As some of you will know from my previous post my 3 year old GR had x rays to see why he was limping badly on both hind legs.  The x rays showed arthritis in both legs the left one worse which he had had a cruciate repair done 18months ago.
The vet sent the x rays off to a specialist orthopaedic vet and after speaking to himtoday he has said that there is a problem with the right knee which will need major surgery.
I really dont know what to do .  If he has the surgery on his right leg how will he cope when he is still limping badly on his left! He has been on supplements for nearly two weeks now and the limping is very slightly better so Im hopeful that they may be starting to help.
Soryy for the rambling but I am really frantic with worry. Do I put him through this or just tryand keep him comfortable for as long as possible. (and the fact is the arthritis is never going to go away).  I feel physically sick now and my mind is all over the place.
Thanks for any thoughts.

Given the results we are having with the stem cell treatment.  If u have the insurance cover I would seriously consider a consult with a referral vet who has experience with this and give them the whole story . His case is complicated with this extra issue but at least having the information  and another specialist view may be helpful. 
I have now learned its not just about orthopedic knowledge but also more detailed knowledge of arthritis etc .

I agree, you should get at least 2 more specialist opinions.  Discuss everything, see if you are hearing different advice from different vets.  Research online what you're told, take it from there... It gives you more time to think and you can knock the thoughts around with specialists...

If I had the ability to have somebody like Fitzpatrick involved, I would - if I had insurance too!  Given how young he, the dog, is.   I used to be deeply suspicious of the man BUT I'm of the opinion that he won't do surgery without thought and a decent prognosis.

Thanks all!  I have spoken to two people in our village who had been  to this specialist and they both said that they were excellent and thier dogs had no further problems.
I dont have a problem with the surgery per se but my main concern is given how much trouble he has sitting down and getting up again, how he would cope after the surgery, given that both hind legs would be weak and painful. He is a big dog ,56 kilos and he has put weight on due to lack of exercise and This isnt helping either.
  I have cut his food down as much as possible  but we just seem to be in a vicious circle with the weight.

I was not his biggest fan and only choose his centre after speaking to a couple of other referral places.  One I have used for cancer treatment twice  and taking advice from my vet  .
Fitzpatrick have a specialist  clinic just for arthritis which if I am honest was my deciding  factor
. It isn't NP we see as this isn't his specialism so it certainly isn't a case of I do it all .
Like u mambas I wasnt his greatest fan but if the way we have been looked after and involved in all aspects of lotus care is typical across the board then i am happy .
That being said if i needed treatment for other conditions I would still do my research for other vets as there are many others doing incredible work too.
I am lucky that atm the insurance is paying   . Next years premiums maybe a different matter lol

Just  to add altough he weighs a lot he is also a big dog (bigger than average for the breed) so its not just fat!!

Sorry not sure any of that helps you golden frenzy.
I think u need to have confidence  in whomever is advising and treating and discuss things that are worrying you
Maybe if the vets have experience of dogs with his problems and how his recovery would be managed particularly  at home  until he is well it w0uld help u decide. 
I know u  an get special harnesses for example that u can take his weight while he is recovering and needs to be carefully moved.
He is very young so maybe now is the right time to go for this . Not an easy choice at all

Thanks furriefriends !

Is he neutered?  That can lead to struggles with weight and also to many orthopaedic issues like these, since it affects the growth of the bones...

Yes re being weak behind, before and after surgery, a sling is normally used to aid the dog to be able to pee etc. and for some mobility.   Hydrotherapy is super for this kind of patients, gentle and effective.   You should be shown how to do ongoing physio to help build up the muscles again.   Above all, you should be TOLD how best to help your dog post surgery.

If he's 3 now, bone development problems (closure of the growth plates) should be long over.  Re castration.  But for sure, when we have had to have castration with any of our hounds, keeping the weight under control was a day to day problem (food intake!).

Yes he is castrated but it wasnt done at too early an age, and I did stick to the 5mins per month of age rule when he was a pup.  As he is so big I do wonder if he grew too much too quickly, but I cant think of anything I did that would have caused it.  Ihave gone over so many things in my mind wondering if i did something wrong that has caused these problems.

It doesn't matter if it's done 'too early' - whatever that is (if he's only 3yo now, I'd say it was too early!) - it will still have an effect.  See:

http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/research-update-earlier-age-spayneuter-risk-factor-obesity-and-orthopedic-injuries?fbclid=IwAR1d1nNd9hJVvk0YP4ooushDiycJza17uZfuqQkQTpjQsEnmzCvN6p0uyaw

https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/new-study-neuter-risk-hip-dysplasia-dogs/?fbclid=IwAR0kFYDEiPIiPt7pAxJo9x5V2R0ubCOm0HYl24VAuMcxeP0ve5wHalLPeIU

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/29067194/?fbclid=IwAR1e3JRmGX0GHwf13hCHAyLt5jMx8edZsnQjJjNQvNA1CW-14CLgfph8DVU

https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/spay-neuter-and-joint-disease/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork&fbclid=IwAR0J639hBqiZWKJEOKPHfLaNgaQ_XoOs3zes6XtyV-MRH40zsKJbDRL2xH4

Ok so it is my fault then.  However whats done is done andwith the best will in the world I cant change it.  What I am trying to do now is whatever I can to help him.

Golden, not saying it's your fault.  Just giving you more information for the future and for your dogs to come.  I've already posted many posts above, re what I'd suggest now to help him.

Thank you .

UPDATE

My boy has been on all the supplements for two and a half weeks now and there has been a marked improvement.  He is walking much better and doesnt limp as much after getting up from a rest.  He is also much happier in himself.  
So --- I am going to continue with the supplements to make sure it isnt just coincidence and if he is still improving I will then decide about having the surgery or not. 
Thanks for all your imput.

Great news

Thanks for the update and glad it is good news. What supplements did you settle on in the end?

He is one one that has Glucosamine, chondroitin, msm and green lipped mussel. Also a high potency hyaluronic acid tablet and a devils claw (small dose of this one). One of my neighbours saw him out walking yesterday and said " he is walking so much better " .

> Ok so it is my fault then.  However whats done is done andwith the best will in the world I cant change it.  What I am trying to do now is whatever I can to help him.

Please don't think it is your fault. My Golden had to be neutered  really early too. He was a rescue that came to me at 9 weeks old and his adoption terms meant I had to have him neutered within 6 months of having him and the rescue would not change their minds on that issue. I left it to the very last day of that six month period and then had to have it done. I lost him two months ago at just under 14 years of age and he was a really active dog and competed in agility until he retired from it just after he was 9 years old.

I kept him as lean as I could due to the impact on his joints from agility, around 30kg tops,  and up until a couple of months before I had to say goodbye he was enjoying a good walk with the odd run when he felt like it. Early neutering can cause problems but that isn't the situation in every case as my own particular situation shows - your dog's problems might have occurred even if he was left entire. You did what you thought was right at the time.

I am really pleased that the supplements are helping and hopefully if he can lose some weight too ( easier said than done when they have a mobility issue) then he will continue to remain comfortable and enjoying his life

Delighted to hear your boy is improving.

Thank you Harley and Kate H