In response to Trooper: Diva was not purchased as an investment. I have always loved German Shepherds. To me German Shepherds are so much like humans in the ways they respond.They understand what you are saying better than some humans I know.They know what you are feeling and they return all that love that you give them in so many ways, ten fold. There has been such a empty place in my heart since I lost Reagan, my other dog. I never thought "another dog" could bring me so much joy as this little girl has. I looked at her little face today, and just thought to myself, there is no way I can give her up. I've always been a mothering kind of person, and I will take care of this little girl in any way that she needs, just as I did my own 2 daughters who are grown and gone from home now. Diva will be a companion dog for me. She will get whatever type and amount of excercise she needs, whatever kind of diet she needs to be on, obedience classes and whatever medical she needs. I made a committment when I got her and I will not return her to the breeder. He may give me another dog, but I don't want but one dog. I don't hold him responsible for Diva's condition entirely. I understand that all dogs are born with perfect hips and that this just happens. He had her on an all natural diet after weaning her from her mom. O&M brand dog food that you have to order. I don't know if it's the diet or what that causes this to happen.
I don't know if the breeder would want me to surrender Diva or not. Doesn't matter, cause he can't have her. He states in his warranty that the original defective dog must be neutered or spayed at the purchaser's expense OR returned to him. I will certainly keep you posted as to what occurs Wednesday. Thank you to all again.

I know all you great people on this board are waiting for the results from Diva's x-rays today.
Turns out that she is in worst shape than the vet. expected her to be at this young age. Believe me, I am so heartsick over this..... It appears that she has very little socket at all. One hip is loser than the other. Dr. Zeyr said that by the time she is 1, she will not be able to even jump in the van. This progresses so fast in small pups. Surgery is the only hope my little girl has. Dr. Zeyr and I are in the process of contacting the N.C. State University about the JPS surgery. This is where they came up with this idea of the JPS and the results have been remarkable. Luckily, I live in North Carolina and this is only a 5 hour trip for me.
If she is a canidate, then we will have the JPS surgery in 1 month which will put her at the best age for this surgery which is 16 weeks. I called the breeder I got her from today and told him what was going on. He was very nice in saying that any time in the future that I need another pup to let him know and he would give me one. I told him I was not going to bring her back to him. She is part of my family now, and I took on this responsibilty when I got her. I was hoping that he would offer me my money back to go towards her expenses, but he didn't. I think he was more concerned that he wouldn't be able to use Marco, the sire, to breed with anymore. He doesn't know of any of the other pups that may have this problem. I think I was very fortunate that I have one of the finest vets. around and he picked up on this as soon as he did. After 20 weeks, it is to late to have this surgery. Everyone keep your fingers crossed that the doctor says she is accepted as a canidate. I'll keep you posted cause I know you care. Ed if you read this I would be curious to know what you think on this.

Wish You and your pup best, keep the board posted as to the procedure and outcome. Yes your pup was luckey to have a vet that caught this problem.

I see my male get worse as the days go by. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> Wish there would have been something like this for him. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Again good luck to both of you. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I am so sorry to hear of your little girls condition <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I hope all goes XXXXwell with the surgery and she has a fantastic, long and happy life with you.
Sounds to me like you were just the person she needed to take her home even if you were not aware of her condition.
Best of luck to you both.

 Quote:

Originally posted by suejronj:
I think he was more concerned that he wouldn't be able to use Marco, the sire, to breed with anymore. He doesn't know of any of the other pups that may have this problem.

Sorry for the bad news. Just wondering about the statement above though... what makes you so sure that this problem came from the stud dog? Unfortunately in GSD's you can breed 5-6 (maybe more)generations of dogs with OFA good or better hips and still end up with dysplastic pups. Being a responsible breeder means that he will pull through on his guarantee, which it sounds like he will. Giving you your money back wasn't in the guarantee, and while I can see your point about care, that is ultimately a choice you made yourself. Not trying to give you a hard time, just adding some rational thinking to an emotional time....

As a side note, I used to live in NC... went to HHS, and my parents reside in Etowah. I know quite a few dog people in your area.. I am sure we know mutual people. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Small world on the net. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> It is a great place to be if you like golf! (ick, though the courses are great to walk the dogs on at night) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> PM me if you want to "gossip" about people. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Things are progressing in the arrangement for Diva's surgery. Trying to shoot for the last week of this month, August, which will put her right at the best age for this surgery, 16 weeks. The orthopedic hospital requires that Dr. Zeyr, our vet., make all the arrangements. I just hope the doctors will consider her a canidate for the surgery. In speaking to them today, we will need to be there for 3 days. For anyone out there that is interested, the surgery (JPS) runs around $1,000.00. This includes the PENN-hip x-ray ($230.00), exam fee, radiology fee, sedation and spaying. The surgery itself runs between $600.00 and $800.00. I feel so much better that there is a chance for Diva to have a normal dog life. Will keep you all posted. Thanks for caring.
Deanna, what year did you graduate? I went to HHS also. The only Deanna I know, has a mother named Judy, who graduated with me in 1969. Can you get my email address from the info. on me in this website?

More news on Diva.. Arrangements have been made to take Diva to N.C. State for her surgery, Aug. 26th. I got a breakdown on the cost of the JPS. For anyone who might suspect dysplasia in their new pup or may need it in the future, it is as follows:

Penn-Hip Evaluation-$230.00 (Includes exam fee, radiology fee, sedation, Penn-hip fee)

Estimated cost of surgery, $600.00-$800.00 (includes spay/neuter with all hospital fees,and JPS procedure and CT scan of pelvis.

Must also agree to return for Penn-Hip and Ct scan at ONE year of age and TWO, at $235.00 each.

I also heard today of a Board Certified Surgeon who does this JPS surgery in a town about 30 minutes from here. Dr. Zeyr is checking into this. I hope something starts going my way. Will keep you good people informed as things progress. This site is truly "ABOUT CARING".

Good Luck and Best Wishes for Diva and yourself.
Hope all goes well!

Hey Everybody!! Guess what!!!! Diva had the JPS surgery today. The vet. that had given me a second opinion on her hips, gave me the name of a Certified Surgeon last week, who lives within 45 minutes of me. He is highly respected in his field and highly qualified for this procedure.
Well, I took her to see him this morning just to look at her x-rays and check her hip situation for himself. After looking at them and considering that she was right at 14 weeks old, he wanted to do the surgery today. He likes to get them when they are between 14 and 16 weeks. It's done, and I will bring her home tomorrow. He explained in detail the procedure and showed me what we hope the results will be. I feel that there is some hope for my little girl. As he explained it, it is the same idea of a person wearing braces on their teeth. The braces change the formation of the gums. By killing the cells in the growth plate of her pelvis, they are changing the way her pelvis will form. It is hard to understand just how it does it, unless you have a vet. explaining how he has seen this work on other dogs and the changes that take place in them as they grow month to month. Every week CAT scans were used to precisely view the changes on the dogs they used this procedure on. I know there is no 100% guarantee, but what in life is. He did explain that for several months she will have to have an injection once a month of a high powered drug, which does the same thing that
glucosomine does, only it's alot more powerful and quicker acting. Can't remember the name.
N.C. State wanted $1200.00 for the surgery and this doctors cost was $500.00.
Of course within the next year I will have spent the $1200.00 on it anyway, with shots and x-rays and doctor visits. In response to what Sch3FH2 said about the JPS being of very limited value, I disagree. Because the procedure is only a few years old, alot of veternarians aren't that familiar with it. Someday they will be checking out large breed dogs in the beginning as a precaution. And you don't necessarliy need the Penn-Hip x-ray. As he stated, it doesn't take a genius to look at Divas x-rays and tell that she needed this help immediately. Yes, they may be too young to tell much about their hips and just how much they will grow out of any possible signs of dysplasia. All you have to lose is a few dollars on an x-ray. If they are really bad, as Divas was, you will possibly have prevented alot of pain for the dog and heartache for yourself. As long as I live and however many big breed dogs I own from here out, I will have them x-rayed early to possibly prevent the pain in them that I saw in my dog of 12 years, suffer through. I have sure learned my lesson and thank God for the vet. I have that picked up on this.
As Crabtree said, all he can do now is sit and watch his dog get worst with each passing day. I see the early x-raying in the same way as giving a child a vaccine to prevent some kind of future illness. I'll let you know how Diva comes along in the future. I know someone out there that reads this forum will find this information of great interest and possibly use it.