would like to hear from anyone who has good and bad views on
either of these 2 treatments.
1st is Triple Pelvic Osteomony
2nd is Total Hip Replacement
These are the options I have been given for Suggs my 10 mth GSD.
He has hip dysplasia, mainly on his Right hip he also has Elbow dysplasia and is showing signs of Arthritis.
I just need some ideas on both treatments as I will be talking to my consultant again next week.

Out of interest had his parents been hip scored & if so what were their scores.

Could well be that they were, that is why it is important to have a record of what the dam & sire are producing in the prodgeny. Sometimes a very poor score is found in a puppy from parents that have low scores, know of a case where a pup had a hip score of 87 bred from parents both under 10. Sad for the pup concerned but it is the overall picture that is important. We must not stop scoring and trying to bring the score down just because on occasion a pup with a poor score is produced, also we must not stop breeding from an excelent animal who's score is a little higher that the breed average. Can't throw the baby out with the bath water. Jackie

I have kept in contact with the breeder all along since I found out and she has been very good. I have not put any blame on her at all as there is always a chance that this can happen and I accept that.
But sometimes I feel that when someone is looking to have a big breed dog that they need to know about how to take care of them, especially in that first 18mths as their bones are still growing and just because they look big and strong doesn't mean their bones are.
But like you say Hip scores are important and yes now and again you will probably get a throw-back, but I know that dogs with bad hips and arthritis can still have a good life and thats hopefully what suggs will have and I will try and do the best thing by him.

Hi Chris,
Yes they were scored, the dam is 3.6 and the sire is 5.5. I have a 5 generation certificate and most of them look pretty good and they are all under the average of 19.

Kathleen, I was not directing my comments to you, I was worried that someone reading the thread may get the idea that hip scoring was a waste of time, I know you had yet to answer Chris but I was getting in first. Very glad to hear your dogs breeder is suporting you, I bet they are as upset as you are, if not more so. You are correct dogs do manage very well even with bad hips & elbows and I wish you all the best in whatever course of action you take.

Can't help you to decide on your course of action as I don't have the knowledge, think I would be inclined to ask the specialist what he would chose to do if the dog was his. Jackie

Hi Kathleen

It must be a nighmare for both you & the breeder of your dog. You do all the right things & sometimes it is just not enough. I'm glad to hear thet your pups breeder is supporting you & you them. Good luck with your dog whatever you decide to do.

Kathleen - I was doing a search earlier looking for some other info and came across these two pages and remembered your post. They may be of interest to you

link1

link 2

I'm maybe a bit late with them but hope they help

Thanks for the 2 links, they were very useful. I have decided to go ahead with a THR on the right hip next year when he is old enough. Suggs is doing better at the moment as I have got him on Glucosamine and that seems to be helping.

Hi Kathleen

I can speak from experience. My beautiful GSD (who was pts on 3rd December at 91/2yrs old had both of her hips replaced.

The first was done at age 5, and the other at age 6. She was 100% better after this, and led a full and normal active life. If we told anyone that she had two replacement hips they couldn't believe it. Go for it, you'll never regret it. You are in a prime location to be referred to one of the best orthopaedic surgeons in the UK - Gary Clayton-Jones, at the Highlands Surgery, Tenterden, which is where my girls ops were done.

Mine had other health problems, one of which was spondylosis, which eventually compressed the spine and paralysed her from the waist down. We never had a moment's trouble because of the hips.

Good luck

Katrina

hi,
many thanks for your reply.
I have to ring Grove Lodge Vets up in the new year to let my vet know about Sugg's progress.
As it is he is not great as i can only take him out on short walks and i try to take him out when there on not to many dogs on our local field as playing, which is what he wants to do is not good as when he gets home he can hardly walk and you can see he is in pain.
I have to work more as well as i have to help towards the costs as i only have £2000 left on his insurance and each leg costs £3000. NIGHTMARE!!
So anybody out there who is looking for insurance do not go with Tesco's as they will only pay out £2500 or for a year which ever comes first. Which has not helped me as my year is up in June 2003 and Suggs will only be a year and a half which in my opinion is to young as we all know GSD's are not fully mature untill 18mths-2yrs and believe me my boy better not grow much more as he is well over 9 stone and i have kept his food down as i would rather him be under than overweight he is lean but he is just b****y huge.
Well i will keep you updated and Happy New Year to everyone.

sorry to hear about your bad luck and suggs-hope it goes well for you and its also good to hear that athough he has problems that the breeder did everything possible to breed for good hips etc, also nice to hear theyre supporting you-well done them!

Hi

Are you sure about the £3k per hip. When my GSD's last one was done at Tenterden (it was nearly 4 years ago I must admit) it was £1750. Also I had the same problem with DBI insurance. When we discussed our GSD with Gary Clayton Jones, he said it was rare for a dog to need more than one hip done, although we did have both done and so had to fork out £1500 ourselves. Having said that it was the best money I ever spent, and I feel that we bought her the rest of her life. (She was PTS in December) aged nearly 10yrs.

If I were you I would try and get a referral to discuss the future with the specialist now, and take his advice on when it should/could be done.

Good luck

Keep us posted

Katrina

Katrina