loumabel Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Hi all, I haven't been on the forum for ages so apologies for just coming back and asking a question straight away. Life has been a bit manic and I just haven't had time My Labrador Ben has hip displaysia which we have managed for the last 9 years with painkillers and Hydrotherapy but we have now reached a point where we have had to see an orthopedic surgeon and he has advised a total hip replacement on both hips!! at a cost of £10,000!!!!!! Unfortunately Ben is not insured as we knew he had hip displaysia when we got him from Battersea dogs home. Now don't get me wrong 10 grand is a lot of money but we will find it from somewhere if its the best thing for Ben. I am wondering if anyone has had a hip replacement on their dog and how successful it was and also what the recovery is like. As you can imagine we are very concerned and hearing your experiences would be really helpful. Thanks in advance to you all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 My Mum's lab had both his hips replaced, first at 5 / 6 years old and second around maybe eight years old. He made a full and fast recovery after each op, after a short recovery period you wouldn't even have known there was anything wrong with him. Prior to having his hips replaced he was on metacam and having hydrotherapy and acupuncture. The surgery really was life changing for him. He carried on a very active life and was pts just after the Jubilee bank holiday at the age of 12.5. He was insured so that wasn't an issue and I know that my Mum was so pleased that he had the surgery, it gave him back the life that he had before his hips gave him trouble. I wish you the best of luck, it is heartbreaking to see your dog like that, my mum was devastated, she has spent a long time finding a breeder where both parents had very low hip scores and but that didn't stop poor Ollie struggling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 How old is Ben? I don't have experience of hip replacement but I think my decision would be partly influenced by the natural life expectancy, and also whether he is young enough to make a good recovery. As you say you've been managing this for 9 years, I'm guessing he is 10+? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 It is a tough choice to make, I've never had a lab that has needed it yet but i would consider quality and length of life. My Dylan is a lively 8 year old working lab and it would be a definite yes if he needed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted August 22, 2012 Author Share Posted August 22, 2012 Thanks to you all for your replies. It is so good to know that it can be a successful operation and he could live a happy pain free life afterwards. Ben is 9 yrs old or there abouts we are not too sure as he is a rescue dog. The specialist said that he is not too old for the op and i guess he could have 4 or 5 years to live yet (fingers crossed!!!) We are still not completely decided whether to go ahead or not but after your thoughts and manukas story I think we are swinging towards going for it. I will let you know what we decide and how he gets on, thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted October 2, 2012 Author Share Posted October 2, 2012 Just thought I would give you a quick update on Ben. He had his right hip replaced 3 weeks ago and is doing really well. After a couple of dodgy days, he has gone from strength to strength and I am so glad we had the operation done for him. He had his clips out last Wednesday and can now go for some very limited 5 minute walks a few times a day which he is very happy about. The rest of the time he is confined to one room in the house and is not allowed to go upstairs for 6 weeks or jump on and off furniture or go on slippery floors which is a bit of a nightmare in our house as we don't have a carpet anywhere. We now have offcuts of cheap carpet all over the place as a temporary measure so he doesn't slip and my hubby has moved a bed downstairs so he can sleep with Ben as our dogs sleep upstairs with us usually. It has been a bit stressful and a lot of upheaval but I am convinced it is the right thing for Ben in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted October 2, 2012 Share Posted October 2, 2012 What a decision to have to make, so glad to hear he's doing well. I sympathise with you on the recovery, our rottie did his cruciate ligament and had to have a plate put in, keeping him confined for those weeks after the operation was rather stressful. Will you have the other hip done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted October 2, 2012 Author Share Posted October 2, 2012 oh poor you Kinsk, cruciate ligament is a nightmare!! and I don't envy you having to pick up a Rottie and carry them about, they are not the lightest dog in the world I hope it all turned out ok for your dog? They are a worry arent they! We don't know if we are going to have Bens other hip done yet. We go back in about 3 weeks time for a follow up consultation and xray to see if everything is ok with the new hip and I think we can discuss it with the specialist then. I am hoping we can get away with just having the one hip done, Hopefully he can get about on three good legs and it will take the pressure of the other bad hip. I really don't want to put him through another op if we can avoid it, he is getting up there in years now. Do you remember how long it took your dogs hair to grow back? Poor ben looks like a poodle with weird shaved bits and they also shaved half his tail!!! I am worried he will be cold in winter too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angeluk69 Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 I don't have any personal experience of one of my dogs needing this op but, I do walk a 3yr old Lab who had the double hip replacement op and although he is only able to go for 30 minute walks each day, he is extremely lively and if you didn't know you wouldn't know. As far as I know he had the op at approximately 1 year old and his recovery was quite quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 Do you remember how long it took your dogs hair to grow back? Poor ben looks like a poodle with weird shaved bits and they also shaved half his tail!!! I am worried he will be cold in winter too at shaving his tail! Bless him. Can't remember how long it took his hair to grow back. He had his operation some time in November and his staples taken out end of December so it must have still been pretty short then. It was the really bad winter we had a few years ago, everything was frozen solid and he was only allowed out on a lead, trying to stay upright on sheet ice whilst hanging onto a big dog that's been cooped up all day was pretty dicey at times! Fingers crossed he doesn't need the other one doing, now ours is getting older, like you, we'd have to seriously think about putting him through that operation again if the other one went. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 It was the really bad winter we had a few years ago, everything was frozen solid and he was only allowed out on a lead, trying to stay upright on sheet ice whilst hanging onto a big dog that's been cooped up all day was pretty dicey at times! Sorry, shouldn't laugh but have been there myself - you need Yaktrax, Kinsk - best thing I ever bought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 I'm glad that Ben has done well following his operation. Wishing him a full and speedy recovery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted October 10, 2012 Author Share Posted October 10, 2012 Thanks Majuka!! that is really nice of you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
