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Old October 31st, 2013, 01:51 PM
renkma renkma is offline
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Call for Hip Dysplasia Stories/Experiences

Hello Everyone - hope you're having a good day with your awesome dog/s.

I'm hoping all furbaby parents with a hip dysplastic dog/s will tell your stories - what age your baby was diagnosed, what changes they have gone through, what you do to help make their lives happy and pain free ... everything. We desperately need hope.

Our darling little 4 month 3 week old Chihuahua puppy Gumdrop Twinkle-Toes has been diagnosed with stage 4 hip dysplasia in both hips. She didn't even have a chance to be a puppy for very long. Top speed running - which she loved doing so so much - is now something she isn't allowed to do. We are broken hearted and shell shocked. There are basically four doctors on her case, and two specialists within a 2 hour radius were contacted. Surgery is not a option for her right now. Total hip replacement is out completely because she is so small. FHO is an option, but only as - what they call - "salvage" surgery. They won't do it until her pain is unmanageable. So our little Gummy is forced to live her life - at least for now - with us trying everything and anything to control her pain. She is on Tramadol now - she is allergic to Metacam. We put her on Glucosamine. And of course moderate and gentle exercise but every every day.

So please share your hip dysplasia stories.
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Old October 31st, 2013, 05:53 PM
Longblades Longblades is offline
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I can't give details because it's my friend's dog and was over 20 years ago, but...

Her Standard Poodle at an early Vet check when he was around 3 months old was pronounced by her Vet to have the worst early age HD he'd ever seen. He advised her to return the puppy right away as per her health guarantee. She knew if she did the puppy would be euthanized and besides she was in love with him so they decided to manage as best they could and take things as they came.

He got better. Her Vet, mine too, said HD was not well understood at the time but some research showed some improvement in cases that were bad at a young age. The dog could never go hiking or cross country skiing with her, and me and me dog, and that was the plan when she first got him. But he was able to live to old age, 12, and relatively pain free with meds and careful exercise. I do not know if this is still thought to be the case but that's what she told me.

I should note, this was long enough ago that health guarantees that replaced the puppy were fairly common, and that was the only option. Nowadays a health guarantee would replace, reimburse the purchase price or pay for some health costs with proof of diagnosis from a dog professional in whatever was the area of concern; eyes, hips, heart, temperament, what have you.

What does your health guarantee say?
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Old November 1st, 2013, 07:41 AM
renkma renkma is offline
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Thank you Longblades for that really encouraging story. We can really use some more of those!!

We got Gumdrop from just a really nice woman and her husband who had a 2 lovely Chis that ... mated before they were fixed. They weren't breeders and there was no gaurentee. They were so nice and clean and the dogs were of such a wonderful demeanor and healthy. And the second tiny Gumdrop was put into my hand I fell in absolute love with her. There was no turning back.

Both my husband and I love her so much - it wouldn't matter if there was a gaurentee or not - she is our little girl.

Your story actually had me feel a little optomism. I'm so scared that she will decline rapidly and her pain will be unmanageable. I'm so scared that we will have to let go of our selfishness and say goodbye to her before she is even a year old. This is so unfair!!! She's just the sweetest little baby girl - she doesn't deserve this!!

If anyone else has any more stories of how they have dealt with their dog's HD, please ....share it.
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Old January 5th, 2014, 11:14 AM
Mandy. Mandy. is offline
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Location: NB Canada
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Have you alerted the owners about the hip dysplasia in case they decide to have another litter? My heart sinks when such young babies are cursed with something hereditary before they have a chance to grow up. It's not fair.

Our boy Brody was recently diagnosed with hip dysplasia, he's almost 4yrs old and 57lbs. He is currently on Previcox for an anti-inflammatory, but after a week of getting it he is still favoring his worst leg. Have you discussed putting Gumdrop on supplements? We have Brody on an Osteosupport brand, you'll want to find something with glucosamine, chondroitin, omegas, and green lipped mussel. There are also supplemented mobility support diets available, but I think most are for dogs 1yr or older and wouldn't support a growing puppy properly. You can also get orthopedic pet beds with memory foam to keep her comfortable.

We are looking into doing a total hip replacement for Brody because his size makes it possible. I have seen a few FHOs done on med size dogs before and they do quite well. There are clinics that are willing to do small dog THRs, but I can't remember the names. If you search on google they will pop up.

Good luck with your pup! I'm glad she found such a loving home willing to go above and beyond to keep her happy and healthy
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Old January 5th, 2014, 12:11 PM
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Dog Dancer Dog Dancer is offline
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renkma, how sad for Gumdrop that she has to go through this, you too. One of my dogs years ago had HD, and it was a terrible thing. I didn't have the money to do hip replacement for her, but she managed a good quality life as we took care of her pain control meds. She was a GSD cross, so a good size dog, and she got around fine so long as we didn't over exercise her or let her jump around. Unfortunately she tore her ACL running in the backyard one day and as a result had to be put to sleep because she couldn't carry herself on her only "good" hind leg as that hip was too bad to carry her weight while the damaged leg healed from surgery. Really, with good management your little one should be okay for some time. Stay positive and love her to bits.
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  #6  
Old January 8th, 2014, 04:19 PM
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SuperWanda SuperWanda is offline
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Don't know if this is helpful but I have a book by Dr. Wendell Belfield (How to have a healthier dog). In his practice, he used high dose vitamin C for hip dysplasia in many puppies and adult dogs. It basically can rebuild collagen which is the intercellular cement that binds tissue, makes tendons and ligaments strong and strengthens all body structures. It also works as a natural painkiller. It is water-soluble so very safe to give. There is a schedule dose in the book which says:

smaller breeds (weighing up to 20lbs):
first 6 months 250mg
6 months to 1 year, gradually increasing to adult level 250-500mg
adult 500-1500mg
senior 250-750mg

I don't have any experience with HD myself, but I do give my two senior dogs vitamin C and haven't had any adverse effects and they are 13 and 15 now. It sounds like it is a very safe vitamin to use and although dogs produce some vitamin C, he states that canine liver production is low and dogs experiencing stress or disease can use up vit. C at a rapid rate.
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Old January 11th, 2014, 07:28 PM
MaxaLisa MaxaLisa is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperWanda View Post
Don't know if this is helpful but I have a book by Dr. Wendell Belfield (How to have a healthier dog). In his practice, he used high dose vitamin C for hip dysplasia in many puppies and adult dogs. It basically can rebuild collagen which is the intercellular cement that binds tissue, makes tendons and ligaments strong and strengthens all body structures. It also works as a natural painkiller. It is water-soluble so very safe to give. There is a schedule dose in the book which says:

smaller breeds (weighing up to 20lbs):
first 6 months 250mg
6 months to 1 year, gradually increasing to adult level 250-500mg
adult 500-1500mg
senior 250-750mg

I don't have any experience with HD myself, but I do give my two senior dogs vitamin C and haven't had any adverse effects and they are 13 and 15 now. It sounds like it is a very safe vitamin to use and although dogs produce some vitamin C, he states that canine liver production is low and dogs experiencing stress or disease can use up vit. C at a rapid rate.
Lots of positive responses to the vitamin C on the GSD forum. For an adult dog, they usually use ester C, some use sodium ascorbate (like Belfield did). Dose, slowly increasing to bowel tolerance. Many dogs do well with combination joint supplements and either adequan, or the canadian version of it.
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