Hip issues in German Shepherd

jojo1974

Hi
I apologise in advance if this is a long post but I will try and keep it as brief as possible.

I have a 10 year old German Shepherd girl and about 5 weeks ago she started having issues with her rear legs. Coincidently this was the day after my husband suddenly died.

She isn't insured because she is too old.

I've taken her to the vets twice and she has been put on medication which seems to be helping, however here is the main problem.

As I am grieving my husband the thought of her being PTS is unbearable and I want to do everything I can to help her. The vet is aware of my circumstances but they are pushing for me to have her xrayed. I understand that they want a clearer picture so they can medicate her better but I just can't afford it. They are quoting £500 just for the X-rays. (My husband didn't leave any financial legacy)

They are pushing me hard to get the X-rays done and I'm finding it really difficult as I want my girl to be in less pain but I can't afford to do that and I don't want to put her to sleep because of finances.

I don't qualify for any vet assistance as I am not on benefits etc so I just don't know what to do. As it is the medication is costing £60 a month and I will find that but my changed circumstances is making something that is difficult a whole lot more difficult. Any advice?

Artytarty

Oh dear, what a rough time you are having! I'm sorry to hear that.
I can only see there being a benefit to having the X-rays done if you afford to go ahead with remedial surgery if suggested.
As it is, that looks unlikely.can you explain this to the vets?
Spending on your vets, they do sometimes have their own , self administered, welfare fund.
I wish I had an easy answer for you.

kaya

hello, i am in a similar situation as my GSD is 10 1/2 now and really starting to suffer with her hips, she had kidney issues a few months back which really seemed to age her overnight, i also have no insurance.Its terrible when dogs age and her condition wasn't unexected, its a case of best judgement really and to my knowledge there is no surgical procedure that can cure this and for a 10 year old GSD putting them through the trauma of anaesthetic and operations that may or may not make any difference seems a little unfair. As much as we don't ever want to loose them as a responsible owner we have to consider quality of life over quantity and medicating to keep them going when they are struggling and in pain anyway seems more for our benefit than thiers. Money is always an issue and you can only use your best judgement, i can't figure out how an x-ray would help decide what meds to give as this is such a common problem but then im not a vet.
I can't see that my girl will be able to get about for more than six months and like you i am dreading the day i have to take her to the vets but thats dogs, i have had ten years of loyalty, love, affection and fun with her and now i have to pay for it all watching her get older. Maybe ask your vetrenarian what the long term benefits of x-ray would be over those of not haviing it done

jojo1974

They have said that the X-ray will help them identify the exact cause of the problem, arthritis, hip displasia etc and once they have a better understand they can give her better medication and offer her more comfort. She's currently on metacam which has helped a lot but they seem to think there are better options.
At the moment I wish the world would stop turning so I can get off!

krlyr

I know it must be a huge upheaval in your life now. I would perhaps take a few days as a breather - she will be fine if she's on pain relief - and then at the weekend, start enquiring about potential help. You may find local rescues, or perhaps national GSD rescues, may be willing to help towards funding or run an appeal for you. You may find grants available, or recommendations of vets with payment plans as an option. May be worth seeing if you are entitled to any benefits that would make you eligible for PDSA, Blue Cross, etc.

I do think x-rays could be beneficial for your girl, but think in a 10 year old GSD, it's likely to be arthritis changes to the hips. It's generally arthritis in a dysplasic joint that causes the pain, and it's irreversible, so the fact she's showing symptoms probably wouldn't change treatment hugely if you're limited by budget.

http://www.offa.org/hd_treatment.html may be worth a read, as well as http://dogaware.com/health/arthritis.html


What I would suggest is looking into the use of turmeric/golden paste. There's a Facebook group "Turmeric User Group" which has all the info you need. You make the paste, though The Golden Paste Company make a ready-made version. My girl (Rottie x GSD, now 9) was diagnosed with arthritis in her shoulder last May, she was stiff every day, especially first thing. I got her on the paste, and the only time she's been stiff since is when I ran out for 2 weeks. It works wonders, it's easy to make (if a little messy!) and very budget friendly - I buy the Indus brand from Tesco for £1-2, the KTC coconut oil (virgin, cold pressed is recommended but the KTC stuff works fine if pennies are tight), and Tesco own whole peppercorns, so it doesn't break the bank and those bits will last months. Much cheaper than Metacam!

Do bear in mind the lifespan of the GSD though, we had them growing up and they all lived to around 13-14. That's another 3 or 4 years your girl could have, so although expensive, getting a good diagnosis and on the right treatment plan could make a difference.

teddysmum

I'm so sorry to red of your situation, but could you ask another vet for an X-ray quotation ?


If this is possible and more economical, you do have to let the new vet get permission to treat,as vet ethics are involved when changing during treatment for a condition.


Also,It is often cheaper to have a vet prescription and buy drugs online. Animed Direct are reliable and competitively priced.

gettingready

OP really sorry for both you and your dog xx

My Zara had double hip replacement when she was 6 yo, she is 9.5 now and despite the double hip replacement and both cruciates operated on (last year) AND now spine problems - in her mind she is still a puppy and acting like one. I am now looking into a new treatment for her spine just trying to put a plan together.

Without insurance and/or access to rather large amount of cash your options are unfortunately limited.

Have a look at Golden Paste as suggested above and also pls do not buy Metacam from the vet but ask vet for prescription and get it from a reputable pharmacy online for a fraction of the cost

http://www.animeddirect.co.uk/prescriptions/metacam-15mgml-oral-suspension-for-dogs-100ml.html

xx

elliesmemory1

I would speak frankly to your vet, it's unlikely that surgery would be a option anyway.
A good joint supplement may help. Youmove is good and not too expensive.
A bioflow collar may help.
Little and often exercise can be better than one long walk.
I think your vet is being a little pushy, maybe if they know your full circumstances they may be a little more understanding.

sangie595

It's never pleasant when we get old. Us or our dogs. But we also can't roll back time - I know because I have tried it with my own arthritis and it was miserably unsuccessful!

In a younger dog there are better options (although still pricey without insurance). In an old dog, it is what it is. You can assist and help - fixing it is no more likely than fixing me!

I have had the joy and the sadness of several very old dogs who have had joint problems. No matter what you do in their youth to help them, inevitably many will get the problems of old age. Don't feel guilty about what you can't do - get positive about what you have done and what you can do.

You have an old dog. Congratulations. You have succeeded in getting them to a ripe old age - and you wouldn't believe how many "loved" dogs never get there because they are just a little "too loved". Now there are things that can help. Metacam - well if it is suitable that's great, but it really is paracetamol for dogs. If your dog is mildly arthritic is may help - but probably not much from what you are saying. Rimadyl has a bad rep on the internet, but clinically it is actually very safe and rather effective. There are also a range of other options, including longer term shots. And I am not a vet but I am rather well informed - most of these can be prescribed purely on symptoms, just as the equivalents would be on humans.

You also do not need to buy drugs from your vet. Even with prescription costs, it is almost always cheaper to but on line, and any drug should be prescribed for at least three months and often six without needing another prescription.

From personal experience (but not as a stand alone treatment unless symptoms are very mild) - try Synflex and/ or Avocado Soybean Unsaponifiables - the latter was recommended to me for my own use by my consultant, and after doing some research I found that it is used for dogs by vets in several countries, but not much in the UK.

Beyond that, make sure that your dog avoids activities that puts strain on their joints. And just enjoy their old age. It is part of their life, and for what they lose, there are compensations.