Lunar Posted November 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 Thanks for that tip, MaggieDog - I'll look into that. I've already searched the meds on 1800petmeds.com and I can get generic meds much cheaper. So we might do that. We've been thinking about the possible link to his issues, as well. It might explain his issues with his feet being touched - well at least the back ones. (We got his nails clipped while he was sedated, yay! They were way too long and we couldn't get to them.) Though with his resource guarding I think it's just resource guarding, heh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allie+Tess&Kipp Posted November 1, 2006 Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 I'm sorry to hear this, but glad you have a diagnosis and hopefully hip replacements (yikes! Expensive!) will give him a long, happy life. Somehow I am having trouble imagining Zeeke in a recovery period. You may want to start stocking up on sedatives now. Allie + Tess & Kipp http://weebordercollie.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunar Posted November 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 Yeah, the doc was saying that some doctors do both hips at once, others do one at a time and my first thought was "BOTH!!! how in heck are we going to keep him calm TWICE??" Oy. He's already on limited exercise - definitely no agility, no more playing with Zoe in the yard. This will be fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anda Posted November 1, 2006 Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 Natalie, I'm so sorry for Zeeke and for you guys! At least he is somewhere where he's going to be taken care of. If you would have given up on him earlier, who knows what would have happened to him in such distressful times?... I hope this will bring you all closer together and that Zekee will come out just fine from this ordeal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allie Oop Posted November 1, 2006 Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 Sorry to hear about Zeeke. So sad that it happened so early in his life! I love GSDs, but hip dysplasia is unfortunately very common in the breed (even in mixes). My dog, Kamp, was a GSD/Rough Collie and he had hip issues in his later life, too. However, there are a lot of good medical treatments these days that can make his life better and less painful. I wish you all the best as you contemplate which avenues to pursue. Regards, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieDog Posted November 1, 2006 Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 Just thinking some more - is there anywhere you can take eeke swimming to build up muscle w/o high impact exercise? Definitely check into the holistic options as well if you can - alternative medicine can work wonders. Also, I asked at Maggie's vet recheck about glucosamine and chondroitin and they recommend CVS brand glucosamine, triple strength. For a dog Maggie size (32lbs) they suggested 2 tabs am/1 tab pm for two weeks, then dropping down to 1 tab am and pm after that. Those recommendations are for preventative joint care btw. hth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunar Posted November 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 Thanks much guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitch Posted November 1, 2006 Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 Oh Natalie, I am so sorry to hear this. I went through a similar scare with Dublin earlier this year, though in Dublin's case it turned out not to be HD. I did some research at the time though (because I, too, was freaking out about cost) and I suggest you check out Tufts Vet School and Cornell Vet school. They often do surgeries at a greatly discounted rate as they are teaching facilities. For example, when I thought Dublin was going to have to have cruciate surgery, it was going to cost $3500 at the only specialist in my area but Cornell would do it for $1500. Also, check out KV Vet Supply and Springtime Vet Supply (they have websites). You can buy powdered Glucosamine for ~$35/tub and MSM for $10/tub which is much cheaper than the pills. Get the ones listed under horse products. It is the same product as the canine one, just not in pill form so it is cheaper (and easier to mix in food). The suggestion for swimming is a great one. It will tire him out and help reduce stress on the joint by building muscle. There is a animal physical therapy place fairly close to you (Lee, MA) that has swimming facilities and it is relatively inexpensive. My breeder recommended it to me as she had to bring one of her dogs there when she was recovering from shoulder surgery. It costs more if you have a vet tech go in with him, but you can have the vet tech go in the first time or so until you see how it is done and then you can go in with him yourself and it is cheaper. Hope this helps. Hang in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammy525 Posted November 1, 2006 Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 So sorry Natalie. Zeeke must be the major test in your life. If you are willing to sacrifice all of this for Zeeke, I am very impressed. I hope he realizes soon how lucky he is to have you. (Do I mean dh or Zeeke?.........) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammy525 Posted November 1, 2006 Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 Oh, and how does all of this fit in with your travel plans? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixie_Girl Posted November 1, 2006 Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 Natalie, I am so sorry y'all are having to go through this. I know the anger you are feeling towards breeders that keep breeding dogs that produce affected puppies. It sure could be what makes him touchy. You got a lot of good suggestions. Prayers and hugs for y'all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunar Posted November 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 Tammy, you're right. My head is still reeling at everything we've had to go through for this dog. He is far from our first animal - either of us - and yet he has been the hardest, most expensive, most frustrating one of all of them. With his behavior problems, his energy and needs, and all his health problems... I just sometimes am at a loss. He's our special needs child. Kerry - I checked online for pills, but I didn't think of powders. Great suggestion. And I had no idea about the physical therapy place... that would be really good, especially after his surgery (whenever that happens)... he'll need to keep working his muscles somehow. The vet did say that right now he has very good muscles and he needs to keep that up. And the vet schools! Ooohh that is an excellent suggestion. I'll have to look into that for sure. As for travel plans... I don't know. I just don't know. Either way we're going to have to go into debt for a surgery, we're going to have to let everything process before making decisions. I mean how soon do we have to do it? He must be in pain now, but a hip replacement surgery... god. I don't know if *we're* ready for that yet. And I still have this overwhelming feeling that travelling is not a good idea. Maybe this is why I was feeling like that, I don't know. My mom is now saying they'll pay for us, but that is a whole 'nother problem. I'll have to talk with DH about travel. He's still processing everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goatdonna Posted November 1, 2006 Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 Natalie I have had GSD's for the last 50 years-yep I'm old. Several have had hip problems. With Tico, our current rescue GSD we have found that the Synovial G-3 helps him much more than the straight glucosamine and chondroitin. I mentioned this to my vet and she said other people have has similar results -the added MSM,fatty acids, antioxidents, etc seems to make a real difference. Another friend has found that the Adequan injections to be very effectgive with thier dog. I think there is a thread on this in the Health and Genetics section. I think I will try this, if the Synovial G3 stops being effective. Another frend had very small gold beads injected in her dog. He was diagnosed with HD as a young dog and is now 12+ and has just started showing stiffness and soreness. She found a vet in Indiana that used this procedure. Good luck. Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc friend Posted November 1, 2006 Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 I've known several young-middle age dogs who had hip replacement surgery at A&M (the closest vet school to my area) and all of the dogs have done very well. The surgeries were substantially cheaper than the private specialty clinics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunar Posted November 1, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 Just curious - when would people recommend getting a hip replacement surgery done? I mean, we obviously don't want him to be in pain - but we don't want to do it if it's not really necessary yet either. The feeling I get is that the suppliments and painkillers could do a lot for him. We only just noticed a problem because he was really hurting from over-exertion and we plan on limiting his movement to prevent that from happening anymore. I just don't know what's usually done... would you absolutely go get his hips replaced if you had the cash? (Not that we have several extra thousand laying around, but hypothetically...) Or would you wait until he showed signs that he needed it? Donna thanks for the tip about Synovial G3. I'll look that up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyrasmom Posted November 2, 2006 Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 One more referral for SynoviG3 and other Synovi products. One of our pooches has bilateral elbow dysplasia and while we have to use Rimdayl now and again if he exerts himself or if it's rainy and humid, the Synovi really is a quality product and has helped a lot. I know surgery will be in his future but for the past two years he's been holding his own, and like Zeeke, he's a young dog. Sorry to hear about it though, there is no easy answer but at least you have a few options, including pain management, until your mind can process it all rationally. Hugs to Zeeke, Maria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carson Crazies Posted November 2, 2006 Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 Aw, Natalie, I'm sorry. Poor guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyByNight Posted November 2, 2006 Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 Oh Natalie, I'm so sorry. I'm not that far from you. Let me know if there's anything I can do. I also know someone whose dog had to have hip replacement surgery. He moves around great now, but was in a lot of pain beforehand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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