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Old March 6th, 2006, 10:34 PM
hhabinski hhabinski is offline
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Hip Replacement Surgery

I have the sweetest 9 month old lab. I have just been told he has Hip dysplasia (level 4 on one side, level 3 on the other). I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has had a hip replacment performed on their pet. I am interested in recovery times, success rates and any other information you may have. This is extremely expensive surgery and I need some more personal information to make a decision. Thanks.
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Old March 6th, 2006, 11:15 PM
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mastifflover mastifflover is offline
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I have not been through it but knowing a lot of Mastiff owners this is unfortunately a very common problem. I know quite a few who have done ACL and hip surgeries all but one was successful. I am not sure but I think the recovery time is a few months at first it is strict no moving around then slowly reintroducing walking and standing etc. I have been told a large part of the success has to do with following the recovery regiment to the letter. I would contact University of Guelph they do a lot of these surgeries and I think they would be a great source of info for you. You also might want to find out what the cost of the surgery is at the University I understand it is a fair bit less expensive. I can also suggest you check these links out they do tend to deal with Mastiffs but lots of good info. Good luck and I think at that age you would have a good prognosis.
http://members.aol.com/RocknRob56/
http://mastiffonline.com/ check the health section a lot of owners have dealt with it and also Wobblers Syndrome
Please keep us informed on how things are going
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Old March 6th, 2006, 11:39 PM
hhabinski hhabinski is offline
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I have a consult booked for late March in Guelph. Today, we had a consult with a surgeon in Oakville. He quoted a price of $5000 per hip! He also suggest a Femoral Excision might be possible for the bargain price of $2000 per side. This surgery seems very unstable to me, do you know anyone who has experience with it? I love this little guy so much and we have already been through alot with him, I am very torn about what to do. I can't watch him suffer, but $10,000 is alot of money.
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Old March 6th, 2006, 11:51 PM
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mastifflover mastifflover is offline
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I have sent you a pm
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Robin
A dog has so many friends because they wag their tails not their tongues.
R.I.P. Buddy 2002-2008 The best Mastiff ever.
Now owned by Clark the Crazy American Bulldog
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Old March 7th, 2006, 12:02 AM
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mastifflover mastifflover is offline
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Sorry I can't send you a pm but if you have an email addy I can send it there. I just realized you have not been a member that long so no pm's yet.
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A dog has so many friends because they wag their tails not their tongues.
R.I.P. Buddy 2002-2008 The best Mastiff ever.
Now owned by Clark the Crazy American Bulldog
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Old March 7th, 2006, 12:04 AM
hhabinski hhabinski is offline
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My e-mail address is






Edited by Dragonfly - the address WAS passed along to mastifflover, however.

Last edited by Dragonfly; March 7th, 2006 at 01:42 AM.
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  #7  
Old March 7th, 2006, 02:48 AM
poodletalk poodletalk is offline
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Personally, I think 9 weeks old is too young to even think of hip displaysia operaton. The operation cannot be performed until your dog stop growing comptely.

My IrishWolfhound has his displyasia on both hips extreme cases on both sides. We got him at six months old, he could barely walk. Besides Hip displaysia, he's was growing rapidly so he had growing pains which caused him pain along with the Hip Displaysia. He had no muscles in his hind legs either.

We had to give him plently of excerise to ensure he builds muscle mass on his hind legs.He knew when to stop running and playing. When he was in extreme pain, we gave him rimadril (sp) plus glucosimine pills every day.

The vet thought by the age of two years old, he would have two full hip replacement surgerys.

He's now five years old, no surgery yet. The vet is so impressed by the muscle mass around his hips and hind legs. He never takes rimadri anymore, just glucomine.He goes outside and runs with the other dogs, he still knows when to stop and take a break.

We don't let him out for long periods of time when it's icey, freezing rain extreme cold just to ensure arthritis doesn't set in.

Do your research, but right now your pup is young make sure he starts building muscle mass around his hip. Don't let him get fat, he needs to stay lean.
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Old March 7th, 2006, 06:17 AM
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coppperbelle coppperbelle is offline
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Hip replacement surgery

Poodletalk, I think she said 9 months.

I can't help you with advice about these surgeries but I would certainly try other options first.

Where did you buy this puppy? Was it from a breeder? If so, I would certainly contact them about the problems you are encountering.
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  #9  
Old March 7th, 2006, 06:40 AM
hhabinski hhabinski is offline
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I got Twiggy from a Lab Rescue. He is not a pure bred dog. The vets have been telling me that I should limit his exercise and not let him run. It seems that maybe I should let him run to build the muscle mass. They did tell me that he will appear to get better ( less limping and stiffness) temporarily as the muscles strengthen but that soon enough he would be lame. I was also told that I can't have the surgery for 2 months until he is fully grown.
I was also told by someone that the surgery could be done for around $3000 per side but the only 2 places I know that do the surgery are Oakville and Guelph in this area.
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Old March 7th, 2006, 08:25 AM
poodletalk poodletalk is offline
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Does he need full hip replacement or the other surgery where they break the bone in three different places?

I guess every dog is different, my dog after he finished growing and he built more muscle mass he limped less. He's five years old and he's not lame either.You can tell there's something wrong with his hind legs, but he's not in pain, he runs and he stands up on his hind legs to steel food from their counter.

My vet told me, let him do what ever he wants, it's important to build muscle mass. Your dog will know when to stop or take a break.

Since my dog needs full hip replacement surgery, it's 5 K for each side. That doesn't include the overnight stays any medication. I have saved enough money for the first side to be done, but so far he doesn't need the operation.

My first post, I was half a sleep when I wrote it, I meant to say 9 months not 9 weeks.
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  #11  
Old March 7th, 2006, 04:29 PM
SnowDancer SnowDancer is offline
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I think you should see what the specialist at Guelph has to say. They have the nicest and best surgeons there. I know you will need an ortho - our 2 surgeries were performed by a neuro - Dachshund disc disease. Price wise, we actually paid more than the specialist in Toronto would have charged but both surgeries were emergency middle of the night procedures and the on-call neuros came in to meet with us and do the X-rays. Our last little guy stayed 4 nights - this was covered by the fee for his surgery - any longer and it would have been extended to a daily rate - which is not cheap by an means. I can see the surgery costing $10,000 based on my experience with Dachshunds, but my guys were worst case scenario. I now have a dog who is prone to hip dysplasia so am watching carefully. My vet is hopeful that he won't get it as he weighs only 23 lbs. - a small standard Eskie. I hope things work out well for your pup - maybe the Guelph surgeons will recommend a different form of procedure. I think you will like the "feel" of the small animal clinic when you arrive as well. My little guy loved the place and the doctors.
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Old March 7th, 2006, 08:31 PM
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mastifflover mastifflover is offline
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Did you get my email I meant to include a supplement regime for you to get him on. Glucosamine/chondroitin suppl. for dogs by Trader Joe's.
The bottle says for dogs over 50 lbs to feed 3 times a day (but I feed them together) and that comes to 750 mg glucosamine, 600 mg Condroitin and then it has 45 mg Boswella Serrata. Since I only give it as a preventer, I am not giving a high dose. I also use the Costco stuff and it seems to work. Yet, I personally am not to sure about anything with vitamin C at this point (unless it's in his food).
Chondroitin is what's most important to prevent arthritis.

Here are a couple of links to check out as well.

http://www.mastiffonline.com/modules...highlight=tplo

http://www.mastiffonline.com/modules...=hip+dysplasia
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A dog has so many friends because they wag their tails not their tongues.
R.I.P. Buddy 2002-2008 The best Mastiff ever.
Now owned by Clark the Crazy American Bulldog
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Old March 7th, 2006, 09:26 PM
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mummummum mummummum is offline
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Ceili also has severe dysplasia and requires total hip replacements for both but, so far she is holding her own and her other cruciate is intact. We are very, very careful though. Have you thought about swimming to build muscle - a much better and safer option that ground exercise. I know there is a place west of Mississauga but, I'm darned if I can find it now. Your Vet may know of hydrotherapy pools for horses/ dawgs in the Stoney Creek area.
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  #14  
Old March 9th, 2006, 09:34 PM
hhabinski hhabinski is offline
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Mastifflover, thanks for the links. ihave been working 12 hr shifts the past 3 days and haven't had a chance to check them out but I will. I have Twiggy on a glucosamine/chondroitin/vit c supplement now called Dr. Maggies. He has only been on it about 3 weeks so I dont't know if its working yet.
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  #15  
Old March 22nd, 2006, 09:28 AM
mastiff9 mastiff9 is offline
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Wink hhabinski hips

Good morning hhabinski, I had hip surgery on one of my mastiffs. He has a metal plat with 3 screws. We had to build him a very large cage in our house to keep him from doing alot of playing. It took 2 1/2 months with only time to go out and use the bathroom. Then he had shoulder replacement another 2 months in a cage. So far he is worth 5,000 in metal. They had wanted to do a whole hip replacement on the other side we finally say no. He runs and plays with our other 3 mastiffs and acts like nothing is wrong. It's very sad to have to lock one of your dogs up like that. Kong was only 9 months old when this all took place last summer. But he was worth it. Our Male akc cherokee was where all the hip problems came from. He has had eye surgery this lids where folding in 500.00. Our female puppy chicken soup has had lazer surgery on her eye lashes. But our english mastiff Bella is the only one that is fine.
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  #16  
Old March 22nd, 2006, 09:37 AM
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mom_to_many mom_to_many is offline
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Reading this post has sure proved technology has come a long way!! When I was 2..and I'm an old lady now we had a German Shephard who at 6 mos had to be put to sleep due to hip dysplasia..no cure then. But the options that I have read here are great! I've said it before...love this site!! Good luck with your pup..you both have lots of support!!:love:
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