More pixie dust for Bailey please.....UPDATED post #51

[Pinky166]

Well my troublesome little magic mushroom muncher is not too good....(aka Bailey, 5 month old Boxer puppy)

It started on Monday evening when she seemed a bit wobbly on her feet but I just thought she had been sleeping funny then yesterday she couldn't walk very well and kept sitting down so hubby took her to the vets but they said it could be a trapped nerve or something and to just keep an eye on her, if it got worse they would have to do x rays.

By 11pm last night she couldn't even get up hubby had to carry her out to use the garden before bed. At about 2.30am I woke to her crying. We both sat with her all night to comfort her and at 9am (opening time) went straight to the vets.

We had to wait 20 mins as we didn't have an appointment. The vet tried to examine her but everytime we tried to stand her up she collapsed so they said they were going to keep her in and X ray her spine, hips & back legs. They would also checked her blood. We came home and waited for what felt like a week until they called at 3pm to say the vet wants you to come in for a chat. The earliest appointment they had was 5.10pm.

We got there and the vet went through all of her X rays saying this legs ok, that part of the legs ok etc....then eventually we get to the last one - her hips, she put it on the light machine thingy and I pointed too it before she even said anything...basically her hip joint hasn't fully formed so the ball part that sits in the socket is not held in place it moves about. It's basically a growth defect but they don't think the part of the socket will grow so it may result in her needing a hip replacement but we won't know for at least 6 months as they want to wait until she is a year old to see if it changes.

In the meantime she has had an injection into the area today to reduce the inflamation (she has got to have a further three at least, one a week) she has got lots of pain killers to take, a special prescribed food for joint defects and some other tablets to help build up the joint. To be honest I was so upset I didn't take it all in but she is not allowed to play, go on walks etc for two weeks. We have to take her to use the garden on her lead - that's assuming she starts walking again soon. We are just devastated, I am so upset.

Sorry to ramble on for so long and sorry if it doesn't make sense....I am so tired!

 

[Mrs Hobbes]

Oh Claire I am so sorry to hear this about little Bailey, you must be physically and emotionally drained.

My thoughts are with you both and sending pixie dust for Bailey

Keep in touch and let me know how things are when you get a chance

 

[The Fetherstons]

Oh Claire poor Bailey sending you all lots of hope he has a better night tonight and makes a speedy recovery. Take Care Keep us informed please

 

[Deedee]

Oh poor Bailey its awfull when your pets get sick because they can't tell you whats up. I hope the medication works sending to you both and Bailey

 

[CustardTart]

Awww hun, I just read your PM and I am so very sorry. TBH I had a bad feeling when I got home and saw you hadn't posted all day. Poor little Bailey - fingers (and everything crossed) she can adjust and the drugs help her deal with what must be excruciating pain... Thinking of you all and sending you shedloads of ...

Lots of love Karen xxx

 

[LeCras]

Oh I'm so sorry, you must be so distressed right now! I hope everything works out ok with little Bailey - Milo (our five month old Beagle) sends love and kisses! Please keep us posted, you're in our thoughts.

Charlotte

 

[Graeme]

Both my last dogs had hip defects, it may not be the end of the world.
My cocker spaniel, Polly, had a similar condition to what you're describing, and never showed any ill effects after puppyhood. She just seemed to learn to live with it and was still walking and running up until the day before we lost her at 13.

My cairn terrier, Dill, was 14 when we lost her about eight months ago but when she was about nine she dislocated her hip. The crap vet I saw when I took her in, (the leg was all over the place and she was in obvious pain), told me she'd pulled a muscle but during the examination managed to put it back in - sort of.
About a day later she slipped on the kitchen lino and it popped back out again. I took her to the practice owner who xrayed her and said that it had dislocated, she put it back in and told me to bring her back if there were any problems. She explained that there is only a short window of opportunity with dislocations before the two parts of the joint begin to scar up and you can't get it back in properly. She was concerned that we'd missed that window.
Next morning we were back at the vets as she'd slipped on the stairs and done it again. The vet I saw that day said that he was going to operate and he would book me in. He said he would insert a wire through the whole joint to hold it in place. He told me the alternative was to cut the ball part of the femur off and let it form a false joint.
I wasn't happy with this and said I wanted to see the owner again. She told me that she wasn't going to do anything!! But then went on to explain that with small dogs, (Dill wasn't a small cairn - about 12kgs), there isn't a massive load on the hip joint and that if it doesnt connect properly the muscles just take the strain and manage perfectly well. She told me to keep her in the house for about four weeks I think, no walks anyway, and gave her painkillers.
After about three weeks she was driving me up the wall so I took her out. She was running about with no problems, although she did have a funny lopsided gait for the rest of her life. She went up hills, mountains and on very long walks with me after that and never showed any signs of stress.
I was beside myself when she did it and was imagining all sorts of horrible treatments.

I hope Bailey's OK, give her a kiss from me.

Have a read of this - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_dysplasia_(canine)

 

[Pinky166]

Thanks everyone. Been up with her as she is in so much pain, hopefully her painkillers will help in the morning.

Graeme thank you for sharing you give me hope. I will read the info tomorrow at a less ungodly hour when hopefully it will sink in!

 

[mandymouse]

Aww, lots of hugs and pixie dust to Bailey, and you too Claire. I hope you get some good news soon and that she makes a quick recovery

 

[jockey]

I hope little bailey is better soon

 

[natalielongstaff]

Hope she is ok soon

 

[jjk]

Hope Bailey is better soon

 

[Minniespal]

Poor Bailey - sending lots of that she recovers quickly.

 

[Goofysmate]

Sending love and best wishes for Bailey and hope the pain killers kick in soon so that bailey can settle down a bit. the poor love must be in alot of distress.
Hugs for you both Claire & Graeme

 

[CustardTart]

Thanks everyone. Been up with her as she is in so much pain, hopefully her painkillers will help in the morning...

Hope you both managed to get some sleep, Claire - please don't forget to take care of yourself as well as Bailey!!!

 

[Bolanette87]

Poor little Bailey.... Hope shes better soon...

Bob xoxox

 

[Claire L]

Oh no poor little Bailey and poor you for all that worry Hoping she is better soon

Claire

 

[tennisfan]

Hope Bailey is ok, our dog had to have part of her hip removed as it was a common problem in Westies, she was fine after it was taken out. It was never replaced. Its amazing how animals can diversify in order to survive.

 

[Snowy-girls]

Claire i am so sorry to read this news .I wish Bailey better real soon +as Graeme says-it does'nt necessarily mean the worse.Take care of yourself as well Claire-you know where i am if you need a chat .x.

 

[saratogagirl]

Oh Claire, I am so sorry to hear your news hun, huge hugs to you and Bailey, I hope things get sorted soon xx