Updated: My 7 month old labrador has elbow dysplasia - any experience anyone?

[WDWFOREVER]

Not Disney related, I know, but as so many of you are dog lovers I hope you don't mind my plea for help. I am posting both on the US Community Board and the UK one.

My 7 month old labrador puppy, Molly, has been diagnosed with elbow dysplasia in both front legs - where the elbow joints don't meet because they haven't formed properly. Understandably the whole family is devastated.

Saturday before last, I was sitting one end of the sofa, Molly the other. When I got up, Molly trotted along to steal the nice warm patch I had just left. However, when my back was turned I heard her yelp. I assumed her leg had slipped down between the cushions and she had maybe pulled a muscle. We rested her for the whole of the week and by the following Saturday she had stopped limping so we took her over the forest on Sunday morning. By the evening, she was limping again so we took her to the vets on Tuesday evening. Thats when we got the news.

After a night of tears, I started to get practical yesterday and done a bit of research on the internet. I feel a bit better now and more positive. However, it would help so much to hear from anyone who has personal experience of this with their dog. I hope, in many ways, that none of you have had to face this but, if you have, I would welcome hearing your experiences: specifically whether your dog had surgery or coped well on medication.

Molly has to go back to the vet on Monday next week as he wants to see if she is responding to the anti-inflammatories (Rimadyl, 50mg twice a day) that she has been taking. I think she is responding well but from what I have read so far, that does not necessarily rule out surgery. It may be that it should happen sooner rather than later for her long term health.

Thanking you in advance.

Jackie

 

[squitty]

Jackie

I am so sorry to hear this, I have no advice to give you. I hopefully will never experience this.

All I can send you are some {{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
and hope that it all works out for Molly.

 

[KayleeUK]

I haven't heard of this but just sending you and Molly tons and tons of pixie dust

 

[Ellay]

Sorry I can't help, just wanted to say I hope everything goes well. I know how heartbreaking it is when a pet is ill. Give Molly a hug for me.

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Aw I am sorry.
Sending Molly lots of hugs

 

[Goofyish]

So sorry to here about your Lab

My Barney sends Molly a big Labrador hug.

 

[WDWFOREVER]

Thanks Tim. I'm considering sending you half the vet bill since it was the beautiful pictures of Barney that made us go and see Molly and her siblings so its all your fault I have her. Only joking - I wouldn't swap her for the world. She is the most adorable creature and we love her to bits - bad elbows and all! I just feel so sad that she is in pain (or was - the anti-inflammatories seem to be helping) at such a tender age. Still, with lots of TLC (and she gets tons of that!) we will make her life as comfortable as we possibly can.

DS was so distraught at first as he thought we might have to lose her but once I explained that I had lived with arthritis and bad joints for the last 27 years and no-one had put me down yet (although DH says I haven't lost my chance!), he has started to come to terms with it all.

Thanks for the good wishes everyone. I will make sure Molly gets a cuddle from all of you.

Jackie

 

[Byrne family]

Hi Jackie,
I'm quite new to the boards,and still getting used to using them. Abount 11 years ago we bought a beautiful Golden Retriever from the pet shop across the road. We were very happy until we popped into the pet shop to get some food after taking her for a walk. The owner of the shop noticed she was limping. We immediately got her checked out, the vet said he had never seen such a bad case of hip displasia. He informed the pet shop, and within a week they stopped selling dogs! There wasn't anything they could do for our dog and aslong as we didnt walk her very often she didn't seem to be in pain. She lived until she was 9 which we didn't expect after the diagnosis she'd been given. The only problems with not walking her was that she had to go on a diet frequently and she got bored( and chewed alot of things). When we had to have her put down she had been ill for a while with a bladder infection.

I don't know if this is helpful to you, but we had 9 wonderful years with her, and we all still miss her.

 

[WDWFOREVER]

Byrne family

Welcome to the boards! And thank you SO much for posting. It helps to know that someone had such a positive outcome. I am glad you were able to spend 9 fulfilling years with your dog. Isn't it awful when they are gone though? It took us 5 years to finally get another dog. And I am so glad we have her, dodgy elbows and all! We have the vet visit tomorrow to find out where we go from here. The good thing is Molly seems to have responded really well to the anti-inflammatories and is absolutely desperate to run although obviously we are still walking her on the lead as the vet advised. I am really nervous about tomorrow and will be glad when it is over.

I'll post with an update as soon as we have some news.

Jackie

 

[brambletiger]

Hi Jackie,

I have a Shih Tzu who is 7 years old, when he was 3 he was diagnosed with severe hip displacia in both back legs. On advice from a friend we bought him a 'bioflow' magentic collar, that was 4 years ago and the results are amazing Sam went from being a dog who could not walk to the kitchen to one who now runs rings around our Border Collie, we also bought a Bioflow collar for our cat who had oesteo-artheritis this seemed to help her but sadly we had to have her but down 2 days ago due to brain disease.
Try a bioflow collar on Molly and if it doesnt work they give you your money back, also try cod liver oil capsules and aloe vera juice (bought from holland and barrett). Good Luck!

Sarah

 

[WDWFOREVER]

Sarah - thank you. Will try anything to help her. I am just waiting for a call from my DH who has taken her to the vets this morning. I'll let you know what they say ....

 

[WDWFOREVER]

DH just called. Vet is extremely pleased with Molly's response to the anti-inflammatories and has given her another week's supply. Does not want to do surgery at this stage because he thinks we can control her pain with medication and really, surgery is the last resort.

We have to watch her closely. Because both front legs are affected, she may not necessarily limp if they are playing her up. However, he said we would notice her slowing down and not "pulling" with her front legs when she ran.

So, lots of TLC is the order of the day. Thankfully, she is not a manic dog and I am hoping her natural sedate personality will keep her fit and well for years to come with the odd assistance from anti-inflams/painkillers as required.

Thank you so much to everyone who sent good wishes.

Jackie

 

[KayleeUK]

Good news Jackie......I hope Molly gets much better

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Aw thats great news, Hope she get's better soon.
Hugz, for Molly.