reidlass avatar image

FHO procedure Femoral Head Ostectomy -advice

Good Afternoon, I am new to this forum and would like some advice on some medical issues for 7month old bulldog puppy is having which is causing me severe anxiety.   I purchased a puppy from AKC Breeder and around three to four months old I started to see his back hind legs going out on him.  I was told it was luxiating patella and after seeing three specialist and calling my breeder I was refered  to her vet to do the operation on both knees.  After going through the surgery, I was advised to take him to rehab, he was still scooting around and couldn't walk. I became very concern.   I am now told after visiting another speicalist, he needs two hip replacements which totals around $6,900 a piece and correction of his knees again because the hips where not sitting right when the surgery was done.   Please give me some advice, my breeder vet is discussing a alternative operation called FHO instead of hip replacement which is substantially cheaper.  I don't even care about cost. I just want this poor puppy to have a normal life he has been in and our of vets office and surgeries since he was four months old.

Any advice would be appreciated , this is my first bulldog and is his great dog, his name is Mac, thank you Anne Marie

ArchimedesMommy's picture

Welcome!! So sorry about Mac! I don't have advice, but wanted

to say I'm so sorry your sweet boy has gone through all of this!!!!   (( hugs ))  There are so many knowledgeable humans on this board,

I hope some of them can give you their advice / thoughts.   Please give your sweet Mac some (( hugs )) from Meaty, Sophie, and me!  :-)

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Our sweet Archimedes "MEATY" Bones (or as we say...boneSHHH!)    ---born 11/28/08---- our first bullllyyyy!!!

And  SOPHIE  Bubbles *Rapscallion*   (LOL!) ---born 4/3/11----our second bulllllyyyy!!!!  

AmyandSophia's picture

OMG. Almost every Bulldog puppy has loose hips and knees....

Which take time in this breed to tighten up. My own little girl had bad knees and hips when she was a young pup, but I listened to the advice on this board and did not allow the vet to do any form of surgery. I put her on 1000 mg of Glucosamine daily, and she was fine at one year old.

Please, I am telling you, GET A SECOND AND THIRD OPINION!!!! Do not let another surgery happen, but rather, start your puppy on a glucosamine supplement right now, the leave it be for at least 6 months. Have a totally different, bulldog knowledgeable vet see your puppy at that time, you should have much better prognosis. I have a bad feeling your breeder and vet gave terrible information to you and you have spent a LOT of money unnecessarily. Unless you find a really good Bulldog vet..DO NOT DO ANY MORE SURGERIES!!!! You are being taken for an expensive ride.

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Amy and Sophia

reidlass's picture

Thank you

Thank  you so much, I will try that.  I was so upset this puppy deserve a life and I have seen three specialist in New York and PA, I live in New York so I went to one of the top bully vets that is very well known and I was told he needed this surgery but at this point I feel there has to be better options then to put my puppy through all of this.  I have spent alot of money , thank you for your advice

AmyandSophia's picture

No self respecting Bulldog vet tells you to surgically...

Repair these issues with surgery at the young age of 4 months. I can't imagine it. Find a bulldog vet on the home page of BDW, maybe there will be one in your area that comes with a good recommendation from others here.

I wish you the best.

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Amy and Sophia

reidlass's picture

Thanks you so much for your

Thanks you so much for your kind words and your welcome.  

reidlass's picture

thank you for advice

HI Everyone, thank you for your advice.  I spoke to my vet who is on the BW list of vets and he recommeded  I get another opinion on Mac's hip replacement.  He said he has never heard of a 7month old bulldog receiving to hip replacements.