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Panic to denial and back again



 
 
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  #1  
Old December 21st 03, 11:09 PM
Chris
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Default Panic to denial and back again

It's gotta be done. Making appointments with orthopedists to see what
can be done for Mac's hips. He's symptom free (but bored) if I don't
bat tennis balls for him. He's stoic, so I don't know if he's in pain.
Have you heard accounts of hip replacement? If it comes to that, do
dogs return to the kind of activities they most enjoyed? He's seven, so
if it's in the cards for the future, seems like it would be better to
have it done before he gets any older.
Are there failures with the procedure? What then?

  #2  
Old December 22nd 03, 06:22 PM
Mary Healey
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Default

Chris wrote:
...Making appointments with orthopedists to see what
can be done for Mac's hips. He's symptom free (but bored) if I don't
bat tennis balls for him. He's stoic, so I don't know if he's in pain.
Have you heard accounts of hip replacement?


Sorry, Chris, I forget things. What else have you already tried for
Mac's joints?

--
Mary H. and the Ames National Zoo: Regis, Sam-I-Am, Noah (1992-2001),
Ranger, Duke,
felines, and finches

  #3  
Old December 22nd 03, 06:22 PM
Mary Healey
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Posts: n/a
Default

Chris wrote:
...Making appointments with orthopedists to see what
can be done for Mac's hips. He's symptom free (but bored) if I don't
bat tennis balls for him. He's stoic, so I don't know if he's in pain.
Have you heard accounts of hip replacement?


Sorry, Chris, I forget things. What else have you already tried for
Mac's joints?

--
Mary H. and the Ames National Zoo: Regis, Sam-I-Am, Noah (1992-2001),
Ranger, Duke,
felines, and finches

  #4  
Old December 22nd 03, 06:22 PM
Mary Healey
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Chris wrote:
...Making appointments with orthopedists to see what
can be done for Mac's hips. He's symptom free (but bored) if I don't
bat tennis balls for him. He's stoic, so I don't know if he's in pain.
Have you heard accounts of hip replacement?


Sorry, Chris, I forget things. What else have you already tried for
Mac's joints?

--
Mary H. and the Ames National Zoo: Regis, Sam-I-Am, Noah (1992-2001),
Ranger, Duke,
felines, and finches

  #5  
Old December 22nd 03, 06:22 PM
Mary Healey
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Chris wrote:
...Making appointments with orthopedists to see what
can be done for Mac's hips. He's symptom free (but bored) if I don't
bat tennis balls for him. He's stoic, so I don't know if he's in pain.
Have you heard accounts of hip replacement?


Sorry, Chris, I forget things. What else have you already tried for
Mac's joints?

--
Mary H. and the Ames National Zoo: Regis, Sam-I-Am, Noah (1992-2001),
Ranger, Duke,
felines, and finches

  #6  
Old December 22nd 03, 09:34 PM
Chris
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Posts: n/a
Default

What else have you already tried for
Mac's joints?
--
Mary H.

Well, he's been on glucosomine for years because Granny was, so they
all went on it. MSM and yucca. Swims twice a week and his weight isn't
a problem. Had a round of VOM (veterinary ortho manipulation) which
seems like voodoo, but the vet said it helps. Since he has no symptoms,
I couldn't see a change, of course.
What's killing me is the looks he gives me when I don't throw a ball
for him. I tried, and failed, to teach him not to throw himself into it
with such exuberance, because he winds up sore.
The problem is ..... would it be worth the risk of radical treatment
if he were returned to full functioning? Or would that be too great a
risk, since he's 'getting by'?
(It's midday, and I haven't called for an appointment yet, because I'm
afraid of being stampeded into a decision I'll regret.)

  #7  
Old December 22nd 03, 09:34 PM
Chris
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

What else have you already tried for
Mac's joints?
--
Mary H.

Well, he's been on glucosomine for years because Granny was, so they
all went on it. MSM and yucca. Swims twice a week and his weight isn't
a problem. Had a round of VOM (veterinary ortho manipulation) which
seems like voodoo, but the vet said it helps. Since he has no symptoms,
I couldn't see a change, of course.
What's killing me is the looks he gives me when I don't throw a ball
for him. I tried, and failed, to teach him not to throw himself into it
with such exuberance, because he winds up sore.
The problem is ..... would it be worth the risk of radical treatment
if he were returned to full functioning? Or would that be too great a
risk, since he's 'getting by'?
(It's midday, and I haven't called for an appointment yet, because I'm
afraid of being stampeded into a decision I'll regret.)

  #8  
Old December 22nd 03, 09:34 PM
Chris
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

What else have you already tried for
Mac's joints?
--
Mary H.

Well, he's been on glucosomine for years because Granny was, so they
all went on it. MSM and yucca. Swims twice a week and his weight isn't
a problem. Had a round of VOM (veterinary ortho manipulation) which
seems like voodoo, but the vet said it helps. Since he has no symptoms,
I couldn't see a change, of course.
What's killing me is the looks he gives me when I don't throw a ball
for him. I tried, and failed, to teach him not to throw himself into it
with such exuberance, because he winds up sore.
The problem is ..... would it be worth the risk of radical treatment
if he were returned to full functioning? Or would that be too great a
risk, since he's 'getting by'?
(It's midday, and I haven't called for an appointment yet, because I'm
afraid of being stampeded into a decision I'll regret.)

  #9  
Old December 22nd 03, 09:34 PM
Chris
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

What else have you already tried for
Mac's joints?
--
Mary H.

Well, he's been on glucosomine for years because Granny was, so they
all went on it. MSM and yucca. Swims twice a week and his weight isn't
a problem. Had a round of VOM (veterinary ortho manipulation) which
seems like voodoo, but the vet said it helps. Since he has no symptoms,
I couldn't see a change, of course.
What's killing me is the looks he gives me when I don't throw a ball
for him. I tried, and failed, to teach him not to throw himself into it
with such exuberance, because he winds up sore.
The problem is ..... would it be worth the risk of radical treatment
if he were returned to full functioning? Or would that be too great a
risk, since he's 'getting by'?
(It's midday, and I haven't called for an appointment yet, because I'm
afraid of being stampeded into a decision I'll regret.)

  #10  
Old December 22nd 03, 10:35 PM
dianne marie schoenberg
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Posts: n/a
Default

Chris wrote:
It's gotta be done. Making appointments with orthopedists to see what
can be done for Mac's hips. He's symptom free (but bored) if I don't
bat tennis balls for him. He's stoic, so I don't know if he's in pain.


Has an orthopod previously told you to cut out playing ball
with him? Because when I was going through all this with K.C.
I got the opposite advice. It's very important to keep dysplastic
dogs well-exercised--but I suspect you already knew that.

The main problem with tennis balls is that they can take odd
hops, so dogs can wrench joints when going after them. Might
a frisbee be an acceptable substitute for Mac? I don't mean
the fancy jumping-up-and-catching kind of frisbee playing,
nor throwing it into his mouth (both very bad, IMHO). But
if a dog'll chase a frisbee going away, it'll plant itself
nicely on grass when it lands, which makes it less risky
than playing ball.

Have you heard accounts of hip replacement? If it comes to that, do
dogs return to the kind of activities they most enjoyed? He's seven, so
if it's in the cards for the future, seems like it would be better to
have it done before he gets any older.


Actually no. Hip replacements only last a certain number
of years, and usually have to be periodically redone in
people. Since dogs have shorter lives, that's not *usually*
an issue with them--but for that reason you'll probably
find the orthopods against doing one on a relatively young
symptom-free dog.

Are there failures with the procedure?


Yes. About 5%.

What then?


It's bad. They'll try a second one if possible, but if not
(or if the second one fails) if the dog can't get by without
a hip joint, the only alternative is euthanasia. It's a
fairly risky surgery, all told.

The good news: I've known lots of dogs with cruddy hips that
have remained pain-free all their lives. The main secret
seems to be keeping up with that exercise--if they get even
a couple of weeks' break in their regular exercise routine
they can start to go downhill fast :-(. Glucosamine's good,
of course; you might also want to look into Adequan (it's a
once-a-month injection with similar but more effective joint
protection effects). Some people swear by herbs: one thing
I've heard very good things about (but haven't tried myself)
is a product called Hoka-Mix. But what worked best for K.C
(and is also working well for Patience, who has some arthritis
in her back) is accupuncture.

So don't go imagining the worst just yet! You've still got
a lot of alternatives to explore.

Good luck,

Dianne
 




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