Canine Hip Dysplasia - urgent advice needed

krlyr

My old GSD had the injections - was about £125 for the 4 week course (am in an expensive area though, and not the cheapest vets). Unfortunately it didn't make a huge difference for her, and because you can't give NSAIDs alongside them, she was suffering without the pain relief and not really having enough benefits from it for me to want to continue it. She found car trips very stressful anyway and hated going to the vets, so they were factors I had to consider too. But I've heard of them doing wonders for other dogs - I think it's the same stuff they use for humans with tennis elbow?

mac.d

My 3-year-old labrador was diagnosed with HD about 6 months ago. I've yet to see the specialist but will do so (no insurance so affording any op is difficult). He's been going to hydrotherapy and he's had his ups and downs but it does seem to be helping a little.

Anyone have any advice on dry dog food for helping him to lose a little weight? He needs to lose a couple of Kg's and despite cutting his food down, along with the reduced exercise he's actually put more on.

I've been feeding him Skinners and have just bought the Senior & Light version of it, but as has already been mentioned, it just seems to have more grain in it as a filler, which doesn't seem ideal with my boy having arthritis.

krlyr

You could feel less of an adult food and bulk it out with veggies - empty calories really but will help him feel full. If he's gaining weight despite eating a reduced amount then something to consider could be a health cause, thyroid problems can cause excessive weightgain.

Wellyboots6

Thanks Lisa, makes me feel a bit better about the whole thing to hear it might work

Krlyr, what are NSAIDs? He is still on his painkillers, he just can't take one on the day he has the injection.

mac.d your pooch may not need an operation, or they may decide they won't do one anyway as in my case. It could be something they could manage with medication. If you have no insurance though an op will be really expensive Hydrotherapy seems to be helping Tyson so far, they are getting a good look at how his legs are moving too so are able to pinpoint how best to help him.

He is in a foul mood this morning because he has decided he doesn't like his new food!

Bromley86

Non Steroid Anti Inflammatories. Like ibuprofen (for humans).

Wellyboots6

Thanks Bromley. I think he might be taking these too though. I will have to google the names of his tablets to see what they are for.

lisawood78

Storm is on the injections 6 weekly and Loxicom as and when we give it to her.
No contra-indications given by the vet and she is doing fab.

Wellyboots6

How long did it take for you to notice a difference?

Do you stop taking the tablets after the 4 week period?

krlyr

katy721 wrote: »

How long did it take for you to notice a difference?

Do you stop taking the tablets after the 4 week period?

I'm hoping Lisa gave the tablets to her dog rather than taking them herself :rotfl:
My experience was about 8 years ago now so advice may well have changed, but back then it was advised to stop the NSAIDs a few days before the first injection and keep off them for the whole course. The injections didn't have enough of an effect to outdo the effect of the painkillers. She was on Metacam though - Rimadyl just didn't touch it, so perhaps different tablets react with the injections differently. I think Metacam is a bit harsher on the liver, kidney etc. so that might be why (but long-term prognosis wasn't really a worry for us, to be honest)

Wellyboots6

He is on Carprieve tablets which are an anti-inflammatory. I checked and he isn't actually on any painkillers at the moment.

He takes the Carprieve every day, except on the day he has his injection.

I hope they don't put him on Metacam again, he had some horrible side effects with it last time