Hi everyone! I have recently "aquired" a lovely 11 month old golden cocker spaniel. He has severe hip displacia so i would like to ask anyone experienced what else i can do aside from what i am already doing. Here's his case so far...

His x-rays were referred to a specialist in Warrington who told me today he is too old for 1 type of hip operation, and too small for a complete hip replacement. He weighed 11KG when he came, He now weighs 11.92KG. I have started him on Hydrotherapy twice a week (which he loves) acupuncture once a week and raiki once a week (can't do any harm!!). He is also on Metacam and Synoquin and goes for 10 minute walks AM & PM when not doing hydro. He WAS on Pedigree chum complete - puppy, i am slowly introducing him to eukanuba as i don't feel he gets enough from the previous food.  He has been with me 1 week and i can already see a vast improvement in his gait. I am no breeder and ABSOLUTELY no expert...just have a lot of time and energy to give to him so need ANY advice on anything else i can do to help the little guy. ANYONE?

I know of a dog who dislocated it's hi at age 10 by falling fom a first floor balcony that wasn't yet fenced in.  After trying to reloae it several times the vet cut the head of the femur of.

A year later the dog is running around as if it didn't have athing wrong with it, with that leg held in place by muscle alone.

I can't remember what the procedure is called, but is somethign worth considering if pain is an issue.

Good muscle is what will help with this problem so I would suggest if you can fit in another 10 minute walk or even two this will build him up nicely.  I would imagine that after that the walks could be lenghtened, but seek your speciall8sts advice.

This was the advice of a specilist giving a talk on HD who had a severely dysplastic labrador, who he worked lightly despite her problem.

Thanks Brainless!! I've been told by the vet that that i shouldn't overdo his exercise while he has SO little muscle. It is that bad, his front end is like a staffie's and his back is hunched cause he's been putting all the weight to his front. I wouldn't like to do too much work with him and make it worse. I was thinking along the lines of help regarding diet / supplements? I am aware i have to be careful as the synoquin contains glucosamine and chondroitin and he can get too much of 1 thing. Any idea's??

It's called an FHO Femoral Head Osteotomy. Particularly well suited to small dogs.

Kat

Isn't that where the joint is supported by muscle only? If so, I don't think he has enough to support the joint. He has absolutely no muscle, he has the back end of a jack russell :-(

This si why it is important to build his hindquarters up with little but often, gradually of course.  If he si swimming adn doing two walks a day now you can then build in a thid, of the same time length, then a fourth, and then up the ime, but of couse using his comfort as a guide.

It is just like people being rehabilitated after a long time in hospital, their muscles hae wasted and they need to learn to use them again.

I would imagine once the muscles are good, then f there is too much pain in the joint the FHO would be an option.

I would take the specialist (not the GP Vet so much) advice obviously.

Personally I wouldn't feed Eukanuba either...try Nutro or Autarky for building bulk, good luck! Dawn

Hi my dog has HD in both hips, and spondylitis of the spine he is only 6(Boxer) he goes to hydrotheraphy twice a week (been going for about 3months now) and I have seen a great inprovement, he is building muscle up around his hips now where he had none before............he is also on Glucosamine, Devels claw& Yucca(pain relief)............he also wears a Bioflow magnetic collar ( every little helps)............like Newfie says I would get him onto a good qaulity food, one that has human grade meat and no additives.

I agree as Dudley has severe HD a score of 86 and her hindquarters are very well built as we have been very careful  on her excercise routine ;)

Stuart our vet was amazed at her muscle mass considering the severity of her HD :D