Surgery for hip dysplasia
I have an 11 year old OES named Dresdan, or Drezzie, for short. We adopted her at 2 yrs old from rescue. She was the product of a puppy mill, and although her first owner loved her (she was not abused), they felt they didn't have enough time for her with their family schedule. So they turned her over to rescue - lucky for us! She is the love of our lives. She is our third OES (all have been rescues) and the best so far. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body. She is always happy and always wants to kiss everyone in the room. Her smile is infectious, her antics hilarious. Our lives would be so empty without her. Our 22 year old son has grown up with her, and as he has aged and developed his mature facade, she is the only one who can still bring out the soft side of him. Our 18 year old daughter just started college this fall, and she misses her "sissy" terribly. Now for the problem. Drez has hip dysplasia, degenerative joint disease and arthritis. She has been stiff for awhile now, but our current vet just kept telling us that there was nothing they could do for her. Steroids wouldn't help her problem. Chondroitin/glucosamine helps but is not a cure. We had her on Rimadyl for a short while, but it didn't seem to do anything for her, and with everything I've read about it, I took her off it since it wasn't helping anyway. We currently have Deramaxx that we were told to give her only when she's in pain, and only a half of a pill. Other than that, all we could do was make her as comfortable as we could. Thinking there had to be SOMETHING we could do, we took her to another vet for a second opinion. He tested her for other things as well, and all came back normal - kidney and liver function are fine, heart is strong, eyes are clear, ears are normal. Her only problem is her hind quarters. The second vet suggested femoral head ostectomy surgery as an option. I've been reading up on it, and it seems promising but is said to work better on smaller dogs under 50 lbs. (Drez is about 80 lbs.) He would do one hip at a time, allowing for healing in between. Because of her size, there could be complications that wouldn't bother a smaller dog (may not form "false" joint very well). The surgery is expensive, but not undo-able. The other option was total hip replacement, and that is definitely too expensive. The vet said that without any surgery, she probably only has about a year left. With the surgery, she would live as long as she was meant to - meaning that if her hips were naturally fine and she would live to be 14, then she would live to be 14. If I can have her with us for another 3 years and in no pain, versus one more year and in pain, it's a no-brainer. Even if I can have her for one more year and in no pain, it's still a no-brainer. I just want to make sure this is truly the best option for yer. We're going to talk to our regular vet tomorrow to get his opinion. He's been our vet since 1979, and my in-laws vet for many years before that. We've always trusted him and his instincts, so we're curious as to why he didn't suggest this surgery. Can anyone offer any advice? Has anyone had a femoral head ostectomy performed on their dog? I spent my whole lunch hour crying hysterically today. I just can't bare the thought of losing my baby girl. In all other ways, she's still perfectly healthy. She still is her smiling, happy self. She still wants to play, as best as she can, still wants nothing more than to please us and to get all our love and attention. All of my OES's have been "forever puppies", a trait I know you are all familiar with. If she had other medical problems along with this, it wouldn't bother me as much. But to face losing her only to this problem is killing me. Again, I apologize for the length, but right now I just can think straight, or see straight through my tears. Any and all advice is so very appreciated. Thanks, Chris |
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| Hi Chris:
Have you considered seeing if acupuncture or chiropractor treatment would help Dresdan? I was skeptical at first but when my American Eskimo developed arthritis and had problems with Rimadyl, I decided to try a chiropractor. He is now easily able to keep up with the two sheepies in the family (not an easy task since all they want to do is play!). When my first sheepie developed some back problems, the conventional doctor said that there was nothing that they could do. However our holistic doctor believed that acupuncture would help. And it did! Good Luck and please keep us informed on Dresdan's progress. Jennifer, Baxter, Cassiopia and Sharkey |
| This is only uniformed hearsay on my part, it's not a recommendation:
My vet told us that our dog (at about 10 I think) wasn't a good candidate for the hip operation where they remove the top portion of the leg bone. He said it was for younger dogs, and a dog of Jake's age would never stand up again. For what it's worth. As for a real suggestion, is your dog on pain ANY medication any longer? It can make a WORLD of difference. We also had troubles with Rimadyl but had great success with Piroxicam. I'd like to refer you to this post. It also refers you to another thread which you should read: http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?p=680#680 A very nice Vet told us that degenerative myelopathy and other degenerative hind-quarters type diseases are the saddest, as the front half of the dog is fine. It was very sad and hard on us, too. We're here for you if you want to discuss! |
| This is ONLY my opinion! I think at age 11 - it is more likely arthritic changes affecting her hind quarters - than just hip dysplasia. The surgery recommended to you is possible - but if it were me - I wouldn't put an 11 year old through it - it is very traumatic and her recovery would be made even more difficult because of her age. If she's arthritic already - the surgery won't improve that - it may just make it worse.
I think sometimes Vets can be be over zealous with recommendations for surgery. I would think very long and hard as to whether you want to put Drezzie through it. I've seen a 1 year old OES go through hell following this surgery!! There are no guarantees that Drezzie wouldn't develop something else (i.e. arthritis of the spine, front legs, etc.) and your Vet suggesting that she'd live to 14 with the surgery is unfair to you. He can't predict that - and he certainly can't determine what her quality of life would be if she had the surgery. I have a 12 year old, Brittney, (who I also adopted at age 2) who has the same health problems - and I do my best to keep her as comfortable as possible and would do everything in my power to help her but can't imagine putting her through a major operation at this point (or even a year ago). Brittney is on Metacam (similar to Deramaxx) and I give her Chondroitin/Glucosamine, Ester C, and Vitamin E as supplements (which really seem to help). Maybe you could try an alternative (like the supplements or acupunture) and see if her condition improves any. Best of Luck! I know how you are feeling - it's heart breaking to watch them age - and it seems to happen overnight! Please hang in there! I'll keep Drezzie in my thoughts and prayers! Kristen |
Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts and suggestions. Our first impression was to not do the surgery. Then after reading about it, we thought we should. Now I'm confused again. 
We only want to do what's best for Drezzie. God bless her, she still tries her best to be her old self. The only indication that she's uncomfortable is that she doesn't get up and down as much. Other than that, when you look in her face, it's her - it's not pain that you see, it's not a cry for help, it's just her happy, smiling self. That's what makes this that much harder to bare. We've been giving her chondroitin/glucosamine for a while now - triple strength, twice a day. The new vet said that we have to watch what brand of glucosamine we give her - said it falls under the category of neutroceuticals, which are not regulated by the government. Said a pill that says it's 600 mg could in actuality only be 100 mg. He said he gives his patients Cosequin, available only through vets. Also said he takes it himself! He said we could also give her one regular strength Motrin twice a day. And now we'll start her on the Deramaxx again. We haven't given that to her on a regular basis, because the old vet said to give only when she's in pain. And just how are you supposed to be able to tell that?? No aspirin right now, until we decide about the surgery. I printed off an article from the net on hip dysplasia, and in it they had pictures of healthy hips and what they called "severe" case hips. My husband said that Drezzie's x-rays were worse than the severe case shown. The rounded bone that holds the ball joint in place in nearly flat, no longer rounded. There is nothing that holds the ball joint in place, so right now it's bone on bone, which is causing the arthritis. If they did the surgery, they would also clean out the arthritis and because the bones wouldn't be touching any more, it shouldn't come back - at least not in the same place. So now I feel like we're between a rock and a hard place again. How can I, in good conscience, not do anything and let her continue to deteriorate in pain? Yes, I can give her medication, but it will just be for the pain, not to cure anything. I'm really confused.  We're going to go over everything again tonight, and I'll pass on to my husband all your concerns and suggestions.
As for surgery at her age, the vet never mentioned any concerns about it. Maybe he feels that because of the severity of the dysplasia, it is a risk worth taking. Like I said, other than this, she's a perfectly healthy dog. And it's breaking my heart to see her struggle. Thanks so much, everyone, for your concerns and suggestions. I'll take them all into consideration and really appreciate your help. Please keep my "baby" girl in your prayers! I can't lose her yet. Chris |
| Chris,
I have to say - based on your post - I get a bad vibe from this Vet who seems to be putting alot of guilt on you and your husband. It may be worth while to get a 3rd opinion from another Vet. Is this Vet a specialist? Also, it is my understanding that Motrin should not be taken prior to surgery (just like Aspirin) so I'm not sure why your Vet would have recommended that. Please know that just because Drezzie is having more difficulties getting up and down - it's not a death sentence. Brittney started with these types of problems over 2 years ago (she's 12 1/2 years old). Pain medication (like the Deramaxx) can do wonders to improve their condition! You should also add the Ester C on a daily basis - it helps with alot - but I've been told it helps them absorb the Chondroitin/Glucosamine as well. Maybe you could speak to someone who's been through the surgery with an older dog and see what they would recommend. This is a decision that only you (and your husband) can make. Whatever you decide - please know that we're all here if you need us! Where are you located? Kristen |
| I don't think you can give Motrin and Deramaxx at the same time. Does anyone know for sure??? |
| Thanks, Kristen, for your insight. I've heard bad things about Deramaxx, too, from a stomach standpoint. But I think we're beyond that stage now - we just have to give it to her.
We're in eastern PA - around Allentown, about 60 miles north of Philadelphia. The second vet is not a specialist - just a general vet. Our original vet is semi-retired and has sold his practice to a group of vets - another reason why we don't like going there any more. We never seem to get the same vet, and so no one vet ever gets to know the animal well enough. Our original vet works sporadically at the practice, mainly for something to do. He admitted he's not up on all the new things and that he wouldn't do the surgery, that another vet in the group would. We haven't told him yet that we got a second opinion. Another gripe we have is that knowing what breed Drez is and seeing how big she was, why didn't anyone suggest a few years back to take an x-ray as a preventative measure? We could have avoided a lot of this if we had known there was a problem brewing. As for the new vet, I haven't met him face to face yet, just my husband has. I've spoken to him over the phone a few times over the past few days, and he seems to answer my questions with ease. He didn't mean to suggest that with the surgery, she would live to be 14. He said that if there were no other problems, if she were destined to live to be 14, this surgery would not shorten that destiny. I took that to mean that he used 14 as an example, not a promise. Like I said - I'm just so confused at this point. Drezzie's comfort is foremost in our minds. Ron, thanks for the threads. I read them all and cried through them all. I still vividly remember when we had to put our first sheepie down, Buford. It was Oct 1, 1994. I was in the room with him - I had to be. My reasoning was - if you had a human loved one in the hospital and knew they were dying at any moment, would you leave them? No. So how could I leave my Buford? I couldn't. It was the absolute hardest thing I've ever done and I still cry when I think about him and our last good-bye, but I did what I had to do. And I will do the same when it's Drezzie's time, but I'm convinced that it's just not her time yet. Really, thanks to everyone who's responded with suggestions. I just wish it were an easy decision to make (surgery, I mean). I look into that beautiful face, with one blue and one brown eye, and all I see is love. And trust. She's trusting us to do what's right. AAGGHH! Why can't this be simple??? Chris |
| Drezzies Mom,
I understand from my Vet that you should never give Motrin, Advil or Tylenol to Dogs or Cats. My vet told me that their livers can not clear the drugs and will then become toxic to them. I was told that only asprin or vet perscribed NSAID's (non steroridal anti infamitory drugs) I just wanted to get that in before anyone gave the wrong thing to their beloved sheepie. On the Surgery front. I understand so clearly all that you are feeling regarding Drezzie and her pain and discomfort. I guess all I can suggest is that think about this as surgery for yourself. What kind of guarantees would you want for your results from this surgery? Our sheepies can not tell us when they hurt and if they are like my Tyler, he never has cried out in pain, yet I know that he is must be hurt when he falls a certain way, or when he favors a leg like he has been doing for the last few weeks. I think you are doing a good job of asking the questions and getting information, and second opinions. Also ask this question, if she has the surgery and she is in more pain than she was before, was it worth it? I think with medication, and accupuncture and mild heat on the affected area, you can give her a lot of pain relief and she can live comfortablely in her senior years. Tyler is 11 1/2, has arthritis in his upper back, between the shoulder blades, he also has trouble getting up and getting down too. So please believe me, I do understand all to painfully. |
| I know everyone seems to be recommending that you talk to additional vets, but I think you should talk to a GOOD veterinary surgeon. When my Chesapeake was considered for total hip replacement, my vet said that she would only recommend only one surgeon in the country to do the work. I think he was in Ohio, but that was almost 20 years ago. Don't just go to the local practice, particularly if you are not happy with your local vets. Gather recommendations, research the internet, talk to your local vet school (if you don't have one, call the University of California at Davis, they have an excellent veterinary surgery program). Here is their link to your surgery:
http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/vmth/client ... ofaq.shtml Ask who is the best surgeon for these particular type of surgery and talk to that person--which is exactly what you would do if it were you being diagnosed. Ask all the questions you would ask if you had to have surgery: how many of these have you done, what are the complications, how much sucesss, how do you measure success--do you think some improvement qualifies as success or do you only measure success by total recovery, where did you go to school, what are the newest techniques or alternatives, which do you recommend and why, etc. Your love for your Drezzie is so clear from your posts. I know how heartbreaking your choices are at this moment. You and Drez are in Henry's and my prayers. |
| I too get a bad vibe from reading about that vet. It seems like he feels there is only one option.
Our vet has been working preventatively with our 11 year old, Norman, for a few years now. One of the biggest problems with hips in sheepdogs can be their large backsides. Norman was carrying a lot of his weight right over his hips. (We found it odd that our dog had a big butt!  )She told us that he needed to start doing more excercise, of a low impact variety. We started taking him swimming at the doggy spa. It helped a lot! It reduced the load that his hips had to bear and increased his muscle and tone. The muscles have helped to support the joints.
She also put him on Glucosamine which has helped him getting up and down. It was so sad to see him suddenly start to look like an old man when he had been laying down for a while. Once he had been on the Glucosamine for a while he was much more spry. He needed it too, with his 18 month old sheepdog brother always wanting to play. Recently, Norman slowed down a lot. His skin was very sensitive and he wanted to be scratched all the time but when you did, he would fall down because he was so irritated. Turns out the Glucosamine made his already sensitive skin much more so. He was placed on a higher potency of anti-itch meds and an antibiotic in case their was any infection. The turn around has been amazing! He is back to his old self in a big way. There are also a lot of problems giving dogs 'commercial' people meds such as Tylenol and Motrin. They are very, very hard on dog livers. Older dogs can be even more susceptible to the effects. Last year we were very worried that we would have to put Norman down because he seemed to having so much trouble with his hips. By working with the hip problem and treating his underlying skin condition he has put to rest any thought of putting him down. Surgery is not the only or best answer. Explore the options, there are many. Low impact excercise does wonders for humans with arthritis, why not dogs too? Accupuncture and massage also do great things. Granted, when the hips have degenerated down, it makes it much tougher. I know that our vet is not in favor of putting an 11 year old through such drastic surgery and the rehab is draining on both the dog and the human. Don't forget that the actual surgery is not the only thing to worry about. Don't get too distraught, there is always hope!  We are located in Harrisburg, just down I81. Maybe there will be a chance for all of our dog buddies to get together! |
| Thanks for all your concern! It really helps to know that so many sheepie lovers out there truly understand.
Drez is holding her own right now, and actually seems a bit stronger with the Motrin and chondroitin. I know a lot of people are saying that I shouldn't be giving her the Motrin, but that is what the vet suggested. I'll put it on my list of questions for him, when we sit down and talk about her arthritis profile and decide what our next step should be. My problem, being the mother that I am, is that I want the problem fixed, not just the pain masked. She's in good physical health with the exception of her hips, so this may make her a good surgery candidate even at her age. Again, something we have to discuss in detail with the vet. Thanks again! Chris |
Well, just got Drezzie's arthritis profile results, and the news is promising. She doesn't have rheumatoid arthritis, just normal arthritis in her hips. We're going to meet with the vet next week to get more details and ask more questions. 
She has been better on the Motrin, but we noticed last night that she's a bit shakier on her right hind leg again. Still her happy self, though, through everything, God love her! 
Having been through two herniated disk surgeries myself, I see the advantage to surgery. My surgeries were the last ditch effort after all other forms of medicine, physical therapy, etc. had been exhausted.  I wouldn't be walking today if I had declined the surgery. So I guess I'm thinking like that for her - will she be better able to get around if she has the surgery? I just want her out of pain.
Will keep everyone posted once we talk to the vet. Thanks for listening!
Chris |
| Hello, friends! An update on our baby girl.
Met with the vet this morning. He showed me the x-rays he took last week. All I can say is - YUCK!! I can well see why she's so unstable. We discussed medications, injections, surgery. We've already tried some of the medication, which didn't help. Injections would be the next step up, but again, it would just mask the pain, not solve the problem. All her bloodwork showed no internal problems, and to see her in action you'd never believe she was 11 years old. Even the vet remarked about how active and alert she still is.
So we've decided to go ahead with the femoral head ostectomy (FHO) on her right hip. She's scheduled for next Thursday. Will be in all day but will come home that evening. Vet said we need to keep her walking more, to build up the muscle that will support the femur. And it's entirely possible that we won't have to do her left hip, which is a plus. Please keep our baby girl in your prayers!!  We just love her so much and our lives would be so empty without her. I'll let everyone know how we make out.
Thanks for all your concern and suggestions. We had a LOT to think about before coming to the surgery decision. I truly believe this is the best thing for her, but there will still be a knot in my stomach until it's all over.
Chris |
| Chris,
Joan and I are wishing you and Drezzie the very best of luck for a successful surgery and a quick recovery! Please keep us posted, we won't uncross our finger and toes till then!!! |
| Chris,
I'm glad you've been able to make a decision. Belle, Kayli, Calvin, Otis & I are all pulling for Drezzie. Jil |
| Darn, sorry I didn't see this post sooner. Since you are near Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Animal Hospital is the best place around for non-typical medical situations. I know there is a good osteo doctor in Langhorne, PA, referred by the U of Penn that did knee surgery on my friend's dog. If you would like me to try and find the name, I will.
Either way, good luck and I'm sure you'll be giving Drezzie a lot of TLC during recovery. And I agree, the best thing you can do for arthritis preventative is to keep your dog as active as possible to keep those muscles strong. |
| Drezzie will be in my thoughts and prayers! May she make a full and speedy recovery!
Best Wishes! Kristen (Brittney, Presley & Sydney) |
| Two days to go. I put a sticky note on my monitor here to remind me and I'm sending good thoughts everytime I see it.
Just wanted you to know I was thinking about you. Jil |
| Thanks, Jil! It's coming up to D-Day and I must admit I'm getting a bit anxious. Some days Drez is really good, just a bit gimpy, and other days she doesn't move quite so much. One night last week I forgot to shut the bathroom door when we went to bed, so she went in there to sleep on the cool floor. In the morning, I woke up to hear her scratching and scratching on the floor. She couldn't get up, couldn't get enough momentum for her front legs to do their work. Made me realize we made the right decision after all. But of course I'll be on pins and needles until it's all done and she's home safe and sound.
I really appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers. I'll keep everyone posted on her progress. Chris |
Best Wishes... I'm sure everything will be fine! Just hang in there! *hugs* to you both!  |
| My nerves are getting the better of me! My husband will drop Drez off at the vet's in the morning and she'll be home tomorrow night. She'll be so confused, wondering why her daddy is leaving her in a strange place! Concentration will be at near zero all day. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers!
Chris |
| Chris,
Be strong, she will be very disoriented and keep an eye on the insision to make sure she is not getting an infection. Tyler had bladder surgery last year and it was a very difficult week for me. I slept very little and cried a lot. I wondered if it was the right thing to do. I knew he had to have the surgery, but the first week post op is horrendous. You will need to assist her in everything. Like I said, be strong, it is heart breaking to see your beloved baby hurt and you can do nothing to help. Make sure you have contact information and that they will not mind all the crazy questions you may have. My thoughts and best wishes will be with you and Drezzie. Luck |
| Hi, everyone! First off, I want to truly thank everyone for your kind thoughts and prayers on behalf of our baby girl. I was so nervous, but knowing I had so many caring sheepie people behind me helped more than I can say.
Second, I am so happy to report that Drez is home and on the mend! 
The vet was pleased with the way the surgery went. Said it was bad, but no worse than he expected from her x-rays. Told us to pretty much keep her still tonight, but starting tomorrow, we have to make her walk on it. She can even start doing steps, if she wants to. He said that he fully expects that within a few days, she'll be bounding around on it again! She's not moving too much tonight, but that's to be expected. We use an old sheet to pull her up and to help her back feet move around. She was VERY thirsty when we first got home and probably would have drank 10 gallons if we let her. We cut her off after about a half gallon, will give her more later. The vet said she could eat if she wanted, but he doubted if she'd want to. Dry kibble was not to her liking tonight. When we put a little spaghetti sauce meat in it, she gobbled down a little. Her eyes are still pretty dilated, so even though she's awake, I think she's still pretty much out of it. She'll be on antibiotics for awhile and we have a pretty potent painkiller for her, if she needs it. Since she can't come up the stairs to sleep tonight, we'll give her one of those before we go to bed so it knocks her out for the night. I'm so relieved!  It was a LONG day at work, both because I couldn't get her off my mind and because everyone was asking me if I had heard anything. My husband's office is in our home, and he said it was so quiet in the house without her today. But - all's well that ends well!
Again, thanks to everyone for your support and concern! I'm looking so forward to seeing our girl run around again! She's BACK!! Chris |
| I'm so glad everything went well!
I hope your vet gave you some pain meds, as she will probably be very sore. A lot of vets give no pain meds after surgeries, but many are beginning to in the last few years. Dogs may not be able to tell us they are in pain, and some may not even really show sign of it, but after any kind of surgery, there is pain. |
| I am also so glad that she is ok. I have been keeping an eye on this post for a while. Like willow said surgery is surgery, and she probably will be in pain. How long has she been at the vets? I am surprised that she needs to be walking the stairs so soon after, but I am no doctor... Please keep us posted on her progress! It is very exciting that she is going to be her old bouncy self!!!! |
| Hi everyone! I'm so happy to say that she's doing remarkably well! Yesterday, day after surgery, she wasn't moving too much during the day. I could tell that she was bored out of her skull and wanted to get out of the family room in the worst way, but . . . Then last night, she was whimpering something awful and at first we naturally thought she was in pain. Then she started to try to pull herself up, so I helped her to stand. From there she took little steps and walked all around the first floor! Just didn't want to lay back down! I was amazed. She didn't put a lot of weight on her leg at first; in fact, she kept it in front of her left back leg, which kind of tripped her up. I would move her foot back, then she would limp on it. While she was standing, I massaged her front legs and shoulders, and her left back leg. I gently stroked her right back leg around the incision and she looked like she was in heaven! Still didn't do the stairs last night, just slept in the family room.
Today just blew me away! She was whimpering all morning cause she just wanted to move! My husband was going to work out front, so we put one of her beds in the front yard and laid her down there. She LOVED it! Just watching her move her face to feel the wind in her face was a blessed sight! I went back inside to do some work, and my husband went around the back of the house to get the lawn tractor. When I went to look outside for her, she was gone from her bed. I panicked! I ran outside only to see my husband and Drez come around the corner from the back of the house. She actually got herself up and walked around the whole house!!! I was so shocked! The look on her face was priceless - like "Look at me, Mom! I'm walking all by myself!!"
She's a pretty tuckered out pup right now, but at least she's laying down quietly, instead of just because she has to. She has mega antibiotics that we're giving her, and we have a really potent pain killer to give her, if she needs it. We give that to her at night to help knock her out, so she doesn't realize as much that she's not sleeping in mommy and daddy's room. Her incision looks great! And amazingly enough, she hasn't bothered with it. It's stapled shut, so I dread when we go back to get the staples out. All in all, I'm very pleased with her progress so far and just SO glad we did this! I'll get my son to take some pictures with his digital camera and try to post them. Chris |
| Drezzie's Mom I am glad to hear the progress your girl is making. Our sheepies are amazing and I think they do better then we do when they are recovering. Pain killers are idea sounds great as when you have any kind of pain it feels worse at night.
When our cat had his tail amputated he come with a cone around him, all of his things did not fit he could not make a u turn in his bed so I would help and I made other beds that he might like. He had a litterbox with a top to keep the sheepie of that time out. Fuzzy could not make a u turn so I got a regular litterbox. His pupils were very dilated if he could speak it might have been Oh meow!!! I have a ranch so he did not need to use stairs. I found him on top of his litterbox sound asleep, we were glad he found a good place to sleep! I send you lots of get well wishes and sheepie hugs. |
| I'm so happy to hear she is doing so well!
They really are amazing aren't they?! |
| Wow, the progress seems remarkable! They are such amazing creatures! |
| Hip Hip Hooray!
J |
| Glad to hear that the surgery went well! |
| AWESOME!! i have been reading this post and my boys and i cant be happier for you. how lucky are we that we have these wonderful beast?? again we are so happy for you and Drezzie!!! God bless you and your family |
| How is Miss Drezzie doing today? I know it can be up and down. The fact that she is already up on her legs had me in very happy tears.
The best for continued good healing! |
| Chris,
I'm wondering too . . . how is Drez doing? Jil |
| Drez is doing really well! The sheet under the belly is no longer needed! She can even squat a little on her own to "do her business." She's getting stronger every day. For a few days, our house has looked like a cyclone hit it, because we have throw rugs EVERYWHERE so she can walk safely. Yesterday she started walking on the hardwood floors where there was no rug, mainly to get to the living room to lie down (it's the coolest room of the house with no rug on the floor). She's getting herself up by herself, slowly, but she's doing it. Still hasn't tried steps yet, and I'm not pushing it. So she's still sleeping downstairs. She started in the TV room last night, and by the time we came down this morning, she was in the dining room, under the table. Only drawback to that is that I told Dale now we have to worry about dog-proofing the kitchen again, in case she gets really rammy during the night!
We started making her come into the kitchen to eat yesterday, instead of carrying her bowl stand in to her. We did that because there's an area rug in the TV room that she can stand on, but not in the kitchen. But since she was brave enough to walk on the bare floors to get to a cool floor, we figured she'd brave it to get to her food, too. I'm really encouraged with her progress so far. She's limping pretty good yet, but that's to be expected. But it's not discouraging her from walking. She's putting a little more weight on that leg every day, so that's encouraging, too. We made the decision, though, that we will definitely NOT do this to her left leg. It will take awhile for her right leg to be strong enough just as she is. I can't imagine this leg having to support the left leg while it healed. For an 11 year old dog, she's bouncing back great! How we love that little girl of ours! Looking forward to at least 2 more good years with her! We're convinced we did the right thing by her.
I love this forum! Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts and concerns! Other dog-lover friends can understand a little, but only true sheepie people can understand it ALL! Chris |
| The fact that you paid for an operation on an 11yr old dog too me is the ultimate love.I am so proud of you for making the desicion that was right for your girl. Being a nurse I see way too many times docs who WONT operate on a person who is elderly,just a simple procedure is all it takes in many cases to ease the pain of an 77yr old from joint pain. Drez is one lucky girl,but from the sounds of it she knows that already We are a rare breed a "true dog lover",im glad to be in a forum that shares the same love i have for my boys. Kisses from my boys |
| Thanks, Tanya! I know in my heart we made the right decision for Drez, no matter what her chronological age is. I was talking to a vet nurse over the week-end, and she said we did the right and caring thing for her, too. She also said she has seen too many people not opt for surgery because of the dog's age, but what is the alternative? To watch them become increasingly lame, knowing there was something you could have done about it? I don't think so!
She's been getting up all by herself a lot today, and she's now even doing the 2 steps down the porch to go out with no problem. Could the stairs up to the bedrooms be far behind?? She's just a wonder to us. Such a happy girl, such a caring soul. How could someone NOT want to help her? My house will get back to normal soon. My rugs will be shampooed, the throw rugs will be washed and returned to their place, Drez will get a haircut and a shampoo, and life will go on. Can't wait!! Chris |
| I am so glad to hear that the surgery went well, that Drezzie is recovering so beautifully, and that you made the right decision for you and for your Drezzie. Its so hard to know what to do in these cases: will the surgery pain and recovery be worse than the problem, what if the surgery doesn't work, or worse, what if the surgery harms my dog. It is great to hear a success story. Kisses and very gentle tummy rubs to Drezzie. And you get a cookie too. |
| And a glorious good Saturday afternoon, my sheepie friends! I am so happy to report that our little Drezzie girl is doing beautifully!! Even if she's on the hardwood floors, she can now get herself up. She's starting to do the steps, too. She can do the 1 or 2 steps to go outside by herself, and last night I put the sheet under her belly to help her up the stairs to go to bed and she did great. My hubby was away for 2 days this week and he couldn't believe the difference in her when he got home.
So all in all - HOORAY!! I know it's not for every dog, but from our experience, I wouldn't hesitate to consider this solution for another dog. WHOOPEE!! We have our Drezzie back! Chris |
| Awww Chris, I am so glad to hear this wonderful news! WOOHOO DREZZIE! I am smiling from ear to ear, one just because she is doing so well, and two because I can hear how excited and how much you love this girl in your posts. I think she is so lucky to have you and your husband as her parents, and you are lucky to have such a wonderful sheepie!
I hope things continue improving for all of you! Stormi and co. |
| I have just read all of the messages about Drezzie - Thank you - I am going through the same problem with our 9 year old mixed breed dog Koko. Yes we have tried pain meds and joint supplements for years now but the other day she started to be on three legs and not able to even sleep at night.
We have a vet appt tomorrow and after reading your experience we will be asking if hip replacement is an option. Hope Drezzie is still doing fine. Thanks again |
| Ashlene,
I'm sorry you're going through a rough time with Koko right now. It is so hard watching them in pain, and I know exactly what you're going through. Drez didn't have hip replacement, she had a femoral head ostectomy (FHO). This is where they cut off the rounded top part of the leg bone, the portion that is supposed to sit in the hip joint. The hip joint is not rounded enough to hold the leg bone properly, so the leg bone just rubs against the hip joint, which causes the arthritis. Cutting the head off the leg (femoral) bone gets rid of this rubbing, so alleviates the arthritis. This surgery isn't as severe as a total hip replacement, but I do understand that in some cases, the hip replacement would be a better choice. Thanks for your concern for Drezzie. She's doing really well, although she's still a bit gimpy and clumsy and probably always will be. But her spirit is there, her will is there, her eyes are happy again. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Please keep us posted on Koko's results. My prayers go with you. Chris |
| Drezzie is in our thoughts and prayers. Based upon all of the information, I, too, would have proceeded with the surgery, as there is definitely something there that the docs can fix. My sister-in-law's sheepie lived to be fifteen, so, with this surgery, Drez has a shot at a much improved quality of life. Best wishes to you and your family. |
| OOPS! Didn't notice the dates on Drezzie's surgery! Thought this was a new thread! My bad! Glad all went well, and wishing the best for Koko. |
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