Leg Calve Perthes Dx

[Ania]

I may have missed the post about this..but what were the symptoms? Was your babe able to put any pressure on the limb? Any signs of pain?

He would yelp once in a while when playing with Maia. At first I thought it was just them being a bit too rough, but it got more frequent, and then once on a walk, he yelped, layed down and just shook with pain. I carried him home. I felt around, and he did not seem to mind me touching him anywhere. I knew something was off. I took him to a chiropractor, but the next day, he was in pain again. (which he shouldn't have been if it was just a subluxation of the hip). He would limp from time to time, but not much. Lately, he is much more reserved, and does not engage in play as much at all. I can tell that he is very protective of that hip. Plus, he just looks sad. He wants to play, but he can't because of pain. Two weeks ago, he just went off into my room and lay on my bed the entire day - which is completely unlike him, so I knew he was in pain and that is when I made an appointment with an orthopedic vet. I took him to a regular vet two weeks before that, but she said she could not feel anything was off. But with this, the hip does 'feel' and palpate fine, it's the x-ray that tells the story.

I did email his breeder. I will email her again, advising her of not breeding the parents, as that would be very irresponsible. This is not a disease that anyone or any puppy should be possibly subjected to.

 

[elaine2004]

I'm so sorry Ania, you have had to deal with enough already !

Well, I got some bad news today. I took Chinook, my 9 month old, to the orthopedic vet today, because he was having pain and sometimes lameness in his left hind leg. I took him to the chiropractor a few times, but did not notice much improvement. I thought it was possibly hip dysplasia, but after the vet took x-rays, it came back as Leg Calve Perthes Dx. It is the necrosis of bone (death) due to lack of circulation to the hip bones (the head and neck of the femur) No wonder he is in pain and lacking in energy and playfulness. Unfortunately, the vet himself is going in for surgery next week, so Chinook's surgery is not until March 23. They will basically excise (remove) his hip (the head, neck and trochanter of the femur and part of the acetabulum (socket)). It is a long, slow recovery (six months). Hopefully it will be a full one and he will be fine, or he might have a slight limp. For now, I have to limit his exercise (which is so hard, as Maia is all over him all the time to play) I am so upset. I just lost my first baby to cancer not even a year ago, and now this. I was so hoping to have a healthy puppy. He's only 9 months old! This is very hard emotionally. I know he will not die, but it just brings back all the fears and pain from 9 months ago. My heart is breaking for him. And here I thought he was just 'lazy', but instead he was in pain.

I'm certain that operation is going to cost an aweful lot of money. Is the breeder going to help out with the bill because it is hereditary !:sadsmile: I know you have been through so much already. Since you have the time to wait due to the vets surgery have you looked into organizations that will sometimes help with some of these situations. I believe if you look in the archives under health you will find the list of organizations that assist with pets. Prayers will keep going your way till we hear good news about Chinook!

 

[BarbV]

He would yelp once in a while when playing with Maia. At first I thought it was just them being a bit too rough, but it got more frequent, and then once on a walk, he yelped, layed down and just shook with pain. I carried him home. I felt around, and he did not seem to mind me touching him anywhere. I knew something was off. I took him to a chiropractor, but the next day, he was in pain again. (which he shouldn't have been if it was just a subluxation of the hip). He would limp from time to time, but not much. Lately, he is much more reserved, and does not engage in play as much at all. I can tell that he is very protective of that hip. Plus, he just looks sad. He wants to play, but he can't because of pain. Two weeks ago, he just went off into my room and lay on my bed the entire day - which is completely unlike him, so I knew he was in pain and that is when I made an appointment with an orthopedic vet.

For him to react like this, truly means significant pain. My vet says that Shelties have a very high pain threshold and will "hide" their discomfort so that owners don't even know that something is wrong. If he's sulking by himself, if my vet is correct, it must be very bad.

I'm so sorry. Is there anything that can be done to ease his pain until the surgery can be scheduled?

 

[Noneeds4me]

I feel so badly for him. With our boy that had the double femoral head ostectomy...he would have trouble getting up, or laying down.. Once up, he seemed fine? Never limped at all. Then, as time went on...poor baby made it clear he was hurting. He jumped down off the sofa and I thought he broke something because he cried and cried and cried! I know your baby will be fine. The tough part is first the waiting...and then before you know it...the recovery will be over. At least after the surgery, you know he will be getting better from there. I too am curious if the breeder is willing to help out at all. If anything, would it be unreasonable to hope that she would give you back the money you paid for him to go towards his surgery? Just a hopeful thought. Might be unreasonable on my part...what do you think?

 

[Ania]

I wrote the breeder, and she offered me a new puppy. Well, that is all fine and dandy, but I don't want another puppy. I love Chinook no matter what. I'm not sure how to approach her with regards to getting my money back, after all, he was sold with a health guarantee for two years. I'm not a breeder, so I don't know what the proper protocol is. Any advice from breeders out there?? I know what I paid will not come close to paying for the surgery and then rehab, but at least it would be a start.

I agree that shelties do 'hide' their pain well. Luckily for me, I am overprotective since Dorian died of cancer, and watch my two like a hawk.

 

[granite]

You have a health guarantee...look it over closely. Does it offer to refund the cost of the puppy only? If so, then you should remind the breeder. I agree with your choice of not taking another puppy..you HAVE a puppy! She should have offered to return your $ as soon as you declined a replacement puppy. Don't be shy, get out your health guarantee and give her another call.

 

[BarbV]

I agree. And tell her, just like you did here! You don't WANT another puppy - you love the one you have!

If you don't ask, you don't get. I'm sure it will be a relief for the breeder only to refund your money - otherwise she's giving up another pup and taking back a pup that now she'll have to spend money on the surgery for.

Good luck!

 

[myminpins]

It's extremely common for a guarantee to say puppy will be replaced if a problem occurs.

With my Penny, the breeder got a copy of all the documentation from me once it was all over. The total cost was about $5,000, which included the Tolfedine, the operation, then the almost six months of massage therapy.

She agreed that, yes, it was LCP and she'd never use that female again (which I know she has not - this was two years ago) and she promised me a new puppy IN ADDITION TO Penny if I wished. She could not replace the money - and I know for a fact they do NOT have money - so I was satisfied.

This lady is awesome and will do anything for her dogs and others' dogs and hasn't much to her name. She is all heart and does many things others would not (like bottle feeding others' dogs as no one else will do such things, it's so time consuming) and going out of her way to ensure all her dogs are healthy and cared for. I know they're basically dirt poor so I didn't push the issue of money whatsoever.

Now, if she DID have a very comfortable life, I may have pushed harder but I really couldn't. Even though I no longer have Penny, this lady placed her for me, keeps me in touch with Penny's new owner and we still talk all the time. We are good friends. I never took her up on the new puppy offer but it's still there should I ever change my mind.

This lady is all heart and would do ANYTHING for her dogs. She was heartbroken to hear about Penny and was livid that the person whose dog she bred with didn't inform her about this. (She found out later he has done this before and Penny was NOT his first LCP puppy! She has spread the word far and wide to hopefully help this not occur again but she cannot legally do anything to him, of course)

Anyway, I hope the breeder will help you somewhat or at least your vet will arrange a payment plan for you and maybe give you a bit of a break since the costs here are mostly time, not supplies or equipment, and it'll be months before your baby is back to normal and this is really major surgery.

I know veterinary costs have gone through the roof these days but I also know you want him pain free and would not consider a replacement.

Maybe the breeder will give you ANOTHER puppy later on when you'd like one? It's a thought and is better than nothing - maybe? I don't know.

Best of luck to you. I hope the surgery goes well and your boy feels better soon.

And by the way, I would NOT give him pain meds right now or only very little. The pain is there for a reason - to ensure he doesn't overdo it and make it worse or hurt himself. If you take away his pain, he may do something and hurt himself, fall, make it worse, etc. If you can, I'd give him as much rest as you can and hope the time will fly.

I know how awful this is and it's horrid when they come home and you KNOW they REALLY hurt but you also know they're still young and will heal quickly and it'll be over with soon enough.

I think the surgery is your best option no matter what as I've read up extensively on LCP as well and most seem to think that immobilizing it MAY work FOR A WHILE but I don't think it's as FOR SURE as the surgery is. This way, it's done and over and you can go on.

Take care!

 

[Ania]

I am not sure what Chinook's breeder's situation is financially, as she lives just outside Edmonton, AB and I live in Winnipeg. I never met her personally. Her friend that lives here, came to interview me before she would sell him to me, then he was shipped her on a plane.

And I agree about not giving Chinook any pain meds for now. The vet offered them to me, but I declined for the exact reasons you stated Brenda. I know that if he starts to 'feel' good then he will overdue it and could make things much, much worse. I am giving him a little Arnica Montana, a homeopathic remedy and that seems to have lifted his spirits. I may use some pain meds for the first few days after the surgery, and then switch him to homeopathic remedies, and see how he does. Thank you for all your advice and support.

 

[myminpins]

Sounds great.

I will say that Penny required pain meds for a LONG time after surgery so you may have to give them longer than you're thinking but if you can find homeopathic ways to relieve his pain, that'd be awesome!!!

You may also want to try acupuncture (if you're able). It seems to help dogs a lot, too.

Good luck!