Hips Update

[piercjo]

Sally was suppose to go for a surgrey.We went
up to the Ames teaching Vet school.They decided
she had mild HP in both hips and the doctor thought that surgrey was not needed at this time. At first we thought it was in the right hip
but now it looks like it is both hips.Since it is mild he said meds when in pain might be enough . I told him about the Springtime wafers. He said that was fine.Sally lost 11 lbs and now weighs 110. Ok now what? I need some direction.

 

[Annie Milliron]

Swimming would be really good for Sally. Do you have somewhere to take her to swim?

 

[sarnewfie]

I agree with annie
most times mild really does not affect them.
walk in sand, and up hills
that is great
and the gl chon and msm is great stuff.

good luck!

 

[piercjo]

Well, no. She is not sure how to swim just yet. how do I do that?How much is too much?

 

[sarnewfie]

swimming is not stressful
so let her swim
and in the deep water
that is best
also running thru the water is great
but also get deep swimming in there to.

 

[Largo]

Whether or not Bax will need surgery down the road remains to be seen. But right now he is greatly improving! Here is what I am doing.

I walk him up and down small hills and across the fields in the park until we reach the steep one. And then we do that one several times in a row then we walk back across the park to the Van. Nearly everyday. We also do trail walks. Lots of walking.

Now that the weather is warmer I also swim him nearly everyday. We are at the lake for about an hour or so, walking, playing, and swimming. I try to swim him for at least a half hour with breaks. So in other words swim for half a minute then take a break, then swim for another half minute, take another break. Warm him up. Then I start throwing his bumper. Throwing it the further distances first then closer as time goes on. I also walk beside him while he is swimming to make sure that he is using his hind legs, but he does, so throwing his bumper works for us.

I also trot him for a good distance when we are at the park, but not on concrete.

I feed a variety of quality kibbles and fresh whole and raw foods. I increased the amount of protein in is diet for good muscle building and over all good health.

I have slimed down his suppliment routine. I only use Standard Process, and a joint supplement. I also throw in some olive oil or fish oil.

edited to add: I also do specific exercises with him, like small circles in both directions, figure eights, weave poles, stairs and steping through ladder rungs.

[ 04-18-2005, 06:25 PM: Message edited by: Largo ]

 

[BoundlessNewfs]

Hiya...Our Maggie started having noticeable problems with her gait at about 4-1/2 months old. We had her hips x-rayed at 6 months, when we took her to be spayed. At that point, she was showing some displastic changes. By 9 months, she was spending a lot of time sitting or lying down, and was shuffling her hind feet when she walked. At 15 months, we took her to an orthopaedic specialist, and she was diagnosed with severe bilateral hip displasia. Her knees were still OK, but she was compromising her elbows, because she was pinching them in while bearing about 90% of her weight on her front legs.

We took her to a well-recommended holistic vet, who gave us specific exercises to do with her, and taught us how to massage her legs and back to get her circulation going. The doctor also recommended weekly swim therapy. holistic vet, Dr. Regina Schwabe Dr. Schwabe also has us giving Maggie 3000 mg/day of glucosamine. I give her the Springtime Joint Health (8 a day) plus two 1000 mg capsules of Glucosamine/chondroitin.

We were lucky to have a canine swim therapy place about 45 minutes drive from us. Swim Therapy

Maggie's atrophied muscles in her rear assembly have now filled out again. She has new fat deposits on her rump, too, which means that her circulation has improved (fat is a GOOD thing in this case, because with the muscles atrophied, the circulation was terrible...fat only forms in areas with good circulation).

The orthopaedic specialist had said that Maggie would probably need total hip replacements eventually. The holistic vet told us, after looking at the x-rays, that she wasn't sure Maggie would even be a good candidate for that procedure, because her hips were so bad...but there's another surgery where the femoral head is just completely removed...and that's a possibility if necessary. The GOOD news is, that Maggie has responded sooooo well to the swim and exercise therapy, that we may be able to maintain her mobility without surgery, as long as she continues to keep that muscle tone. The muscles are what holds the hip joints together...so even dogs with horrible hips, like Maggie, can do quite well without surgery (provided you're willing to put in the time and effort to build that muscle tone).

Oh, and the holistic vet told us that the single most important tool for working with a displastic dog, is a harness for walking, rather than a collar. Walk behind the dog, allowing it to keep some gentle tension on the leash. This helps to "rebalance" the dog, causing it to bear more weight on it's back legs, and less on those front ones. Walk short distances, on slight inclines...but NEVER on sand or extra soft soil, which doesn't give them firm footing. Displastic dogs need good footing. We started out walking about 1/4 mile a day, and have worked up to 1/2 mile (when it's not too warm outside).

Hope this helps. PM me, if you need more information.

[ 04-18-2005, 11:31 PM: Message edited by: New2Newfs ]