Melissa,
I hope that Timber is not feeling too much worse with all of the cold weather. I had a friend with a lab who went to an orthopedic specialist and had the knee surgery. It was very expensive for just on knee and she had to keep him totally immobilized for the first month and very limited in activity for 6 months and Jet is a very hyper dog. Is one of those wheeled mechanisms for the back legs an option? I know that it is difficult for you to see him in pain, especially with him being so young. You are right about the breeders. You just do the research and then hope for the best--just like children! It's too bad that the breeder won't give you another without you having to give TImber up. I had a Lhasa years ago who turned out to have congenital kidney disease and she just let me keep her and gave me a pup from a later litter. But, then again 3 big dogs and a baby would be a lot to handle! Thanks for the desciption of Timber's hip surgery. It is good to know what other's experiences have been. I am now leaning toward an appointment with an orthopedic vet at Tuskegee someone recommended and if the replacement is still too expensive, I feel much better after all of you have shared your experiences with me. How do your dogs like their new little brother or sister? Thanks again!
Shari & Ben
In a message dated 26/10/2006 21:06:54 Central Daylight Time, wygate@hotmail.com writes:
I had the FHO surgery done on my 80 lb lab that past Valentine's Day (He was
2 1/2 at the time). The surgery went well, he actually was using the leg
the day after surgery. We lived in the Upper Peninsula of MI at the time,
so all the snow wasn't the best, but Timber recovered well. Like you, We
also were given the choice of hip replacement, but with our baby due in
August, the cost was something we were unable to afford. At first, my
husband and I thought we made a bad decision, the leg just kinda hangs there
and 'flops' the first week or so - it is kind of unnerving to see.
Unfortunately, we are now faced with Timber's bad knees. He is OFA
certified and his breeder has offered to take him back and replace him, but
that is just not an option for us. With the bad knees, I still had Timber
on Duramaxx until recently, when I switched him to a buffered aspirin
formulated for dogs. That didn't go well, the aspirin messed up his
stomach. He doesn't seem to have much more pain with nothing vs being on
Duramaxx, plus the anti-immflamitories can cause problems with kidney and
liver function. He currently is just taking Joint Care 3 from Dr. Foster &
Smith.
Timber has a limp in his right leg due to his bad knee, but we had the
surgery on his left leg. Whether the knee has anything to do with the other
hip is anybody's guess, but I would do the FHO surgery again.
Was amazes me is that my 104 lb Pyr has no major joint problems, and we got
her from a 'back yard breeder' (yeah, yeah, I know, we won't do it again -
we were virgin Pry owners and didn't know any better) and my Lab from a 20+
year breeder who guarantees her dogs has crap for a rear end - there just
really isn't any guarantees.
Hope this helps you make a decision. Good Luck.
Melissa
>From: BDrube1441@aol.com
>Reply-To: pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org
>To: pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org
>Subject: [pyrnet] Orthopedic question
>Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 22:09:43 EDT
>
>Hi all. I have a 1 year old pyr or pyr mix He's 82 lbs at one year and
>looks
>exactly like a Pyr, but with a predominantly tan coat and only one set of
>rear
>dewclaws, not that it matters to us. I got him at approx.10 weeks as a
>foster
>rescue puppy. He had been dumped in the country with a sib (never found)
>and
>was shot. He was an emaciated 12 lbs and the rescue's vet kept him
>overnight
>because of his heavy breathing and infection from the wound. An xray of his
>chest area showed an irregular diaphragm which the vet said could be from
>being
>hit by a car or from abuse. Today I took Ben into our vet because he often
>seemed to favor his left rear leg. When an xray was taken it revealed that
>he
>apparently had his femur knocked out of its socket before we got him and
>had it
>been treated at the time may never have become a problem, at least not as
>much
>of a problem as it is now. There were no signs of congenital dysplasia in
>either hip. My vet told me that he would need surgery soon before he
>develops
>severe arthritis. The choices I was offered were referral to an orthopedic
>specialist @ about $3000.00 for hip replacement surgery or to have the top
>of his
>femur removed at a cost of $250. with about 2 months of recuperation in
>either
>case. I have used the same vet for about 20 years and really trust him,
>although
>he is a country vet with not a lot of fancy equipment. He told me that the
>ball removal is not recommended in large breed dogs, but he has found it to
>work
>satisfactorily in the cases he has operated on. We have 3 college student
>children and my husband's job is iffy so money IS an issue. I would like to
>get
>your comments and any experiences/advice you might be able to share with
>me.
>Also, I am wondering what Ben's eventual wt might be if it is 82 lb. now? I
>have
>never fed him puppy food and feed Flint River Ranch dog food, so we try to
>provide well for all of our babies--8 dogs & 4 cats. Coincidentally, at the
>same
>vet visit, when I was having my 17 cat assessed for a mammmary tumor she
>was
>found to be diabetic and can't have surgery, but will be on meds and
>special
>diet. My only GOOD news was that the little 3 1/2 month old terrier mix
>foster
>is heathy after surviving mange, flea, tick and internal parasite
>infection,
>plus rocky mtn spotted fever and ready to go to a wonderful home this
>weekend
>with an elderly lady who will love her to pieces! Thanks for reading my
>ramblings. I would appreciate any advice. Oh, we are strictly limiting
>Ben's exercise
>until he can be treated.
>Sincerely,
>Shari Drube
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