they track so the the hind prints are almost like heel toe, heel toe, in a straight line. Normal movement of her front legs. And like I said, she is wobblely. It seems she even loses balance alot on them.

 

[BowWowMeow]

I had a regular vet diagnose my young pup (this was 20 years ago) with x-rays under sedation. I think she was about 9 or 10 months old. She was diagnosed with severe HD in both hips. I eventually did a total hip replacement on one hip. She lived to be almost 12 and had a very active, happy life.

There are surgical options available with excellent prognosis.

In the short term I would get her on a really good joint supplement and on Ester C. I like Longevity by Springtime Inc. Rafi (who has HD and also a problem with his shoulder) is on it and it has made a HUGE difference for him. I have him on 2.5 the maintenance dose and you can go up to triple. Here's the link: http://www.springtimeinc.com/product/121/2

 

[M&J]

My dog had a hip replacement but it is VERY cost prohibitive to a lot of people. He very well could have had an FHO surgery for $800. The price range is very dependent on where you live.
I don't see HD as a death sentence for a dog. Check into carecredit.com.
PS. My dog had the same symptoms as yours. I knew something was up from when he was a pup.

 

[M&J]

PS. Supplements are not cheap, and the results are not a promise of no pain. The cost of the supplements quickly add up and exceed the cost of FHO. FHO is a cure, as well, and your dog will live a pain free life. You should call around and find out how much they charge in your area. I"ve seen it as low as $600, as high as $1800.

If you really don't want surgery, look into the Cetyl-M thread in this forum. Seems to be the supplement of choice.

 

[BlackPuppy]

I had my vet take x-rays of Doerak to send to OFA. The vet followed the instructions and took good films. She showed them to me and told me the dog was fine.

Boy, was I surprized when the OFA came back and told me he had moderate hip dysplasia and mild/moderate elbow dysplasia.

I won't ever rely on what my vet says about x-rays again.

I just had my girl's elbows done and had them sent to a radiologist. Yikes! She's not doing very well.

 

[EastGSD]

I would let her grow a bit more and have more xrays taken at 12 mths to see what is going on and have those xrays taken by a vet that is very familiar with hips (call local breeders they always know the good hip vets in town.) Any chance you have the films that you could d=snap a photo of and post for us to look at?

 

[rosebudlr]

If this works, here is a picture of her hip Xrays

 

[rosebudlr]

COuld you explain what FHO is please? I am unable to find anything on this. Thank you.

 

[rosebudlr]

Originally Posted By: M&JPS. Supplements are not cheap, and the results are not a promise of no pain. The cost of the supplements quickly add up and exceed the cost of FHO. FHO is a cure, as well, and your dog will live a pain free life. You should call around and find out how much they charge in your area. I"ve seen it as low as $600, as high as $1800.

If you really don't want surgery, look into the Cetyl-M thread in this forum. Seems to be the supplement of choice.

Sorry, COuld you define this FHO for me?

 

[rosebudlr]

Originally Posted By: RebelGSDMy vet diagnosed my 6mo pup with beginning hip dysplasia based on x-rays. The ortho specialist was consulted to prepare him for surgery. The specialist said his hips were great and the pup had pano (based on the same x-rays. I cannot get it how someone can misdiagnose like this.

And what please is "Pano"?

 

[RebelGSD]

Panosteitis - growing pains

 

[RebelGSD]

FHO

http://www.gcvs.com/surgery/fho.htm

 

[M&J]

Oops, sorry. FHO is Femoral Head Ostectomy. They basically cut off the ball of the joint. A false joint forms, and the hip muscle holds the hip in place. Very successful, they just consider it a salvage operation.
There is no more bone on bone contact, so no future arthritis or pain.
Good luck in your decision. Quite a few of us have been in your shoes so we know what you are going through. So much information to process.........

 

[RebelGSD]

One of my fosters had FHO and she was up and running in a week, it was amazing. With rescue discount the surgery cost $800. Hip replacement is much more costly and the recovery period is much longer, from what I have heard.