My Pink ACDx has had off and on orthopedic issues since he was tiny. Initial survey rads suggested both elbow and hip dysplasia, but soft bones are hard to read. He's 1 yr old this month.

Today's films show perfect elbows,hocks and stifles, and his hips should have him "servicably sound" well into old age.

The BAD news is that he has an OCD lesion now visible in his left shoulder, with a joint mouse. Films are on the way to the U. Surgery will be recommended.
My question: What experience have others had with dogs that have somewhat fragile temperaments undergoing painful elective surgery? I guess it's not really elective,the joint needs to be cleaned up or he's going to get terrible arthritis. But he's going to be in a lot more pain coming out of surgery than he was going in, and that pain is going to last quite a while, with lots of post-op crate time.
Any input from you experienced owners appreciated.

Dr Betty, sorry to hear of Pink's DX. I've only had one 'elective' type surgery done on a pet for ACL's. He was def. not himself for about 7-10 days.

Appetite and drinking was poor, so maybe stuck up on broths, yogurt inticing type foods. He also didn't respond well to the heavier type pain relievers. Did much better with deramaxx and tramadol combos. I want to say they initially sent him home with fentayl patch and a morphine type, would have to check the records for exacts. Plus he was really sensitive to the combo of anesthetic agents, which didn't help matters.

About a week post-op keeping him quiet from running, jumping, etc. for the many weeks down the road became the problem. He was either crated or tied to me. When we received the at home exercises that helped some, we also did the underwater treadmill and that helped to tire him some. Plus a lot of cool/warm compresses and ROM exercises. I looked at it as intense bonding time. I did feel bad about the extra crate time so we slept on the floor with his leash on. Hope this helps....sorry for any misspellings.

Healthy wishes Pink!

Thanks for your reply.
This is why you don't buy these poorly bred dogs - the poor guy either has pain if nothing is done, or, pain with the surgery if you go ahead--I am an idiot for having supported that breeding program.

I went to the SA place with the best Xray machine, the one at my old practice is not adequate for subtle lesions on poorly calcified bones of pups. So I was like any client, out in the waiting room, my poor pup was all alone with strangers.

My first "well bred" dog, an English Setter I spent $450 for in l970, from one of the top bench dog kennels in the country, beautiful blue belton, had exactly the same lesion. How weird is that? Your first dog and maybe your last, one a fancy pants dog, one an impulse buy, same lesion. forty years later.

Did the surgery for your dog change how he felt about people in general? Did it make him fearful and suspicious? Did it help him, allow him to be an athelete?

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

This is why you don't buy these poorly bred dogs - the poor guy either has pain if nothing is done, or, pain with the surgery if you go ahead--I am an idiot for having supported that breeding program.

Did the surgery for your dog change how he felt about people in general? Did it make him fearful and suspicious? Did it help him, allow him to be an athelete?

I hear you about breeding programs, I wish that more breeders took note of what they were putting out there. Mine so far have all been inhereted problems, but I take that risk taking them in.

Unfort I have a female that has mild hips and can't seem to decide what to do with her and the ortho vets are all over the board with opinions. She isn't painful now, but as she ages it may worsen and/or be harder for her to recoup if sx done later in life when/if she does become painful. These 'boderline' cases really makes it tough. You can only do what you think is best for that pet and its quality of life.

No the sx didn't change his relations with people except at the vet office visits; he was touchy and at times down right difficult. He was def. more comfortable after healing with mild - short exercises for the remainder of his life. He never was able to perform the activity pre-tear. He was cautious with movements and footing. To me that indicates some level of continued pain or discomfort continued.

Betty,
I am far from being one of the more experienced people on here, but I unfortunately do have experience with orthopedic surgery. Incidentally, I blame the vaccines. After receiving each major dose of all his puppy vaccines, my little german shepherd pup had odd symptoms: rotating limb lameness that came and went (sometimes severe), aggressively nipping at me when trying to pull him away from ALL THE CRAP he was trying to eat outside (which was absolutely everything.)

He had different diagnoses (pano, HOD) and lots of vet visits, specialist visits, xrays, ect. Finally he was diagnoses at 6mo old with bilateral elbow dysplasia, one side severe. I made the decision to operate right away, at the ortho vet's encouraging. In the end his left elbow fused, but is still painful (if he bumps it or steps wrong) and his right elbow is large, arthritic and twisted, and very painful (the joint did not fuse properly.) He was also assessed by Tufts (not where he had the surgery), and they wouldn't have done anything different. Regarding the vaccines, I believe it's entirely possible they affected his system so that his joints did not fuse properly. Of course, no vet will agree it IS possible. He won't ever be vaccinated again.

I have had plenty of issues with this dog (some admittedly my fault due to lack of proper training) but I do feel that this early pain/ surgery experience may have negatively affected his long-term well-being and tempermant. His recovery lasted for months, and initially he could not stand at all. He had to be carried outside (weighing in at 50-60lbs then) to potty. He often growled at me as I reached into his crate to lift him out; understandably he was in much pain, needing higher and higher pain med doses. I do feel like he has trust issues that stem back to that horrible experience, but I suppose I cannot say that for certain.

One thing I know is: if I ever am in that situation again, and faced with such a huge surgery on such a young dog, I will NOT do it. I will make him/ her as comfortable as best I can, and if/when the time comes that a quality of life is in question, that'll be it. I believe there must be good outcomes from a surgery such as mine had, but the whole experience for me was a living hell (not to mention expensive.) I feel that it's cruel to put an animal through what mine went through (though it was all in good faith, and with high hopes.)

Your surgery doesn't sound nearly as major as this one, and your dog is a little older. It is a big decision, and not an easy one to make! Especially when the vet is telling you there is a very good chance your dog will most likely be able to be athletic afterwards (mine can tolerate walks of no more than 1-2mi at most. So much for the hiking buddy I had wanted!)

Stephanie, thank you for posting.
40 yrs ago my English Setter Tate had OCD surgery. He was a non-suspicious, totally procedure tolerant sweet heart, a gentle lump. I remember thinking at the time, post-op, "never do this again"--- dogs do not comprehend that today's pain is for tomorrows gain. My present dog has zero pain tolerance and thinks it's a big deal for me to pull burrs off his stomach. It takes steak to trim his nails.
So I will wait for the specialist's read of the films, and the prognosis for full recovery will have to be excellent before we operate.
I am sorry that you had such a terrible outcome. My dog's elbows and hips looked bad at first, but he seems to have outgrown that.
It's hard for me to believe vaccine caused your problems but the older I get the more I realize that lots of things I used to be sure of are wrong.