Chiropractic Healthiness

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->  Phoenix weighs 54 pounds, though, and I am afraid she may be > too big for this procedure. >I have an 85 lb shepherd who had the surgery six years ago; no real >problems.  She also had a total hip replacement last summer on the other >leg.  The FHO takes longer to recover from, but it wasn’t that big of >deal.  (Easy for me to say I didn’t have the procedure done on me)  She >just used three legs for a few days and then gradually started using the >fourth. It took about three months for a complete recovery. The total >hip replacement is not without risk; it took about two months for a >complete recovery. >I would suggest you visit  http://workingdogs.com/doc0090.htm  and read >part VIII.  They discuss all your options.   Scott

Thanks for your info…we are seeking chiropractic care and a 2nd opinion for Phoenix this week.  My regular vet thinks the bad hip has subluxated, so we’ll see what our options at replacement are.  We’ll go for FHO on the one right now, and replacement on the other at a later time if it doesn’t hold up… Steve fort

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>  Phoenix weighs 54 pounds, though, and I am afraid she may be >> too big for this procedure. >I have an 85 lb shepherd who had the surgery six years ago; no real >problems.  She also had a total hip replacement last summer on the other >leg.  The FHO takes longer to recover from, but it wasn’t that big of >deal.  (Easy for me to say I didn’t have the procedure done on me)  She >just used three legs for a few days and then gradually started using the >fourth. It took about three months for a complete recovery. The total >hip replacement is not without risk; it took about two months for a >complete recovery. > We  are also considering these options for our 2 yr old GSD, we have > considered FHO in 1 leg with replacement in the other as we were thinking > that the FHO would help to prevent excessive activity in such a young dog > that may cause the replacement to fail. Any thoughts/ opinions on this ?

Well, the reason I opted for the FHO originally was because my shepherd was a very high energy dog, and I was concerned about the hip replacement failing as a result.  However, the FHO did not really slow her down one bit after she had recovered,  so I wouldn’t count on it doing so. (At the time of the FHO she had only one bad hip.) If cost is not a concern and if you have the blessings of a good surgeon, I think I would choose two new hips–it’s an amazing procedure, but not without risks.  Scott

Response:

I have no advice. I am sorry to hear of your problem. We just had our female Rott put to sleep 2 days ago,for the same physical problem.  No meds worked, she was too young for a hip replacement, and I have never heard of FHO.  Oh, God, was there an option we didn’t know about?  

Response:

 I hate to hear this. There is an operation called a TPO, that can be done on dogs usually before the age of 1 year, and in most cases is very well worth the $$$. The vet also told me that a FHO can be done, and then a THR done at a later stage, as long as provisions are made for it during the FHO procedure. When dealing with disorders like HD ir is wise to consult a specialist, not the average vet. I took my GSD to a vet for a limp, he did what he could do with Xrays, and suspected HD, and recomended a visit to the Orthopedic Vet surgeon for a second opinion, which was done, and we elected right then and there to do it. Always get 2 or more opinions, as all vets if not most are incapable of doing much more than a FHO……all the other procedures take a specialist. foxeye >-I have no advice. I am sorry to hear of your problem. We just had our female >-Rott put to sleep 2 days ago,for the same physical problem.  No meds worked, >-she was too young for a hip replacement, and I have never heard of FHO.  Oh, >-God, was there an option we didn’t know about?  

The opinions expressed are mine, and mine alone. My wife had no input whatsoever.Remove www from email for correct address.

Response:

>>  Phoenix weighs 54 pounds, though, and I am afraid she may be > too big for this procedure. >I have an 85 lb shepherd who had the surgery six years ago; no real >problems.  She also had a total hip replacement last summer on the other >leg.  The FHO takes longer to recover from, but it wasn’t that big of >deal.  (Easy for me to say I didn’t have the procedure done on me)  She >just used three legs for a few days and then gradually started using the >fourth. It took about three months for a complete recovery. The total >hip replacement is not without risk; it took about two months for a >complete recovery.

We  are also considering these options for our 2 yr old GSD, we have considered FHO in 1 leg with replacement in the other as we were thinking that the FHO would help to prevent excessive activity in such a young dog that may cause the replacement to fail. Any thoughts/ opinions on this ? Chris Beighton

Response:

> Well it is all together possible that her other hip may get just as >bad. All that can be done is a single FHO. from what I heard. I would >if possible get a THR, on the worst hip, and then she will at least >have one good solid stable hip. Then at another time, perhaps you >could do the other hip. 1.5 is youg, and she has a long life (bar >accidents etc) in front of her. I had a TPO done on my GSD andit was >the best $$ i spent by far with the best results. Best of luck to you >and Phoenix in whatever you decide to do. >foxeye

        Thanks!  We haven’t made a decision yet…we are going to a DVM who has learned some chiropractic techniques (we think the hip has subluxated and needs to be repositioned) and a second opinion on the dx and surgery treatment.  At this point, the FHO seems like the way to go, but we’ll see.  I am hoping her other hip will hold out for as long as possible (should be a long time if she doesn’t go crazy with running around!) and, when needed, we will get a full rebuild of the joint if it is required. Steve – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>-I am desperately seeking advice for my 1.5 year old golden retriever, >>-Phoenix.  She was diagnosed with hip dysplasia about two weeks ago when she >>-started limping on her right rear leg.  She has it in both hips, but >>-symptoms are only occurring in the right.  Anyway, she got x-rayed and all >>-that and was put on an Rx for Rimadyl.  She seemed to improve for a couple >>-days and we were quite excited at the results, but in the last week and >>-especially the last few days, she seems to be taking a turn for the worse… >>-she no longer uses the affected leg at all, and the muscle are clearly >>-atrophying.  Also, she is restless, seems unhappy, does not sleep well, and >>-moans and groans frequently at night.  Last night she woke me up with her >>-crying, as she has in the last few nights… >>-   The only thing I am concerned with is her pain, and it seems like there >>-are two options:  FHO (femoral head osteotomy) and hip replacement.  My vet >>-seems optimistic about the FHO procedure, which can be done locally and costs >>-around $400.  Phoenix weighs 54 pounds, though, and I am afraid she may be >>-too big for this procedure.  The other alternative is to get the hip >>-replacement, but it will cost about $1500, and as a student with about 50K in >>-debt right now, I don’t know how realistic that is.  I don’t care about her >>-gait problems as long as she is happy.  I am close to having my doctorate of >>-chiropractic, so I will soon have the skills needed to correct problems that >>-result from an irregular gait.  I just want her demeanor and quality of life >>-back!  I would greatly appreciate pros and cons from anyone who has had the >>-surgeries done, and vets…any info at this time is greatly appreciated.  If >>-you can PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE email me personally so that I don’t miss any >>-replies.  I don’t read this NG often…thanks in advance… >>-Steve Agocs >The opinions expressed are mine, and mine alone. >My wife had no input whatsoever.Remove www from >email for correct address.

Response:

 Well it is all together possible that her other hip may get just as bad. All that can be done is a single FHO. from what I heard. I would if possible get a THR, on the worst hip, and then she will at least have one good solid stable hip. Then at another time, perhaps you could do the other hip. 1.5 is youg, and she has a long life (bar accidents etc) in front of her. I had a TPO done on my GSD andit was the best $$ i spent by far with the best results. Best of luck to you and Phoenix in whatever you decide to do. foxeye – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->-I am desperately seeking advice for my 1.5 year old golden retriever, >-Phoenix.  She was diagnosed with hip dysplasia about two weeks ago when she >-started limping on her right rear leg.  She has it in both hips, but >-symptoms are only occurring in the right.  Anyway, she got x-rayed and all >-that and was put on an Rx for Rimadyl.  She seemed to improve for a couple >-days and we were quite excited at the results, but in the last week and >-especially the last few days, she seems to be taking a turn for the worse… >-she no longer uses the affected leg at all, and the muscle are clearly >-atrophying.  Also, she is restless, seems unhappy, does not sleep well, and >-moans and groans frequently at night.  Last night she woke me up with her >-crying, as she has in the last few nights… >-       The only thing I am concerned with is her pain, and it seems like there >-are two options:  FHO (femoral head osteotomy) and hip replacement.  My vet >-seems optimistic about the FHO procedure, which can be done locally and costs >-around $400.  Phoenix weighs 54 pounds, though, and I am afraid she may be >-too big for this procedure.  The other alternative is to get the hip >-replacement, but it will cost about $1500, and as a student with about 50K in >-debt right now, I don’t know how realistic that is.  I don’t care about her >-gait problems as long as she is happy.  I am close to having my doctorate of >-chiropractic, so I will soon have the skills needed to correct problems that >-result from an irregular gait.  I just want her demeanor and quality of life >-back!  I would greatly appreciate pros and cons from anyone who has had the >-surgeries done, and vets…any info at this time is greatly appreciated.  If >-you can PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE email me personally so that I don’t miss any >-replies.  I don’t read this NG often…thanks in advance… >-Steve Agocs

The opinions expressed are mine, and mine alone. My wife had no input whatsoever.Remove www from email for correct address.

Response:

>  Phoenix weighs 54 pounds, though, and I am afraid she may be > too big for this procedure.

I have an 85 lb shepherd who had the surgery six years ago; no real problems.  She also had a total hip replacement last summer on the other leg.  The FHO takes longer to recover from, but it wasn’t that big of deal.  (Easy for me to say I didn’t have the procedure done on me)  She just used three legs for a few days and then gradually started using the fourth. It took about three months for a complete recovery. The total hip replacement is not without risk; it took about two months for a complete recovery. I would suggest you visit  http://workingdogs.com/doc0090.htm  and read part VIII.  They discuss all your options.   Scott

Response:

I am desperately seeking advice for my 1.5 year old golden retriever, Phoenix.  She was diagnosed with hip dysplasia about two weeks ago when she started limping on her right rear leg.  She has it in both hips, but symptoms are only occurring in the right.  Anyway, she got x-rayed and all that and was put on an Rx for Rimadyl.  She seemed to improve for a couple days and we were quite excited at the results, but in the last week and especially the last few days, she seems to be taking a turn for the worse… she no longer uses the affected leg at all, and the muscle are clearly atrophying.  Also, she is restless, seems unhappy, does not sleep well, and moans and groans frequently at night.  Last night she woke me up with her crying, as she has in the last few nights…         The only thing I am concerned with is her pain, and it seems like there are two options:  FHO (femoral head osteotomy) and hip replacement.  My vet seems optimistic about the FHO procedure, which can be done locally and costs around $400.  Phoenix weighs 54 pounds, though, and I am afraid she may be too big for this procedure.  The other alternative is to get the hip replacement, but it will cost about $1500, and as a student with about 50K in debt right now, I don’t know how realistic that is.  I don’t care about her gait problems as long as she is happy.  I am close to having my doctorate of chiropractic, so I will soon have the skills needed to correct problems that result from an irregular gait.  I just want her demeanor and quality of life back!  I would greatly appreciate pros and cons from anyone who has had the surgeries done, and vets…any info at this time is greatly appreciated.  If you can PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE email me personally so that I don’t miss any replies.  I don’t read this NG often…thanks in advance… Steve Agocs

Response: