I’ve been having problems with my back legs, and recently I’ve cried a few times because of them. So mommy took me to the doctor yesterday.
Yeah, I wasn’t too excited to go, but I was happy to go in the car.
I don’t seem to mind the car ride that much anymore.
I used to get really nervous and throw up. Can you believe that?
Taylor came with us to the doctor’s office.
I liked having her with us. π
Looks like I wasn’t the only doggie not wanting to
go inside. It’s nice to know other doggies get scared too.
The people who work at the doctor’s office are allowed
to bring their doggies to work with them. That’s so cool!
I weighed 76.8. Last time I was at the doctor’s office was
in January of this year — that was five months ago.
I was 18Β½ months old and I weighed 69.4 lbs. So I
gained about 8 lbs in 5 months. The doctor suggested
that I go on a diet. He says that it would help my joints.
Waiting for the doctor made me nervous.
When he opened the door I got really scared.
Just like he checked my legs back in November,
he did the same thing at this visit. Except this time
it was more uncomfortable. I wasn’t happy with him
moving my legs all around.
It hurt more when the doctor tried to stretch out my right leg.
He said there was restricted movement.
I cried when he tried stretching it out.
The left one wasn’t as bad, but he did notice some restriction.
I wasn’t very happy at all. π
They had to sedate me in order to take my x-rays.
The doctor said that the findings were consistent with
canine hip dysplasia, a developmental orthopedic abnormality
common in many different breeds and mixed breed doggies.
He said at this time there are some arthritic changes present
in my right hip joint, but that they are not severe. He did say though,
that over time he expects these changes will continue to occur
and that I will likely have progressive lameness as I age. π π
But I’m just 2 years old!
After they woke me up, I was able
to go home with my mommy & Taylor.
This was me on the car ride home!
It was like I was in slow motion!
Mommy held me the whole ride home. π
I was still so tired when we got home. Taylor held me
and didn’t let me go. I think she was very worried about me.
Mommy even massaged my hips for me — it felt really good!
Nala was worried too. I knew she loved me. She stayed
next to me and sniffed me all over. I didn’t mind.
She even kissed my ears. π
So that’s the trouble with my back legs. It isn’t great news,
but I guess it could be worse. Mommy says she’s putting me on
Dasuquin, a joint supplement, and Rimadyl once daily if I need it.
The doctor also said that my activity should be controlled, and that I need to lose a little weight. He also suggested massage therapy, cold laser therapy, and acupuncture to help with my hip pain. As soon as daddy gets our pool ready, they’re gonna get me a life jacket and see if I would want to go in. I might just try that.
The doctor also said that surgery is another option that works best for long term prognosis. But that costs lots of money, and my family cannot afford that right now. Sadly, surgery works best when doggies are young and big problems haven’t set in yet. But we’re gonna do the Dasuquin and Rimadyl for now, including massaging me at home… and see how that works. Plus my losing a little weight should make a big difference.
Mommy would love to hear from other doggie families that have experienced hip dysplasia. Please comment and let me know — we could use all the advice we could get! Thank you, friends! <3 Some helpful resources…
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
- American College of Veterinary Surgeons
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine
- PennHIP: Hip Dysplasia
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We are just catching up. Sorry to hear you are having hip problems, Bailey. We are sending strong White Dog Army healing energy and positive thoughts that a solution will be found.
My brother Quinn has leg issues and goes for cold laser therapy. It really does help him but his case is severe (some days he can barely walk). Simple massage twice a day works wonders; if your vet can give you a lesson on the proper pressure points and positions, your mommy could do this for you herself. Also, please investgate options to Rimadyl, it causes long term liver damage.
Swimming and slow gentle walks are great exercises to do.
Poor Bailey, I’m so sorry to hear this. Acupuncture or Chiropractic adjustments might help. You are so young. The other thing is mom could consider doing some fund raising and even put a chip in widget on the blog if you are a good candidate for surgery.
When Delilah was ill we switched her to raw and helped her lose a lot of weight, it has given her far more energy and made her feel so much better. I think the pool will help too, swimming is very good exercise.
We are sending warm thoughts your way! xoxo
Oh Bailey! I am so sad to hear about your diagnosis. Hopefully if you lose some weight and get some therapy it will help. I’m a little nervous myself as Freddie seems to be having some troubles with his back legs.
Awww poor Bailey! I am sorry you are hurting but you are lucky to have a family who will take the very best care of you and help you as much as possible. Let’s hope that with medications and other therapies you can be more comfy and active for a long time to come! *hugs*
So sorry to hear about you diagnosis. Thanks for sharing your x-rays. Hip dysplasia is such a complicated disease. It is worse when big doggies are diagnosed with it. But I do know dogs with sever dysplasia that have lived long happy lives. Keeping weight down will help, along with medication and supplements. I have heard really good things about acupuncture for pain.
Woof! Woof! So sad to hear this. You are only 2 … hope fully loosing weight will help. How about swimming? Sending you Lots of Golden Healing Thoughts. Lots of Golden ALOHA n Woofs, Sugar
Oh Bailey, we are so sorry to hear about your HD. We don’t know much about HD but I have arthritis. My mommy has me on fish oil pills and I have been taking cortisone shots. I wouldn’t recommend cortisone shots for you though cause you are way too young! I just turned 15 so my mommy has tried lots of different things and the cortisone shots seem to help me the most. I also swim a lot and my mommy truly believes that has helped me, so make sure you swim! We are keeping our paws crossed and hope the pain goes away!
~Shiloh
Oh no! I’m very sorry to hear about the HD. π Hopefully since your family has caught it pretty quickly, it can be managed and won’t get too much worse. ):
Bailey I am so sorry that you are having booboo hips. I am sending healing hugs and magic bubbles full of love. I hope you get them soon. I would hate to have to loose weight but if it helps I guess it would be ok. Take care and I am glad you are getting all kinds of loveys at home.
Loveys Sasha
Hi there Bailey! Thank you for your comment and lovely email. We are so sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with canine hip dysplasia like me. It is an awful disease to have, but with all the care and love that we are both receiving from our families I am sure we will both be fine my friend. My Mummy and me are going to email you and your Mummy back. It would be nice to be able to talk to somebody who is going through the same thing, swap advice and support each other so catch ya later Bailey my friend.
Lotsa Licks and Snugs
Your Pal
Casper Bear
Oh buddy…we can relate as our big brother had this problem. He was a newfy/lab mix and he suffered as he got older. The swimming will help!!! We hope you like the water!! The Rimadyl did help Zippo too. I think the other drug he was on was cosequin…and we tried the glucosamine and fish oil…He was a trooper though….he really did try! Hope that the meds help and you aren’t in pain anymore!!
xoxo Chloe and LadyBug
Aw, we are so sorry that you are going to have to deal with this. Your mom must be worried too so our hearts go to her too . Losing weight might help and we think you should swim to. Best wishes.
Your friends,
Murphy and Stanley
My Dear Bailey, this makes me very sad to hear. But the good thing is that your humans will do anything to take care of you and make it easier for you. Of course, knowing me, I would always suggest water therapy. I hear swimming is really good for your hips. but that is just me…..
take it easy my friend.
Love
Bert
Our last dog was a lab, but at around 13 1/2 he began to have problems running so we put him on glucosamine….and it worked for awhile. When he was 14 it was alittle more pronounced….but he made it to 15yrs old still walking. Rimdayl should help. And pool therapy. Good luck Bailey!
Oh nose, Buddy!! No, this is not good news butt (as Mom says), Where there is a will, there is a way!! We need to put ouw finking caps on and come up wiff a plan to get your surgery…cuz you have a lonnnnnnnngggggg life ahead of you and pain is not a good fing!
Your furiend,
Winston
Oh Bailey,we are so sorry to hear this.We don’t have any experience with hip dysplasia, but we sure hope the meds will help a lot. Feel better, pal.
Woos- Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning
Oh sweet friend, I am so sorry you got the ouchy problem. There used to be two doggies that lived here that had that same problem. Medication helped lots and cosequin for dogs seemed to help them lots too since it helps strengthen the joints. We are all sending you our best comforting purrs.
π Sorry to hear of your pain. Losing weight is never fun, but maybe swimming in the pool will help with that! Hang in there Bailey!
~Higgins
Oh no Baily, your only two, how could this be? I have not had this problem, so I don’t know what to say. I myself went to the vet to to find out what is wrong with me. Even though I have some sort of thingy I am not worried. I hope the pool helps you.
Blessings,
Goose
Oops – found it!
http://casperbearlifeofachocolatelabrador.blogspot.com/
Sam
Thank you Sam! I’m gonna go have a look at that bloggie! <3
There is another blogger (the name is slipping me) that has a brown lab that is young and going thru the same thing. Maybe another commenter will remember?
Take it easy, sweet Bailey – we are sending you love!
Sam
Oh Bailey… We are so very sorry to hear about your troubles over there! We had no idea that a puppy as beautiful as you could have such problems and at such a young age. You had such a stressful day but we know you were well taken care of! Mommy did a great job documenting your day for us which we really appreciate. We felt like we were right there with you. We will cross our paws that the med’s will help. We hope that you will like the pool because swimming sounds like it would be perfect to keep you limber. And just so you know, it’s ok to swim naked ~ NO suits required!
We hope you’re feeling better today and that the sedation med’s have worn off. Take it easy and just relax today. You deserve a break!
Hugs,
Lily Belle & Muffin (and of course, Mommy too)
P.s. Mommy should be getting “Daddy’s special gift” back real soon from the frame store and she can’t wait!
Oh buddy, I am sorry to hear about your legs!!! I hope some of these remedies ease the pain. Momma’s trying to get me to lose some weight too. But oh, those treats! Feel better!
Aww, Bailey!! I’m so sorry that you had to go to the Dogter, π But happy that they know what is going on so hopefully they can begin some long term stuff to make everything better (or at least easier on you!)
You’ll have lots and lots of prayers and pawsitive thoughts from our part of the world!! You and your family are in our prayers!
Shelle, Milo, Dixie and Newby,
http://simpaticodreams.blogspot.com/
We are so very sorry you are in pain, the cats are sending healing purrs.