Early Onset Hip Dysplasia?

[kayepaye]

Hi everyone.

I have a beautiful 23-month-old Fox Red Lab mix named Harbour.
When she was about 7 months old, she was diagnosed with early onset hip dysplasia, and unfortunately it has gotten significantly worse over the last year or so. She has a very hard time with stairs, getting in/out of vehicles, even getting on to my bed is a challenge for her.

She is currently on a daily pet kelp Joint&Bone supplement (Pet Kelp Supplements - Bone & Joint Supplements for Dogs and Cats)

She is also on a daily homeopathic pain reliever
(Dog: Muscle, Joint Arthritis | King Bio)

She has been on the pet kelp supplement for the last year, and she has been on the pain reliever for the last 4 months or so.
Unfortunately, I have not seen much improvement with either of these products, and her condition continues to deteriorate.

Despite her being very symptomatic, she still wants to run and play and swim like a normal dog. She LOVES to wrestle with her sister, and will run at the park for hours, even though she has a hard time keeping up with the other dogs.
Her whole puppyhood has been spent in discomfort, and I feel awful for her.

Does anyone have any suggestions to help with the dysplasia? She isn't even 2 years old yet, and I know it's only going to get worse, so I'd like to help her as much now as I can.

I have opted against more radical treatment options (such as surgery) because I have been through surgery myself and I do not want to put her through that. A full hip replacement is 9-12 weeks of recovery, and an additional 8+ weeks of physical therapy. PER HIP. That's almost a year of her life that will be spent in agonizing pain, and I simply cannot do that to her. I feel as though putting her through that just so I can have more time with her is extremely selfish.

Here is a photo of my beautiful baby

[Labradorks]

I would personally opt for surgery if my vet felt that she would have a great life after her recovery. For god's sake, she is only two years old! What's a rough year when she's so young and has at least another ten years to go? Actually, it's not even a year, it's about six months. Otherwise, she may suffer for the rest of her life, not to mention not being able to do the things she loves. Her puppyhood has already been in pain. I would choose a hard year over choosing euthanasia for a young dog or watching her suffer. Dogs are amazingly resilient. They don't sit around and feel sorry for themselves like humans, they take things day by day. Six months of this type of pain and work for a dog versus a human is totally different. They don't have to work to pay bills, drive to get to work, make meals, take care of children, maintain a home, etc.

[dogmom]

Surgery sounds as though it is the only solution. If she is at the level of discomfort you describe at this young age, logically, she will have a greatly shortened, painful life. So if surgery and recovery took one year, wouldn't one year of some discomfort/pain (which she is already experiencing) be worth her remaining 6 to 8 years of life being possibly pain free or at the very least, wayyyyyy more comfortable?

I have, unfortunately, had a number of orthopedic surgeries. Yes, initially, there is pain but the improved pain levels and quality of life was absolutely worth it. For me anyhow.

I try to measure risk vs reward, time vs longevity, pain level vs life expectancy. And everyone has financial considerations. I personally would spend anything that would improve/correct my pets quality of life. Just my 2¢…

[3ChocMom]

I agree, I don't understand your logic for opting against surgery. She is so young. Have you seen an orthopedic specialist? If not, I would suggest you do that, rather than getting the opinion of a general practice vet. An ortho vet will better be able to tell you how your individual dog will fare with and without surgery. Is the homeopathic pain reliever the only pain meds you are giving? I'm all for the natural approach whenever possible, but if your dog is in as much pain as you say, she probably needs something stronger. I would ask your vet for something like Rimadyl, Tramadol, Gabapentin, or something along those lines. You may see much more improvement when her pain is adequately controlled.

ETA - My dog tore her CCL when she was 9 months old. She was out of commission for 8 months, between trying conservative management first, then surgery and recovery. Yes, that is a relatively long time in the life of a dog, but she was just a puppy. Not doing surgery was not an option. She is now back to normal and pain free. If you can get years more with your dog that are pain free for her, one year of recovery is better than the 2 years she's already gone through in pain every day. That's just my opinion and I know with severe cases of HD, getting the dog to "normal" may not be possible, but it's worth exploring for your dog's sake.

[Berna]

My dog doesn't have HD, but he has ED and two CCL ruptures in his history, and also spinal arthritis. He is 8 and he is doing great. From my experience, what helps with joint issues and arthritis is... muscle mass. Keep your Lab moderately active, let him swim and ask your vet about physical therapy. It will help your Lab with pain and will build muscles (water treadmill or pool).

[BaconsMom]

I would get an opinion from a vet orthopedic specialist. Surgery may be a great option for your beautiful girl

[csblabmom]

I would get to an orthopedic specialist ASAP. Our Coast dislocated a hip at 6 mths old- was then diagnosed with severe bilateral HD. At 9 mths he had hip replacement surgery- the surgery failed due to infection and he ended up having FHO surgery. Knowing what we know now, we would have had the FHO surgery from the get go. With the FHO, there is not the restrictions of a THR. (even with a THR- that 9-12 weeks is not restricted crate rest- just a gradual build up of excercise)
Coast has a funky gait with the FHO, but he runs, jumps and plays ball with his 3 lab siblings. (well, until he ruptured his CCL- but we are recovering from that as well.)
Go talk to an ortho. Your baby is too young to be in so much pain. Good luck to you- feel free to PM me if you have any questions about what Coast had done.

[Bridget]

I too would opt for the surgery at that young age. My GSD, Heidi, was diagnosed with hip dysplasia when she was 5, but was not a candidate for surgery, according to the vet. But her HD wasn't nearly that bad. She is almost 13 now and just in the last year began to have big problems with it.

[kayepaye]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I've asked for my vet to refer me to an orthopedic specialist. My vet did not seem to think that surgery would be worth it, but I'd like to get a second opinion.
We have tried stronger pain killers, but she has a very sensitive stomach, and after 1 week of Rimadyl she was puking up blood. I know she will need something stronger if she has surgery, but I will have to do some research on strong meds that are easy on the tummy. The orthopedic surgeon is about a 6 hour drive away, and it will be a bit of a wait until we can get it.
I am hoping that they have an option that isn't going to put her through hell. I know she is in pain now, I just hate the idea of being the cause of even more pain for her. I know once the surgery is done and she is healed she would probably feel so much better, the idea of it just scares me. I know people who have gone through hip replacements and the recovery process is long and hard.
She also has a heart defect that may affect her reaction to anesthesia, her spay surgery went fine though so that's good. She is in physical therapy right now, once a week she does the water treadmill, and at least 3x per week I take her swimming. She also gets a massage every 2 weeks and I am looking for somewhere that offers acupuncture treatments.
I will keep everyone posted once we see the specialist.

[Labradorks]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I've asked for my vet to refer me to an orthopedic specialist. My vet did not seem to think that surgery would be worth it, but I'd like to get a second opinion.
We have tried stronger pain killers, but she has a very sensitive stomach, and after 1 week of Rimadyl she was puking up blood. I know she will need something stronger if she has surgery, but I will have to do some research on strong meds that are easy on the tummy. The orthopedic surgeon is about a 6 hour drive away, and it will be a bit of a wait until we can get it.
I am hoping that they have an option that isn't going to put her through hell. I know she is in pain now, I just hate the idea of being the cause of even more pain for her. I know once the surgery is done and she is healed she would probably feel so much better, the idea of it just scares me. I know people who have gone through hip replacements and the recovery process is long and hard.
She also has a heart defect that may affect her reaction to anesthesia, her spay surgery went fine though so that's good. She is in physical therapy right now, once a week she does the water treadmill, and at least 3x per week I take her swimming. She also gets a massage every 2 weeks and I am looking for somewhere that offers acupuncture treatments.
I will keep everyone posted once we see the specialist.

From what you are already doing, and it is not working (or it is, but she's just so bad that what you're doing only goes so far), hopefully she is a candidate for surgery. While there is a recovery, it sounds way better than the alternative! My older guy, when he was alive, had tummy issues with the painkillers as well, which makes things tough. My dog's father actually died from taking painkillers when it gave him leaky gut and he died of liver toxicity. Good luck!

By the way, does your pup have a breeder you can talk to? If so I would strongly encourage you to contact him or her and let them know of your issues.