Both hip replacement on a puppy???

[BellaDog]

I have been having trouble with Bella (11 month rott) and her hips. Was with a poor vet, and switched to a good one. She has hip dysplasia in both hind hips, and both are severe. She slips in and of the hip joint. We have tried asperin, anti inflamitories, pain killers, and other medications, she had her hips injected. It is not painful for her to get up and down, stairs, walking out to use the bathroom. The vet said the only possibility for her to recover is to have both hips replaced. Yet even after that she would only be allowed to walk around the block everyday, be on medication for years, and excerise would be seriously limited.

She was a very active dog, who reguarly went on 2 long walks a day and went to the dog park to be able to run around, she is very energetic. I am not sure I want to put the puppy through surgery and her not be able to do "dog" things. The other option is to put her down. I don't want to make her suffer so I can keep her in my living room, and her be misserable.

Any advice you all can give me would be appreciated? I'm not sure what to do... I love my dog, but i don't want to be selfish and caue her pain/discomfort. She already is "depressed", even just being restricted for 2 weeks. Thanks!

[brunie's mom]

There must be something else they can do besides a total hip replacement? I agree...it is really a huge surgery and very costly. I would think after the hips are replaced they dog should be back to normal.

Can they not just take the ball of the joint out? This makes scar tissue and a false joint is formed. Some dogs do very well with this technique.

I think we've had a few forum members that have had total hip replacment on their dogs...hopefully they will chime in.

I am sorry you are going through this...I went through the same thing with my first rottie Bruno.

You must remember quality of life...not just quantity.

Gina

[calebmyboy]

I am not understanding why your vet is saying Bella will not be able to do any serious walking or playing after having her hips replaced.

I think you should be referred to a specialist, the actual one who would be doing the surgery and talk to them I am sure they will tell you differently, after all the reason we replace their hips is to get them back to a normal way of life with no pain.

I had one of Chase's hips replaced 10 months ago, he now is taking 1/2 hour walks twice a day in fairly deep snow 6-8 inches, he loves wandering through the woods trying to track all the animal tracks he sees and smells, he runs jumps, plays, with no problems.

No more whimpering when he gets up, I think your vet is wrong. Please talk to a surgeon. Our surgery was over $5000 for the one hip.

And as suggested the FHO, where they remove the ball, can often work successfully on a larger dog like a Rottweiler. And it is much less expensive. They prefer to do the THR on larger dogs though.

[peachesandchubby]

Im sorry to hear about Bella!! My now 9 month old boy Chubby has severe HD and we took him to a specialist who thank god told us we could treat him with meds and rehab for now...later down the road (hopefully much later!) we might have to look at surgery. We took him off puppy food and put him on Canidea to keep his weight down as he is a big boy, not fat but just a large dog. The weight plays a big part in problems with HD.
I know there is a lot of info to digest but take the time to research and take this knowledge and informed questions to a orthopedic specialist.
Chubby didnt have the popping out problem and I know every dog is different but my regular vet (whom we love and have been with forever!) thought it was much worse than it turned out to be....In their words we are not specialist and sent us to a very wonderful, knowledgeable OS to get a better handle on things..
People on here told me about web sites and links to read up on and also yahoo has HD groups that I also read up on.
Good luck to you, we are here when you need us.
I truly hope things turn out for you and your girl!

[Miss Greta]

I too am confused as to why your vet said your dog would be severly limited after surgery. I know of a young Newfie who had both hips done, and was told by his ortho vet that he could do anything after, including agility!! Sounds like getting a second opinion is the best thing.

[DoofiesMom]

Absolutely your dog can run, play, walk, jump with replaced hips!! She can go on 2 hour long walks and play in the dog park. In fact, probably a heck of a lot better than your dog does now on her dysplastic hips! She will be a "normal" dog.

Post THR (and 12 week recovery period), there will be no need for medication. Pain meds are only administered for the first week or two after the surgery and that's it.

Excercise will NOT be limited. However, there is a caution to consider. If your dog, post THR surgery, was to fall or splay her legs out from underneath her, she "could" break the implant or cause bone cement to leak if she had the traditional cemented THR. In this case, since revision surgeries are rarely successful, the THR implant would be removed and your dog would be left with the false "scar tissue" joint. With this in mind, you must use caution and not allow your dog to slip on slick flooring, fall from heights, etc. Please note breaking the implant or having bone cement leak is VERY rare, but can be prevented with common sense.

Please, seek the opinion of another vet (a board certified orthopedic surgeon) as you are not getting the correct information from your current vet. Prior to your appointment, do some research on "cementless THR" for dogs. The cementless hip is the preferred technique, and typically the only one recommended for a young dog (can be performed as early as 6 months). The traditional "gold standard" cemented hip replacement is usually done on dogs older than 2 years. The cementless THR also is an easier recovery on the dog as you don't have to deal with hollowing out the femur, bone cement, etc.

As a last consideration, please know that a successful THR procedure depends on your adherence to the post-op instructions. Post surgery, your dog will be on exercise limitations (crate rest) and damage to the implant can occur if you don't follow the exercise limitations religiously. However, after 12 weeks your dog can start a gradual return to activity.

The THR procedure is not to be taken lightly. Do your own research, get more vet opinions and talk to other owners who have done this procedure on their dogs.

Good Luck!!

[peterbann]

I'm extremly sorry to hear your news. Our 10 month old has severe HD and ED. He's had surgery today in fact to sort out his elbows. He's at the specialist as we speak. Have to wait and see what they suggest but it's looking like he may need a double hip replacment too. Very very costly though.