It's been a while since I've posted. I was reading the post on dog depression and it prompted me.

Ollie was diagnosed with mild hip dysplasia a while back. We got the diet, fish oil, gluc sups ect. ironed out and he seemed to do pretty well through the winter months. It was mild here and started warming up early, which I was glad since he hates the cold. I expected him to continue to improve as the weather changed but in early February, he started limping worse and acting mopey.

I took him back to the vet to make sure he hadn't injured himself. THey checked him over, took a second look at his exrays. They did blood work and gave me Tramadol again, which I hadn't been giving him at all through the winter months. He has an appointment for a follow-up in June.

He's only three years old. He limps everyday and sometimes yelps getting up and down on things, which I limit as much as possible. He figits and never seems to get comfortable. He follows me around kind of agitated or looking like he's asking for something. I walk him at his own pace, and he gets out completely separate from my other dog because it seems to be too much activity for him. I've done everything recommended by my vet, and on top of all this, he gained a pound even though I am meticulous about measuring his food and he gets no treats at all anymore.

I love my dog, and sometimes he's the only company I have. He has the sweetest spirit but he continues to lose interest in activity and in the last week, although he still eats, he has no enthusiasm for it and takes forever to finish. I feel guilty, because my overall feeling is that he is uncomfortable and unhappy even on the meds.

What would you do? Should I take him back to the vet and get exrays again or ask for some other test or treatment? Could he be depressed due to not getting around very well? If his hip dysplasia is mild, could it still cause him this much discomfort? Even my husband, who has never been around dogs, notices that he's just not "right". My vet is always so positive, so I'm afraid I'm overreating, but he just seems so unhappy/unsettled. Even when he's feeling frisky, watching him run around brings tears to my eyes because it looks so unnatural, like his hind legs are stuck moving together and twists around to the side.

Janet, has he been to an ortho vet?

ETA
If his hip dysplasia is mild, could it still cause him this much discomfort? ..... Even when he's feeling frisky, watching him run around brings tears to my eyes because it looks so unnatural, like his hind legs are stuck moving together and twists around to the side.

.... in early February, he started limping worse and acting mopey. .... He's only three years old. He limps everyday and sometimes yelps getting up and down on things, which I limit as much as possible.


Just reading it brought tears to my eyes.

That doesn't sound mild to me, as a non-health professional -- just a person who has seen a fair amount of HD and other ortho-affected movement.

But others with more experience will see the thread too.




Edited by Connie Sutherland (05/02/2012 11:10 AM)
Edit reason: eta

I had to come back to add that I'd want to see an ortho vet, but also to say that there are more measures that aren't mentioned, even short of surgery, to discuss with the specialist.


Do you know about Adequan? http://www.caberfeidh.com/Adequan.htm

Also, believe me, I'm no NSAID pusher, but I do have a dog on daily deracoxib who gets quality of life from it. (Of course, we did the pre-protocol blood work, and I was fully aware of what side effects to watch for, and he has blood work done regularly to compare kidney and liver values with the baseline.)

I'm curious about seeing no mention of it. Again, not pushing NSAIDs in any way. Just .... this sounds bad to me.

But I'd want an ortho vet to see my boy.

Connie,

I'm sorry...I failed to mention, I am giving him the tramadol everyday now. It does help, but still he has the sysmptoms I described in varying degrees.

I'm looking for an ortho in my area. When I google it, it just gives me regualr vet clinics. I'm waiting for a slow minute at work to call around.

I'm going to take some pictures of him tonight and post tomorrow. He is really put together odd...similar to an english bulldog, and I winder if that puts more stress on his joints. (If that makes any sense at all)

Thanks for the link. I'll read it.

Just made an appointment with an ortho vet for Monday morning. I was lucky because he's the only one I could find here and he just had a cancelation.

I just want him to be comfortable. I'm not sure, however, that I can afford a multiple thousand dollar surgery right now, but I guess we'll see what the doc says.

What do you think about the weight? I am positive that he's not getting anything from anyone else, (kids or family.) They did bloodwork and said his thyroid was normal.

 Quote: Janet Foley

Just made an appointment with an ortho vet for Monday morning. I was lucky because he's the only one I could find here and he just had a cancelation.

I just want him to be comfortable. I'm not sure, however, that I can afford a multiple thousand dollar surgery right now, but I guess we'll see what the doc says.

What do you think about the weight? I am positive that he's not getting anything from anyone else, (kids or family.) They did bloodwork and said his thyroid was normal.

Oh, that is great. I too would care so much about comfort, and quality of life.

There are things short of surgery that can help (as I mentioned), and for sure you want to control that weight. Even an extra pound, IMO. My old boy who has disc and HD problems is weighed every week. If a few ounces creep up, the food bowl goes down by 10% and no-salt green bean fluff it up so he doesn't look too heartbroken.

(A stop at the vet's to weigh the dog and get a treat, even one you have secreted in your pocket, is a good positive vet experience, anyway. We just run in, use the lobby scale, and I hand out HV treats. The vet's building is now a great destination. )