6 1/2 mos Hip xrays...Opinions Please - Page 7

Agree Susie. Too much remolding for it to be a young dog in less than nthree months. Something isn't right with those xrays. Maybe the wrong ones. Happens sometimes.

I have not the experience most of you have, none the less I was no less than shocked at the phone call telling me Dravens hips were no longer suitable for TPO. Especially after keeping him from rough play and allot of running.

People here keep saying the first xrays weren't very good . I have no experience there either. I have never been into breeding, and never had a dog with issues that needed xrays. I have wondered, were the first xrays so bad that damage couldn't be seen ? Regardless of the xrays, his movement told me something was more than a little wrong. He was walking cross legged in the rear. He would sometimes go off balance, and almost fall. He was constantly stretching his hinds. He was consistently bracing his rear hocks against each other. He was getting up from a long lay, like my 10 yr old Blackie. I first noticed an "off" gait at 5 mos. I managed his activity then, thinking injury. There was no improvement. It seemed to be getting worse... Thats when I took him into the first vet and got xrays.

The 2 vets I sent the first xrays & Video to, both said there didn't seem to be allot of damage but there was certainly a skeletal problem. The second set of xrays sent me reeling.

The first thing I worried about was...Did I not keep him restricted enough ? I have a pup that doesn't even attempt to jump into my car . He puts his front feet up, and waits for me to lift him the rest of the way in. Then there were the sporadic, short forays to scatter the chickens...and the only two stairs he was allowed, off my deck. Was it too much ??

Next I am left wondering if there is some other sort of degenerate disease that I don't know about.... ? Could he have been diagnosed HD because he is a GSD...without really looking for something else?

I am left looking around, not knowing what I am looking for.

Tomorrow I will be calling Dr.Schmidt, and maybe I will find more answers. Until then I just keep looking.

Should I ask both vets if either of them could have mixed up xrays ?
 

I would put a chip in him so that any X-ray can be marked and identified, why was there no identification on the X-rays (none shown in pictures)

As the others have said how the hips can get so bad from the first to the last X-rays in that short amount of time and you taking care of him.

The first set of X rays shows femoral head remodeling at a very young age. Given this, the second set of X rays is exactly what you would expect--extensive femoral head remodeling after several months. As the dog gets bigger, the stress on the hips gets worse, which accelerates the damage. There is nothing remarkable about this.

Moreover, Draven's obvious severe pain is totally consistent with what the second set of X rays shows.

This is genetic. There is no way normal exercise could cause this.

If you continue to be whipsawed back and forth every time an ignorant post appears here, you are going to lose your mind and you will not be able to help Draven. He needs a THR. Now.

Lots of folks who post on the Internet don't know their butt from a hole in the ground when it comes to HD but that doesn't stop them from opening their yaps.

You have a very high opinion of Dr. Schmidt, and it appears rightly so. There is no reason to insult him by suggesting that he is such a careless clod that he mixed up the X rays. Even worse, basing this accusation on nothing more than some ignorant Internet posts.

In one of your earlier posts, you said about the first set of X rays:

"I got a second opinion...both said "Moderate to severe" HD. I then sent the exrays to another vet , and he also said the same."

These opinions are clearly correct.

So why are you now saying: "The 2 vets I sent the first xrays & Video to, both said there didn't seem to be allot of damage but there was certainly a skeletal problem. "

"Moderate to severe HD" means substantial damage.

Poor Draven. Is his only chance for pain relief--a THR--going to be taken away from him because of some ignorant Internet posts?

 

Western Rider,

There was identification on the original files sent. I vets office uses www.antechimagingservices.com . The links were in the body of the email and opened to show all 3 xrays, with my info and dravens pat. number. The link expires in 30 days. I downloaded them to my computer and the info didn't transfer.
I will ask the vet tomorrow.

I am more surprised that Drave's first xrays didn't show worse than they did... I was watching him walk, and get up.... In those 3 mos...I was becoming increasingly alarmed because of things looking to be worse. He could no longer sit and scratch his neck. My relief at the first ones, was great....because I expected them to look like the new ones.

LOL JonRob...

Nothing is stopping me from getting the ball rolling Monday. NOTHING.

Thank you again for your input.

I can come up with enough cash for one hip. After that I will be doing my very best for the second....no mater what anyone says.

You have a way of saying just the right things to make me feel better... or who knows...maybe it's your girl friend.... either way...thank you!!!

 

 

"Nothing is stopping me from getting the ball rolling Monday. NOTHING."

Well that is great news.

You have got to stop feeling guilty about this. No amount of sprinkling herbs or dabbing fish oil on his food, or keeping him scrawny, could have prevented this. He was just genetically screwed as far as his hips are concerned. It happens.

BTW, is he as charming as he looks?

Oh, and my girlfriend is still spluttering and swearing about the ignorant posts.

But we are both glad if my posts have helped. This is a rough thing to go through, as we know from much personal experience.

OOps...forgot to answer this...

" So why are you now saying: "The 2 vets I sent the first xrays & Video to, both said there didn't seem to be allot of damage but there was certainly a skeletal problem. "

That was in reference to....with not allot of damage...he could be a good candidate for TPO.

I try not to keep checking myself...it's a thing I've done all my life...with everything. I battle it though.

What can I say about Draven... One of his nic names is A^^hole. He is an independent cuss. He had a way of sitting off and looking at me like..."and what are ya gonna do about this ?" I would smile and mutter under my breath...you little a^^hole. I learned to just walk away from him. The look that would come over his face always mademe laugh...like " THATS CHEATING !!!"

I've trained my share of dogs (my personal dogs) but he is different. He figures things out, and is teaching me a new way to train him. I have to outsmart him. He watches everything I do...and remembers it. The first time I noticed this.... he was maybe 3 mos old... He usually comes down to the chicken coop with me...not this day. He decided to nose around in a big outdoor kennel I have. I went about my business. I finished my feeding and began walking back up towards the house...noticing Drave's nose peeking out from under a shade tarp. He was hiding. Stalking me. I pretended I didn't notice...and walked into his trap.... sure enough he came out like hell fire. I leaned down to catch him with a " Raaawr"...and he came on and pounced me...giving me a nice deep claw mark across my lip. He waited for me on the path he knew I'd take...He's a plotter.

He was stand offish...until I somehow passed his test. Now, I am his. Yup...I love him...and he is mine too ;-)

Now that is a beautiful classic GSD head. He looks very pleased with himself too.

Clawed lips are no fun but I like the pounce joke. It shows he has a sense of humor and that is a very good thing.

Very interested to hear what you find out today.

 

People need to be careful who they 'listen' to.