Hips displasia/arthritis - may be a time for the op....

gettingready

Dog walker called me today saying that after 30 min walk Zara's legs were pretty bad - told him to take her home.

Called my vet and asked to be referred to Fitzpatric Referrals - he did.

Just got a call from them, Zara has an appointment for Monday the 28th May.

Friend offere to take me there (over 45 miles each way, I do not drive, friend lives on the other side of london......so will have like nearly 200 miles trip from her to me, from me to Fitzpatrick then back to me then back to hers)....

Will see what they say but I know Zara needs an operation - possibly on both her back legs, she is not even 6 years old yet

Insurance will cover the cost but I have no idea how am I going to manage post op care in a 1st floor flat with a 40kg dog that will need to be carried up and down the stairs for pee/poo few times per day....

Especially as I am not supposed to do any heavy lifting myself.....

BUT - she is my fury baby so will do what I have to do for her

TallGirl

Aw that is really bad news especially as you are recovering yourself. How are you getting on with the Purinaone trial. My two like it how has it been for your lot.

Also wishing you a speedy recovery.

Fosterdog

Aww poor girl and poor you (((hugs)))

The best thing you can do is wait for the specialist to look at X-rays. My foster boy had X-rays a few weeks back and the specialist had thought he would need a double hip replacement. When the X-rays were done it showed that the hip replacement is no good as his legs and spine are too far gone to do the op. All we can do now is keep him as pain free/lower the pain for as long as possible.

Although it seems like a nightmare dealing with the post op care it's the better option than them saying nothing can be done.

It may be worth starting to train her to go on puppy pads/newspaper and letting her go indoors if you can't get her up and down the stairs, a pain to clean up and far from ideal but easier than the alternative.

I really hope you get good news for her, fingers crossed

gettingready

Thnks, really worried about what will they say.

Hopefully they CAN help her, she is not even 6 years old yet my poor girl

Fosterdog, sorry to hear about your dog - how odl is he/she?

This is what I am thinking to get her to toilet in one place indoors but she is a funny thing and I doubt she would do it.. unless I grow a patch of grass indoors....

Fosterdog

My boy is only 5ish but he's only so bad so young because of a lifetime of abuse and neglect. I'm devastated because he finally has a safe home and life and he won't be around long enough to enjoy it. I've been told best case he has four years left but a lot less if there are problems medicating him or he goes downhill faster than expected.

Wellyboots6

Oh I am sorry to hear that GR

Do you have a balcony? Could you turf it and train her to go on there?

Is there anyone you could stay with, or Zara could stay with while she recovers?

Wellyboots6

Is it worth contacting the insurance company too and seeing if there is anything they can help with?

gettingready

Fosterdog - so sorry to hear that... hope he has as long as possible and pain free to enjoy his time with you...

Katy - no balcony. It is not a case of having someone stay with her but getting her up and down the stairs 4-5 times per day...

Will work something out as and when....

Thanks a lot

paddypaws101

Oh Gr, it never rains but it pours hey? Looks like Zara wants her own fancy operation scars to show off!

Wellyboots6

I meant if she goes on a little recovery holiday somewhere else where she can get to a garden easily?

gettingready

Paddywapws - something like that.....

Katy, no, do not have anyone n ground floor/in a house with garden that I could say move in for 6 weeks with Zara, have to manage somehow from my own flat.

Going to check up to my consultant today, got to ask him how soon can I carry/lift anything more than half a kettle of water..hmmmmm

So far Teddy could not grasp that concept, I let him in and he lies down belly up for me to carry his 8kg upstairs... sigh...

But Zara is 40kg and impossible to carry by myself (size not just weight), need 2 people for that..

Will see what Noel Fitzpatric says when he sees her/her xrays.

I know they offer some kind of boarding for post op dogs but doubt insurance would cover that, will have to talk to him and then check with the insurance although I would hate to leave Zara post op into any kind of kennels...