Hi,I'm after some advice please,

I have a GSD with severe HD. I am having him xrayed next tuesday and the plates are being sent off to The Willows vet hospital with a view to him having his hips replaced. He does the classic "bunny hopping" when he runs and his general movement is restricted. Obviously this would be major surgery for him (he's nearly 6yrs old) and I would really like to hear from anyone who's gone down this road.

Thank you in advance.

Kind Regards

dont know anyone that has had this done although I am sure that you will hear from other posters re this. My personal view is that if your dog is in severe pain then surely the op is going to be benificial. If left it will only get worse.  I have a bitch that had cruciate ligament damage and has a stainless steel plate in her back leg. before op she was in excruciating pain. Now she can run about and do anything the others do.

I'm sure you've read my experience before as I've mentioned it a lot :) -my Golden Dandy had a hip score of 96 so very severe HD indeed, showed no symptoms until 6. Was put onto Rimadyl, all was fine, after about a year that stopped working, his hindlegs just dragged behind him when he tried to get up after having laid down. Could not go for walks. Put him onto Glucosamine & Chondroitin, he lived until 13 and had  a normal life with walks -all he couldn't do was jump into the boot of the car. (And once he fell into a 6 foot deep dyke -could not see it due to tall grass -and then couldn't climb up again). I never even considered surgery, can't remember why but my vet at the time was an orthopedic so I'm pretty certain it will have been on his advice.

Hi MarianneB ,yes I do remember now you mention it,I already have him on Glucosamine & Chondroitin (quite a high dose) but to be honest I dont really think it's made a lot of difference to him (I keep giving it to him just in case he gets worse without it)I try not to give him rimadyl too much as I dont really like giving it to him (side affects). I just know that if i dont do something soon he will be off his legs and I'll lose him. He's such a sweetie it breaks my heart to see him struggling. I've read up on the actual surgery and I understand the procedure and the specialist rates the success rate at 95%, I'm just not convinced it's the best thing to do.

Kind Regards

one of my girls has hd....she has synoquin and also devils claw and omega 3, maybe worth trying some more supplements before going down the surgery route, i would say a double hip replacement is a last resort, but only you know your dog and how well he would cope with such surgery and the recovery involved.

I do hope things work out for you both :)

Thanks Mandy,I'll order some tonight for him. As you say surgery is the last resort and I would hate to put him through it only for him to be one of the 5% that dont do well, although I do think he would cope both with the surgery and the recovery after it.

Kind Regards

I have a retriever with HD, she was diagnosed at five and half months and is now rising six years.

I started her on Adequan injections, Synoquin, vit c and omega 3. Initially she also had two full courses of hydro, using the under-water treadmill therapy.To date she has never been lame and takes all the exercise I can give her. The whole program was worked out from info I found on the net and was put in place with the full support of my vet. The canine version of Adequan is not licensed for use in the UK so we use the equine version, suitably adjusted, dose wise. The first four weeks is two injections a week and then once a month, reducing in our case to one every 3-4 months.

I believe the Adequan has made the difference between needing to operate or not. It isn't Glucosamine, but is another natural cartilage repair substance which is already present in the tissues, Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan. It's method of application is similar to the way Cartrophen is used.

My vets have been so pleased with the results, it has been recommended for other patients by them. Adequan is used with success for horses with arthritis.

As far as the Synoquin is concerned, whether it is any better than any other glucosamine,I don't know, it is expensive,  but I stick with it as I am reluctant to alter any part of a treatment which has been so successful. It will of course be interesting to see how my girl is as she ages, but so far so good! 

It may well be worth discussing Adequan with your vets, they may consider that it isn't suitable for your boy. I do hope you are able to avoid surgery, but we all do the best we can for our dogs and only you and your vets can decide the best action.

with best wishes.

One of ours was diagnosed with severe HD towards the end of his first year but as he also had/has problems with his front legs (and already one op)  decided with the orthopaedic specialist to leave him be. The extra weight placed on the other three legs durring recovery would not have helped him. Very different from your GSD as we have always had to manage him but having got him as far as 6 (without permanent anti inflammatories) we tried Cartrophen late last year. A course of one a week for four weeks and then a monthly booster - I was very sceptical - but have been proved very wrong. I don't know how long it will help but for now he enjoys walking distances that he hasn't done for a couple of years, he's out front, tail high and bouncing along. Best wishes and good luck what ever route you decide to go.

I know someone who bred and kept a dog that showed signs of HD at an early age. She was operated on (I don't know if there are different types of ops for HD) and although she always had a funny gait she totally enjoyed her life til she passed away around 11 years old bless her.

My very first GSD was diagnosed with HD at 7 months of age.  The vet performed a minor op on him called a pectineal myotomy.  This operation doesn't seem to be done these days.  It does seem very old school as my vet who is in her late 30's had never heard of it.

My boy went on to live until he was 9 years when he developed CDRM.  Up until then he led a pain free life and it wasn't until he was about 7 years old that we started to give him supplements. 

I have spoken to people who have gone the surgery route and given the chance again they wouldn't.

My friend had a Golden retriever with a hip score of 70+, they exercised her regularly with a combination of free running, but more often on lead walks, also swimming. They made sure that from an early age she was 'well muscled' at the back end. They tried not to swim her in cold water and if she went out for a walk in the rain they always made sure they dried her completely and gently massaged. She never had surgery, in old age she had a variety of supplements and pain relief but lived to 15, a very happy life. Incidentally she had beautiful movement and really 'drove' from the rear!

Think hip replacement in dogs is as successful as it is in humans. Do know that there are Police dogs who have had surgery for poor hips and returned to duties and continued to work  satisfactory with no problems.

EDIT to add the actual score does not mean that much, some quite low scores may have difficulty in movement and require surgery where as others much higher will cope with anti inflammatory medication. I don't know why but assume it may depend on what part of the hip is causing trouble - it is easy to think a totally dislocated hip because part of the pelvis is not there from birth may be easier to deal with than cases where the ball and joint are continually grating on one another.

> it is easy to think a totally dislocated hip because part of the pelvis is not there from birth may be easier to deal with than cases where the ball and joint are continually grating on one another.

I agree.
My last dog we got when he was 4 years old. We did not have his medical history, but our vets xrayed him (due to being run over by a car) and found that 1 rear leg was 1&half inches shorter than the other, due to the fact the femoral head had been removed. The leg was effectively held in place with muscle & tissue as the ball-joint was non existant.
He NEVER required any pain meds for that leg. He did always have muscle wastage on the back end, so with old age, he couldn't cope with much excersie from a muscular POV (the leg became weak), but never got pain from it.
He did always look comical when he ran, as the effected leg would almost appear to rotate at the side, bless him, he looked a bit like one of those pull-along ducks whith the flappy feet, but boy could he shift!! (in youth) :)

Back to the question - to operate or not. My 3&half year old dog has elbow displasia (diagnosed at 5 months of age), we have not opperated as the specialist said it's possible to manage via excersie, weight control & suppliments (Buster is on glucosamine & cod liver oil), so we tried that route and, so for (touch wood) an opperation is not on the cards for the forseeable future. Very occasionally he'll get a bit of pain so he'll have Metacam, but in over 2 years, he's only needed it once (for a few days) & that was because he caught his leg undeneath him and fell off the sofa, jarring his elbow on landing.

I think you need to get a specialists opinion, as how you can manage the problem without an opperation will depend on what exactly is going on.
Best of luck, these things are such a worry :(

Thanks everyone for your replies.
I have booked him in for xrays on tuesday to see just what state his joints are in. I think I will do the referal to The Willows if only to see exactly what help is available. Apparently they are the best in the UK so they should be able to offer me some good alternatives to surgery (fingers crossed)

Kind Regards

Good Luck!

I would get your dog scored by the BVA before you agree to anything else. A friend of mine bred a dog (GSD) and she was diagnosed with HD and referred to the Willows, who advised hip replacements. She fortunately took my friends advice first and had her hip scored by the BVA.....she scored 6:3=9. I can give you countless instances of misdiagnosis of HD and even if the diagnosis is correct, they can live a perfectly normal life without surgery given the correct conservative care.

Hi Katrina,

I had him scored 4yrs ago,score came back at 60+ so he def has HD. His plates were horrible then so it will be interesting to see them now.

I do think it odd that hip replacement was offered without xrays. The Willows have quoted me in the region of £1000 for numerous tests including xrays just to establish the state of his hips which is one of the reasons I'm having him re xrayed on Tuesday. Will kep everyone informed as soon as I know anything.

Kind Regards

I had a GSD years ago who at 6 months was very very lame on the back end. X-rays showed terrible hips and the vets opinion at the time was to PTS. The alternative was NO excersise at all for 6 months and then gradually increased it till he could go for over an hour at a time. As hoped for by the vet the joints froze. Apart from a Bunny hop gait he stayed sound for 14 years... we just managed him with very very occasional pain relief if we did too much with him. His front became a power house of muscle as it took the brunt of the weight and he always had a poor looking back end, but it worked. It was only in the last 2/3 months he seemed to suffer on odd days. By then he was happy with a plod round the garden and no formal walks.
Aileen

Lorraine. Good luck for Tuesday. I don't know anything about the Willows but the one thing I would advise is that you feel happy with the specialist you see. Have your list of questions ready. I was stunned when we found out the degree of problems with Otto, but were so fortunate with his specialist. His attitude and advise always put the dog first (if that makes sense), was always and still is available to talk over any concerns and has always said that if we are ever back in his area to give him a call as he would very much like to see them both again. Best wishes.

Well I've just got back from my vets after having my lad xrayed, and I could cry!. The state of the joints is truely horrible,so the plates are being sent to The Willows to see what they think. Few more days waiting now to see what they can suggest. I was hoping he may be able to have Cartrophen but to be honest I dont think it would do him any good. I've just given him some chicken and he's in his bed sleeping bless him.

Kind Regards

My puddles was diagnosed with hd (score 97 I think ! ) and the joints were awful on he X-ray. However she is a fat whoops sorry fit girl of 8 years now and has been managed with diet and exercise. She once in a blue moon has to have metacam. Her muscle tone has been complemented by our vet although her tubby tum is somewhat sagging now but she is as fit as she has ever been and keeps with betty the loonie youngster ! Let's hope it can be managed without surgery x

Just a quick update on my lad, after a lot of soulsearching and quizzing my vet,I have decided to try him on Cartrophen rather than have the surgery. As my girls hips are not as bad as his I've started her on Cartrophen as well as I think she will do really well on it. I've also booked her in for investigations on her ear as she has had recurring infections for the last few yrs. So my insurance co are going to love me over the next few months! I'll let you all know how we get on.

Kind Regards

Lorraine.
Good luck with the Cartrophen. Otto had a course of four weekly, now monthly top ups and he is a different boy. Try not as I have done to go over the month or suggested period between injections as from experience it is very noticeable. Hope it eases your lads hips, let us know how he goes. Best wishes, Lacy

Hope that you dog gets some improvement.

Just reading through your original post and the comment obvious "bunny hopping" many of my breed do this and have excellent hipscores, so it doesn't mean that a dog who bunny hops has HD.

Hi Lacy,

I am really hoping the Cartrophen will work and it's good to hear your lad has responded so well to it. My lad is a really nice natured,happy chappie and if the Cartrophen gives him some relief it will be worth it. Time will tell so they say lol.

Kind Regards

Hi perrodeaqua,

In GSD "bunny hopping" is not part of their natural gait and is a classic sign of severe HD,although not every dog will "bunny hop",a lot do,which is why when describing a dogs movement with HD the bunny hopping gait is always mentioned,both by vets and owners. My girl does not but her hips are not as severe as my lads.

Kind Regards

Sorry to hear of the problems with your dog. My first GSD had both her hips replaced. We went through conventional pain management routes until she got to 5 yrs, and just wasn't coping well.  So she had her first hip done at 5 yrs, and the second at 6 yrs. It will always be the best decision we ever made, it literally set her free. She could play bow which she had never been able to do before and it was wonderful to see.

The surgery was a huge worry, as was the recovery, and like you say the risk of her being in the 5% that don't do so well. Even so, for me it would always be a last resort and I now have a GSD in her ninth year, again with HD, but not so severe, as fit as can be and enjoying life. I hope never to have to do it again, it was very, very worrying, but I would do it again if I had to, I wouldn't think twice. The recovery was not as bad as I had anticipated, and if I remember correctly (it was roughly 12 years ago) recovery was about 3 months.

IMO the most important thing is the specialist that you deal with, who should be someone who specialises in and has done many, many hip replacements. Ours, in the south of england was Gary Clayton-Jones. The specialist should review the x-rays with you to determine whether the dog is a good candidate for hip replacement. Not all are.    Good luck with Cartrophen, and if you have to eventually go the hip replacement route, get the very best specialist that you can. Don't be afraid to ask what their experience and credentials are.
Good luck

Hi ChinaBlue,

Thanks for the info re the specialist. The plates were sent off to the Willows in Solihull for assessment and based just on those it was felt he would be a candidate but further assessment would be required. Part of my worry is the fact that he would not be able to stand at all after the first hip was replaced as I do not think he would be able to weight bear on the "real" hip. and although I could (and would) put him in a sling to help take his weight while his new hip healed he is such a baby that I fear he may panic and do damage to the new joint or simply refuse to move at all. I once tried him (when he was a youngster)with a gentle leader head collar and he sat down,put his chin on the wall and  refused to move an inch! He's a happy lad who loves his walks and playing with his ball and can still get in and out of the car and run up the garden steps (there's only 5) and apart from glucosamine and chronditon is not on any pain meds, so after a looong chat with my regular vet I have gone for drug therapy  first. Hip replacement will still be an option but if I can avoid it I will.

Kind Regards

Roscoebabe
I think you are absolutely right to try other options first.

Surprisingly weight can be borne on the new hip immediately with the help of a sling, and independently within a few days. It is daunting though, I won't deny it.  How they are going to react is impossible to predict, but I was surprised. Most often you only ever need have one hip done, as once the new hip joint is healed and settled it can compensate a great deal for the remaining defective hip.

When I say recovery was 12 weeks, once the stitches were out after 10 days, we had to restrict lead walking and gradually build it up each day. It was 10 - 12 weeks before she was allowed to free run again.

I wish you both the very best.