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#1
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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