6 month old with Hip Dysplasia
Submitted by cblanchard76 on January 10, 2012 - 8:51pmI need some honest opions and some advise. My American Bulldog Babe Ruth started limping on New years Eve. Today she had xrays done the Dr stated she has Hip Dysplasia and has recommeded immediate surgery. Babe is only 6 months old. Does anyone have any knowledge about this. I have 2 appointments set up at the local animal hospitals in my area. Our first one is this thursday and our second on is next tuesday. What should I be asking? I've read mixed reviews about surgery on such young dogs. Please help...
I would do
other alternative treatments before I would ever have those surgeries done a six month old puppy. If she is in considerable pain then that is another issue but if she is limping because she over exercised, then I would rest her for a couple of weeks, start her on joint supplements, if she isn't already and ask about Adequan injections. Bulldogs do have loose hips, although they should not have hip dysplasia either, but they don't have the same hips as other breeds of dogs.
Unfortunatelt without a video we can't tell the severity of the limp.
I had a bitch diagnosed with a Grade 3 luxating Patella, which is severe. I opted not to do surgery and a year later the same vet checked her again and said that same patella felt great. Go figure!
Agree about not jumping into surgery
I don't have any hip experience but when Onslow tore his CCL they wanted to do surgery and I opted to wait it out and let him rest it that was when he was about 2. He is 5 and runs walks and jumps on it just fine! ALWAYS get a second opinion!
Good luck!
dont know too much about this
dont know too much about this topic but i have read that if you xrayed every bulldog, the vast majority would radiographically have hip dysplasia despite if they actually have any clinical symptoms of it. thats a big surgery on a young dog so it would definitely be worth getting a second opinion. is this vet very experienced with bulldogs?