My 5 month old (Tucker) has been diagnosed with bilateral hip laxity and the vet suggested he needs triple pelvic osteotomy surgery ASAP. I understand what it is, but can anyone give me a range of costs so I can search out a good surgical center?
hip dysplasia
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Sorry for your diagnosis. I too have an HD dog. I sent you a PM. Take a deep breath. It will be ok, the diagnosis is horrible to hear. There is LIFE with an HD dog.
My Teddi is 2 years post THR, she had for her first birthday. She runs like a maniac, plays in agility, dock jumps and is pain free.
My Teddi is 2 years post THR, she had for her first birthday. She runs like a maniac, plays in agility, dock jumps and is pain free.
I'm in the Newark Delaware area. Our regular vet diagnosed the problem Friday (10/20), the orthopedic surgeon did x-rays and recommended the surgery yesterday , we got an estimate ($8000 for 2 hips, 4 weeks apart) and was ready to do the surgery today. All too fast! So I'm just trying to get a better handle on the right price. I want to say yes but does this seem reasonable?
Lush, Mystic, Hiphop, Dreamer, Sayer, Fable, Magic, Chelsea, Chapin, Cambridge, and Velvet
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I went through a big shock when my 7 month old was diagnosed with bilateral elbow dysplasia, and I really feel for you right now. It is best to slow way down and do some reading and talking/posting with others who have been through the procedure. Plan the recovery process, plan the financing, and ask 6 or 7 vets who they recommend as a surgeon. I really hope your breeder stands behind you. Ours did refund the pup's entire purchase price to help defray the surgery's costs a little. The good news is how worth it the surgery was- she is pain free.I am very sorry you have to face this, and sorry for your pup too.
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I'm sorry to hear about your pup. I hope all goes well. Wish I knew someone to direct you to for some resources. We have many on this board who might be able to help.
I agree about contacting your breeder and seeing about getting a refund on the cost...just to help you out on paying for the surgery.
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I would look into getting FHOs. They are generally MUCH less expensive and my now 9 year old lab/golden still runs as hard as she always has. She had her first surgery at 7 months old and the second one at 2 1/2 years. It was approximately $2000 for both hips. Like I said, it has never slowed her down, even at her age now.
There's a new surgery out there that's even less expensive and I can't remember the cut off age. It's either 16 weeks or 20 weeks. One of the pups in our rescue had it done, it cost something like $900 for both hips and his recovery was extremely quick. Maybe someone here can come up with the name.
There's a new surgery out there that's even less expensive and I can't remember the cut off age. It's either 16 weeks or 20 weeks. One of the pups in our rescue had it done, it cost something like $900 for both hips and his recovery was extremely quick. Maybe someone here can come up with the name.
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Is it just laxity, or are there other issues as well? I ask because subluxation was common in my young puppies up to a year but that was the only "issue" they had. Acetabulums were nice and deep, the ball of the hip joint was nice and round with no wearing, etc. As they matured, their hips became tighter and ended up as OFA Good. This was several years ago, and I have stopped doing prelims since then.
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I'm sorry to hear about your puppy's diagnosis.
I would recommend going here for a consultation, and surgery if necessary: http://www.vet.upenn.edu/RyanHospital.aspx
I would recommend going here for a consultation, and surgery if necessary: http://www.vet.upenn.edu/RyanHospital.aspx
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Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis (http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/jps.htm). Basically the growth plate on the bottom of the pelvis (the pubis) is destroyed, stopping growth at that area. As the rest of the pelvis continues to grow, it changes the angle of the pelvis at the hip socket, covering more of the ball of femur. It basically mimics a TPO, except the dog's pelvis grows that way rather than having the pelvis cut and plated back together.
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Do you have a preference for a hip surgery?
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What is the cut off age for this surgery? I am going to post this and then look at your link. It may answer my question.
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Okay, if I had just clicked on your link I would have gotten my answer. Preferably 4 months and no more than 5 months old. I wish they had this option when Jasmine was a puppy because she was diagnosed at 4 months old. Of course, she does fine with having had two FHOs.
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If diagnosed early enough JPS would be great. TPOs are pretty good too (but they have to be pretty young for this too because there can be no degenerative joint disease present). FHOs are not ideal in large breeds such as goldens just because of the weight, but they can work out pretty well in individual cases. Total hip replacement is good, although quite expensive.
My best advice would be to get a second or third opinion from an orthopedic specialist (one you feel comfortable with). Find out what the options for your individual dog are and what the success rate for each of these options is in the hands of this particular ortho surgeon. Then weigh the monetary costs with expected outcome and decide with the surgeon what the best option for you and your dog is.
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My Golden rescue boy had bilateral FHOs by his previous owner. I don't know what type of rehab he had or what age it was done but the outcome was not all that successful. He can walk fine and trots around with a funny little gait but he can't jump, and has trouble getting into or out of the car so he uses a ramp. He also falls down periodically if his legs don't land just right.
I keep him at a lean weight so that is not a factor and he is about 9 years old. His ability to get around was much worse when I first got him since he was very deconditioned. It is possible he didn't get the best rehab following the surgery which could be a factor. I just don't have a clue.
I think it is a good that you decided to wait and gather up more information and possibly another opinion. When my other Golden was diagnosed initially with hip dysplasia it turned out not to be the case and when I submitted her x-rays to OFA they were rated excellent.
You have some tough choices ahead. I wish you the best in making your decision!
I keep him at a lean weight so that is not a factor and he is about 9 years old. His ability to get around was much worse when I first got him since he was very deconditioned. It is possible he didn't get the best rehab following the surgery which could be a factor. I just don't have a clue.
I think it is a good that you decided to wait and gather up more information and possibly another opinion. When my other Golden was diagnosed initially with hip dysplasia it turned out not to be the case and when I submitted her x-rays to OFA they were rated excellent.
You have some tough choices ahead. I wish you the best in making your decision!
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My ortho who did Teddi's hip REFUSES to do a TPO on a dog. I don't know enough about the JPS, was not an option for us.
My surgeon said while initially the TPO is a good fix for the young dog, in the long run it is awful. They develop horrible, arthritis, and become very painful. My girlfriend had her chessie done bi lateraly, and eventually had to put her down as the dog could not get around anymore. Sure she had her for several years but she said the pain was dibilitating.
Teddi had a biomedtrix cementless THR. The surgeon said the test dogs are in the teens and doing great. There is no cement to break down, which is a problem they have discovered in the cemented versions. They have to go back in and replace the cement. He told me Teddi will never have arthritis in that side. Her titanium will not change.
My ortho surgeon is highly respected in the world of canine orthopedic surgeons. He travels a lot to teach others. He told me he kept being asked to train TPO, he kept trying to turn down the requests. They kept insisting. They finally stopped asking him when they realized his content was negative. Another friend I met with an HD dog went to the same hospital Teddi went for a consult. She saw a different surgeon, he told her that hospital will not do a TPO if that was the surgery of choice to find another.
One last thing. I thought THR could only be done after the dog was done growing. Teddi was 1, it was two days after her first birthday. So for the "most" part he bones were done. My surgeon said he did a THR in a 6 month old pup. I don't know how that worked, but he did it.
I am glad I chose the THR, the FHO is also a very good alternative. For me the choice was all about appearance. With the FHO there is a chance the dog will appear lower on the surgical side, and track a bit shorter on that side. Neither problem is a long term issue, but I did not want the constant reminder. Watching Teddi run with her tail on fire, not hurting one little bit (and she is still moderate on her left side) is all I want to see.
Ann
My surgeon said while initially the TPO is a good fix for the young dog, in the long run it is awful. They develop horrible, arthritis, and become very painful. My girlfriend had her chessie done bi lateraly, and eventually had to put her down as the dog could not get around anymore. Sure she had her for several years but she said the pain was dibilitating.
Teddi had a biomedtrix cementless THR. The surgeon said the test dogs are in the teens and doing great. There is no cement to break down, which is a problem they have discovered in the cemented versions. They have to go back in and replace the cement. He told me Teddi will never have arthritis in that side. Her titanium will not change.
My ortho surgeon is highly respected in the world of canine orthopedic surgeons. He travels a lot to teach others. He told me he kept being asked to train TPO, he kept trying to turn down the requests. They kept insisting. They finally stopped asking him when they realized his content was negative. Another friend I met with an HD dog went to the same hospital Teddi went for a consult. She saw a different surgeon, he told her that hospital will not do a TPO if that was the surgery of choice to find another.
One last thing. I thought THR could only be done after the dog was done growing. Teddi was 1, it was two days after her first birthday. So for the "most" part he bones were done. My surgeon said he did a THR in a 6 month old pup. I don't know how that worked, but he did it.
I am glad I chose the THR, the FHO is also a very good alternative. For me the choice was all about appearance. With the FHO there is a chance the dog will appear lower on the surgical side, and track a bit shorter on that side. Neither problem is a long term issue, but I did not want the constant reminder. Watching Teddi run with her tail on fire, not hurting one little bit (and she is still moderate on her left side) is all I want to see.
Ann
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