Bad news for me and my lab

covlass

Ohhhhh no I really do feel for you, this is so sad. I have been through a hip replacement with my youngest lab Galaxy http://www.lab-health.co.uk/Yours/galaxy.htm
We give Galaxy Glucosamine and Chrondoitin and include oily fish in her diet, as people have said keep him warm and only very short walks.
Please keep us upto date hugs xx

elsien

Did you take out insurance before the vet first mentioned the condition? If so you should be covered, even if the vet did mention it when he had his boosters, as long as it was not immediately after the insurance commenced.
Hope you manage to get the poor boy comfortable.

nomis21

elsien wrote: »

Did you take out insurance before the vet first mentioned the condition? If so you should be covered, even if the vet did mention it when he had his boosters, as long as it was not immediately after the insurance commenced.
Hope you manage to get the poor boy comfortable.

I mentioned to the vet last year when i took him for his booster jab that i thought he was a little stiff, he was not diagnosed with a condition there and then but they put a footnote on his notes at the time stateing about the stiffness, ins was taken out this year.

nomis21

Just an update, i have chatted with the vet today and she has confirmed my labs condition as serious and he will only get better through surgery which would be extensive, i dont have the funds and doubt the ins will cover.
Vet said all we can do is make his life as easy as poss through weekly injections, physio and light excerise regime but the problem will get worse.

His condition is his back legs are not aligned in the hip sockets and his front leg is mis aligned and both back and front has new bone fissue growing which would need to be shaved before resetting and alligning his joints, when he walks his bones are rubbing and wearing and will eventually be unbearable, all major surgery, the vet said she was shocked at the severity. Although he walks well for now apart from he has to lie down often on short walkes then he goes stiff when i get him home, hes happy and he not restricted that much from doing the usual doggie things, the vet said he will be in mild discomfort which will get worse.
I now face a decision which only i can decide, do i watch my boy decline and suffer trying to make his life comfortable knowing he will have to be pts at some point or do take him to get pts while he is in mild discomfort and happy.
Really upsetting....

elsien

Sorry to hear the news isn't good.

I think it's too soon though to be thinking of having him pts while he's happy and getting on with things.
It's all a bit guesswork as to how long it will take him to deteriorate to the point where he's miserable - make the most of the time you have, and think about it more when you can see he's struggling.
You might have longer than you think, and he'll let you know when he's had enough.