On Tuesday night we were all going to bed. As my sister and her husband were staying due to my early departure I was sleeping on the couch. Beary got up from his spot on the floor and I noticed he wouldn’t put any weight on his right back leg. Bella has often done that after she’s been laying in the one spot for a while but it’s just her leg going to sleep, like our human arms and legs do if we lay on them for too long.
Thinking that was all it was, I went to sleep. At 2am I heard an awful yelp and sat bolt upright to Beary who was on the floor beside me making hurt whimpering sounds. I got up and his right leg was sticking out to the side – he couldn’t put any weight on it and when he’d tried to jump onto the couch it obviously caused him a lot of pain. I didn’t sleep a wink after that and thought more than once that I would not go away to my work conference, how could I when I didn’t know what was wrong with my baby boy? The only thing that got me out the front door at 5:30am was knowing my sister {who is the only person on earth who is as paranoid hyper vigilant about any tiny change in puppy behaviour as me}, would be sure he got to the vet at 8am when they opened. We thought he’d hurt his paw.
So when I was a 90 minute flight away late that night and my brother-in-law called to tell me that he’d been anesthetised and it wasn’t his paw, but his hip, I’m not sure that I’ve ever felt so helpless and wished so hard for a teleporter. Thus my not getting much sleep.
Bubba has been giving Beary LOADS of extra love and today I went to talk to our vet. He has hip dysplasia in his right hip. And he will, at some point in the unknown future, need a hip replacement. Which is not a small or cheap operation. At the moment we’re treating him with meds and anti-inflammatories. Our vet wants to see how he goes on these first, and is of the opinion they will buy us some time. Unless he does something to aggravate it. So rambunctious games of bitey face with Bella will need to be reigned in.
I’m researching what else I can do to help keep him comfortable. His quality of life is of utmost importance to me. This is not about me or how I feel. This is about him. I’m happy to hear about supplements, alternative therapies, massage – anything that any of you who have fuzzy loves with hip dysplasia have tried. We’re all {fuzzy} ears.
At the moment I need to be angry at someone about this, so I’m angry at the breeder who bred him and sold him to the pet store. I’m obviously happy the young couple who fell for his dashing good looks and charm and bought him. If they hadn’t we would never have met, I wouldn’t have become his failed foster mumma, and I would have missed out on having this divine creature in my life.
But hip dysplasia is 80% genetic. If a pet is diagnosed with it, {s}he should be spayed or neutered so as to not pass it on. You should NOT breed them because there is an overwhelming likelihood they will pass it on. So the breeder obviously didn’t test the dogs they were using to breed. Or they knew, and were still after a buck. Knowing the pet store chain he came from, I’ve heard some pretty horrible stories about health issues of dogs bought from there … and some equally horrible stories about the puppy farms they come from.
Please cross your paws that Beary isn’t in too much pain, and that the time for replacing his hip doesn’t come around too soon.
Again, I know I’m preaching to the converted, but this whole episode reinforces my will to mention at every possibility: if you want a puppy, for the love of DOG adopt one! Don’t buy anything {including puppies} from pet stores who are known to buy stock from puppy farms. If you yearn for canine company but can’t commit for life, there are plenty of dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes in shelters around the world who would love it if you could foster them short-term – or even just take them for a walk occasionally.
Okay, I’m off to buy us a lottery ticket!
bumpyroadtobubba 
My husband was in his forties when he had a hip replacement. I hope Beary if he needs one does as well as he has!
I hope so too!
Poor Beary! Crying in the night is the worst. I hope the naturopathic and interim measures give you relief, buddy. Mom and I will say prayers for you and send you happy, healing thoughts. xoxo
Love and extra feel-better licks,
Cupcake
Extra feel-better licks is exactly what he needs. Thanks Cupcake! xx
Poor bear, I hope he’s not in too much pain!
Give Beary a get-well-soon pat on the head for me.
Stay strong!
thank you 🙂
Oh poor Beary xxx
I am so sorry to hear that Beary is not well right now. And what a lot of stress for his poor Mumma. Four in my pack have hip dysplasia. I give them two supplements daily that really really make a noticeable difference in their lives:
1. Pet Naturals of Vermont Extra Strength Hip and Joint Formula.
2. Wholistic Pet Salmon Oil.
I am not sure which products are available to you there, but just make sure to read lots of reviews before you buy.. the first supplements I bought for my guys here in Mexico (at no little expense from my veterinarian) did nothing to help the situation. I special order these two supplements in from the USA and it’s well worth it… all signs of dysplasia completely cleared up after a few months for one dog, and as for the other three their mobility GREATLY improved. Your vet probably already told you this as well, but it will make Beary’s life much easier if you keep his weight on the low side.
Hopefully by the time Beary is nearing the point where you have to consider surgery there will be a little more research into stem cell therapy so that you have a good second option. I have been keeping a close eye on it (titanium hip replacements are not available to me here in mexico) and I am hopeful that it will be an option for a few of my guys in the very near future.
We are thinking of you XO
Thank you thank you thank you! I will definitely seek those out. I’d much rather start with natural remedies and supplements if I can and only opt for surgery if we have to. Obviously it’s all about him and what he really needs. xx
Oh Beary, that hurts. I am so sorry for Beary’s pain and for yours. It is just terrible to not be able to do much to make our furry loves feel better, especially with something as difficult as the hip. It sounds like you are doing everything you can at the moment. Medical treatments are so expensive and sometimes impossible not only to afford, but in what we must put them through. You are a wonderful Mom to all your charges and you must stay calm and know that you are doing the best all around. Lucky that you also have family that understands. I am sending prayers and will keep Beary in our thoughts. Keeping the pain down is step one. I have never had an animal with this condition so I do not know much, expect that Squash had arthritis in the hip and I did lots of supplements, like glucosamine and chondoitin, and then Rimadyl. Best of luck. I will be thinking of you. – Lorian
Thanks Lorian, I really appreciate your support. I’d heard of gloucosamine and chondoitin but I will have to look up Rimadyl. Give Lulu a kiss for us!
We are praying for Beary! Keep us updated! God Bless You!
Thank you, we will!
Sending a big hug and wishing I could do more!
Hope that you find something that works! Will be thinking of you!