Re: [pyrnet] Orthopedic question

I'm glad that Timber is doing better. He sounds really sweet. My kids--now in their early 20's--were raised with cats, dogs, and almost any pet you can imagine, plus I let them play in the dirt. They are healthier (less allergies, infections, etc. than any of my sister's kids, even though we have lots of allergies/ asthma, etc. in my family and they had lots of strep and ear infections when they were little and had to have tonsillectomies. I really think that having pets strengthened their immune systems. Good luck with all you have to handle. Does your husband like the Coast Guard? Mine was career Army and when we we seperated my kids were sick constantly. I read a study that children who have a parent deployed are more likely to be ill because of the stress on the parent at home, which of course is a vicious cycle. Still, overall, I think it made me more independent and more active in the community than if he were always home. Good luck with everything!

Shari & Ben

In a message dated 29/10/2006 21:41:16 Central Standard Time, wygate@hotmail.com writes:

Well, Timber is no longer in cold weather - my husband is in the Coast
Guard, and we were transferred to VA. I think Timber would be worse if we
were still in MI. Timber's breeder did offer us another dog without taking
him back, but you are right, 3 big dogs and a baby would be hard to handle -
especially training a puppy again. My husband is gone with his job 22 weeks
a year - I would lose my marbles if I had another dog to take care of.
Timber is awesome with our daughter, he seems genuinely concerned about her.
   He licks her head when she cries - probably not the most sanitary thing
to let him do - but it is so cute. My Pyr, Liberty, could care less one way
or the other about the baby - so that's good too.

>From: BDrube1441@aol.com
>Reply-To: pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org
>To: pyrnet-l@pyrnet.org
>Subject: Re: [pyrnet] Orthopedic question
>Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 17:07:20 EDT
>
>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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