Rays for Smokey please - Update 15

[AmyinFL]

He is at the vet right now getting x-rays done. He hasn't been walking right lately and has been falling some. He is our 7 month old german shepherd/boxer mix. He walks like he is doing the peepee dance and runs like the bunny hop. The vet said it looks like hip dysplasia, but that it is probably mild since he doesn't seem to be in any pain. Or it could be muscle issues. We are waiting on the call to come pick him up. She said if it is mild, we could probably just do steroid shots and exercises and see how he does. If it is a worse case thank she thinks, then he will need surgery, so we will need $$$$ rays then. With the muscle issues too, it will be steroid shots and exercise as well. He is really young to have to go through all this. :(

[Alex's Mom]

Sending tons of :bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz: and keeping :crossfin: that it's nothing too serious!!! Keep us posted, Amy, OK? :hug99:

[RustysMom]

Poor baby! Keeping him in my thoughts. Let us know what you find out!!!

[lotsadox]

Poor Smokey. Sending :bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz:

[K2]

Sending :bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz: for Smokey. Keep us posted.
:hug99:

[Lisa]

Lots and lots of rayz!! :bigrayz: :bigrayz::bigrayz: :bigrayz: :bigrayz:

[Frankie'sMom]

Sending lots of :bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz: for Smokey.

[AmyinFL]

It's much worse than we all imagined. It's a birth defect. He was born with no hip sockets for the ball joints to go into. We are going to discuss the options this evening. More rays needed.

Amy

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[oceangirls]

OH NO!!!! Millions of rayz for your puppy :bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz:!

[lotsadox]

Oh, no! I'm so sorry, Amy. Sending :bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz:

[Lisa]

:bigrayz: :bigrayz: :bigrayz::bigrayz: x a million!!

[alfina]

How old is he? I would think that if the defect is that severe that there NO sockets it would show a lot earlier. I think a second opinion would be helpful.

[Ivan]

Yikes! Lotsa rayz :bigrayz::bigrayz: for Smokey. Owies are bad. Vet fix U.

[Patt]

I would definitely get a second opinion from a specialist. Sending mega :bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz: for Smokey.

[AmyinFL]

How old is he? I would think that if the defect is that severe that there NO sockets it would show a lot earlier. I think a second opinion would be helpful.

He's 7 months old. We really thought that he was just growing really fast and his hind end wasn't catching up with his front end. Then a few weeks ago I started noticing he was walking funny and he started slipping in the house. And when he was playing outside, after he ran for a little while, he had to stop and rest. When he runs, his back legs run in unison. His hind quarters are much skinnier than his front.

I spoke with a german shepherd breeder and dog trainer this evening. She said she would not recommend the surgery that was recommended to us (removing the ball of the joint) to anyone. That just leaves the leg a stick basically floating around that will most likely develop bone spurs that will have to be removed several times. Her recommendation was a cart and homeopathic medicine. She runs a training facility, breeds shepherds and owns two grooming facilities here in town. I am very good friends with one of her friends. She has had clients come in with dogs who have had this procedure done and she said that it is very painful for the dog, they have a very hard time standing afterward for any period of time and that they almost always develop arthritis and bone spurs. When I told her about the skinniness of his hind quarters, she said his muscles are already starting to atrophy. :wtf2:

I am going to talk to her homeopathic vet and see what her opinion is as well. I don't feel comfortable at all with the surgical option.

My husband is all tore up about it. He loves Smokey with all his heart and I've never seen him cry. But now I have.

[K2]

Oh no!!!! Sending tons more :bigrayz: :bigrayz: :bigrayz: :bigrayz: :bigrayz:
I am so sorry! :hug99: :hug99: :hug99: :hug99:

[SasatheRusty]

So sorry to hear this tragic news. I feel so sad for all of you. I too would explore non surgical options. I am so stunned at what I just read about his condition, Amy, I am speechless. Poor puppy.

[Lisa]

Yes, to all her recommendation. I would also do physio with him. See a pro the first time, and go over his medical conditions. They can tailor exercises just for him. We went for both Pogo (after his surgery) and Pixel after his IVDD crate rest. Our physio therapist was amazing - some moves were the same for both dogs, and some were different. But it involves you interacting with the dog and working the muscles for him. I know you live in FL. Do you have a pool? If so, water therapy will be amazing for him too. But again, you want to work with a pro and not just willie nillie start him on an exercise program - you need to make sure the right muscles are being worked, and how long you should do the exercises etc.

Adequan is used for degenerative disc diseases. It is basically gluco x 100. It is really great stuff, I am just not sure if it will help Smokey or not.

Yes, this news totally and completely SUCKS, so please don't take my next comment as a minimization of this news. But a disabled dog is still a good dog. The love he will give you is the same. His life expectancy is the same. So yes, it is a bad day, but he still has a bright future, just a different one. :hug99: :hug99: :hug99: :hug99: :hug99: :hug99:

[SasatheRusty]

Amy, a few years ago someone told me about a drug used at UF Vet school known as PEG. I know nothing about it but it is used on back problems for dogs. Maybe it is now in general use. If you can't find out about it I will ask the woman who mentioned it to me when Penny had her back and neck problems. The woman's daughter is a Vet. We never needed to pursue it but I was glad to have the info. Many drugs have multiple uses.

[LexieLuvr]

I am SO sorry to hear about Smokey! Please do consult other vets and let us know what they have to say. TONS of :bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz: for Smokey!!

[lotsadox]

I agree with Lisa. If Smokey is comfortable and not in any pain, everything else can be worked out. If he needs a cart, I'd get him a cart. He can be a wonderful dog in a cart. He can still have a full happy life, just a different one.

But, if you can, I would look into her homeopathic vet and talk to her about options for him. Like Lisa said, physio could be very helpful to him.

Sending :bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz: for all of you.

[Alex's Mom]

It does suck, Amy. Sucks big time. One more thing in a whole series of bad things you're dealing with. :hug99::hug99:. Having said that, ITA with everything Lisa said...and about getting a second opinion from a specialist. Hang in there, and keep us posted, ok??? Many many :bigrayz::bigrayz::bigrayz: and :hug99::hug99::hug99: for all of you. BTW, did you get him from a breeder? If so, s/he needs to be told about this. There should be some guarantees, and they should DEFINITELY stop breeding that line.