Charlie has legg parthes disease - YorkieTalk.com Forums

nydia · 06-10-2008, 11:09 AM

OLD POST: My 17 month old baby Charlie had to see the vet yesterday because I noticed he was limping a little and would not jump like he usually does when he see's me come home from work. Charlie and Blaine are my little acrobats they are great with agility courses and I was planning on entering Charlie in his first agility competition but now it may look like those plans will have to be made for Blaine instead. My vet did an xray on Charlies back legs and hips and he told me it looked like Charlie had a hip injury that healed on it's own and that it looks arthritic. I asked him how this was possible as this was the very first time ever Charlie did not jump for me at the door and I saw him limping, I cannot recall him being injured or seeing him limping, he has tons of energy except for yesterday and I'm a paranoid mom, my babies go to the vet the minute I think something is wrong, trust me had I seen Charlie limping earlier he would of been at the vet, the vet told me that it could be possible his injury wasn't an injury where I would notice something was wrong right away, he said it's like having a bad back and eventually after years of lifting and doing things you shouldn't it gives out on you. He said that may be the case here, where he's been had the injury but it didn't cause him pain until the arthritis set it, he said it can be fixed with Surgery or Charlie will live with pain. The thing is Charlie does not wine or cry or show any signs of pain except for yesterday with his favoring his left leg. Even when the vet started moving his legs around and checking him he didn't make not one sound. Now my thing is my baby still plays, the doctor gave him a pain medication can't think of the name right now and the minute I got him home he was off running he didn't jump but he did play with my other babies. I don't want to do any unnecessary surgeries if this arthritis thing can be controlled with meds as far as if he does feel pain. I'm confused and don't know what to do, I want him to be at his best but I'm scared to put him through something like that. The doctor explained to me that what they do is removed the hips ball joint or whatever that was and allow scar tissue to grow in it's place giving the hip more movement. If anybody has any type of experience with hip surgery please let me know.

UPDATE: Charlie seen the orthopedic surgeon today and it turns out he does not have arthritis, instead he has legg parthes in both legs. He is scheduled for surgery June 20th, my concerns are that they want to do both legs at the same time, wouldn't that make it harder for him to recover seeing how both his legs will be operated on??? wouldn't he have to walk to help him recover??? How will he do that if both his legs are hurt??? Also I work, I was told it would take 8 weeks for him to recover but that I will be fine leaving him crated. Also the orthopedic surgeon that is going to do the surgery said she would not put him on antibiotics because they give him an antibiotic shot pre and post surgery, I am concerned with the fact she doesn't want to give him antibiotics for me to take home seeing how that cute little angel Joey died from a massive infection after this kind of surgery. I feel like I'm going to lose my mind god knows I won't be able to handle anything terrible happening to my baby.

4doggiemama · 06-10-2008, 06:26 PM

It would be interesting if someone who has experience would answer the OP's question. My Pommie, Snowboy, had LP in both knees and the vet want both of them done at the same time, too. Worries me.

Tae1107 · 06-10-2008, 06:39 PM

Hi,

I am currently fostering alittle girl (10 months old) who just had the surgery for her hip. I was given antibiotics for ten days. She is doing great and with this type of surgery they are allowed to walk and move around...just no jumping or stairs. It is not as restrictive as the patella surgery. My vet wanted her to move and walk around and is happy that she is putting pressure on the leg and walking.

She really showed no signs... but she is more playful now with my dogs since the surgery. I am going on Thursday for her 2 week re-check.

I have fostered two others who had this surgery too and both of them were also put on antibiotics... I have never had one that had both legs done at once though. I would question the walking part because I always thought that the vets wanted them to walk on it and gently exercise? I could be wrong though :-)

Ladymom · 06-10-2008, 09:09 PM

A member on a Maltese forum just had the surgery for her girl with Legg-Perthes and she did really well.

Please make sure to tell your breeder about Charlie's condition. Legg-Perthes is genetic and she should not breed his parents anymore. If she's reputable, she should offer to help with the cost of the surgery, too.

mypreciouspups · 06-10-2008, 09:17 PM

My vet in florida would always give me antibiotics.. and you need to tell them that you would feel better and if they cannot give you that.. you will go to another vet.. let them know you are the owner of the dog and are not putting the dog through surgery like that to get home and have a ton of other worries.. it would not hurt him I am sure..anne

nydia · 06-11-2008, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladymom

A member on a Maltese forum just had the surgery for her girl with Legg-Perthes and she did really well.

Please make sure to tell your breeder about Charlie's condition. Legg-Perthes is genetic and she should not breed his parents anymore. If she's reputable, she should offer to help with the cost of the surgery, too.

Charlie is my grandfurbaby, he came from Sabrina, who by the way was not suppose to be bred and is fixed she cannot have no more children, she was not suppose to have Charlie, she needed a c-section it's a long story please go into my back post and read from the beginning to understand the situation. Anyway as you can imagine because Sabrina needed a c-section and was not suppose to be bred in the first place I had to bottle feed her babies and I got attached and kept them for myself, if I would of sold them I definitely would have kept in touch with the new owners as I always do and I definitely would of helped whoever had him with the surgery cost but I have him so it's no biggy, money means nothing compared to my babies, which I must say up until now I've had no issues what so ever with Charlie. I love him to death as much as I love his mother.

jp4m2 · 06-11-2008, 08:15 AM

Nydia, Please get the antibiotics...I would rather be safe than sorry.....I guarantee you don't want to be where I'm at right now......You have to look out for your baby......Make sure your vet is very competent in this procedure.........Maybe my babies death will save others from this happening to them......I wish you and Charlie all the best.....

nydia · 06-11-2008, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp4m2

Nydia, Please get the antibiotics...I would rather be safe than sorry.....I guarantee you don't want to be where I'm at right now......You have to look out for your baby......Make sure your vet is very competent in this procedure.........Maybe my babies death will save others from this happening to them......I wish you and Charlie all the best.....

All I keep thinking about is your baby, I think I might find another orthopedic surgeon to do the surgery I even told her about what happened to your baby and they only did one of his legs and she said to me not to worry about it that has never happened to her although it is a risk she is very careful supposedly and I said to her, I still want my baby on antibiotics atleast for two weeks after the surgery especially he is going to take 8 weeks to heal and still the surgeon told me no that she wouldn't give my baby antibiotics for so long when she gives him a shot of antibiotic pre surgery and post surgery, I still want my baby on antibiotics, I even have a vet tech lined up to stay in my home and care for Charlie while I'm at work, and to help me with him period I have never crated him, he won't take well to being locked up, my babies are free to roam my home and charlie loves to sleep on the loveseat in my living room, what am I going to do??? I know he is going to go crazy if I crate him, I'm just soooo stressed out right now.

clydecat · 06-19-2008, 06:26 PM

Nydia, is Charlie still having surgery tomorrow? I replied in your other thread. Our Kiki had this on one hip. We waited not thinking it was so bad for her, cause she limped some and carried the leg some. Our vet was kind and understanding, but encouraged us to have the procedure as he said Kiki was in pain. After the surgery, we gave her pain medication for 3 or 4 days, then she seemed to be fine without it. the orthopedic surgeon and the vet both instructed to give antibiotics for 10 days, to ward of any chance of infection.

Kiki did really good, she walked, ok hobbled, at the vets office and was walking around and doing physical therapy (we did the PT) the next day. Now she did take some time before she was putting weight on the leg, but the instructions from the surgeon were pretty spot on as to what we could expect and before the end of week 2, she was putting weight on the leg.

Now she is probably about 90% of her good leg, and if you saw her you would be hard pressed to tell which leg it was! No funny limp or hitch in her walk at all. We only wished we would have done the surgery sooner.

Good luck with Charlie!

06-10-2008, 11:09 AM	#1
nydia Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 292	Charlie has legg parthes disease OLD POST: My 17 month old baby Charlie had to see the vet yesterday because I noticed he was limping a little and would not jump like he usually does when he see's me come home from work. Charlie and Blaine are my little acrobats they are great with agility courses and I was planning on entering Charlie in his first agility competition but now it may look like those plans will have to be made for Blaine instead. My vet did an xray on Charlies back legs and hips and he told me it looked like Charlie had a hip injury that healed on it's own and that it looks arthritic. I asked him how this was possible as this was the very first time ever Charlie did not jump for me at the door and I saw him limping, I cannot recall him being injured or seeing him limping, he has tons of energy except for yesterday and I'm a paranoid mom, my babies go to the vet the minute I think something is wrong, trust me had I seen Charlie limping earlier he would of been at the vet, the vet told me that it could be possible his injury wasn't an injury where I would notice something was wrong right away, he said it's like having a bad back and eventually after years of lifting and doing things you shouldn't it gives out on you. He said that may be the case here, where he's been had the injury but it didn't cause him pain until the arthritis set it, he said it can be fixed with Surgery or Charlie will live with pain. The thing is Charlie does not wine or cry or show any signs of pain except for yesterday with his favoring his left leg. Even when the vet started moving his legs around and checking him he didn't make not one sound. Now my thing is my baby still plays, the doctor gave him a pain medication can't think of the name right now and the minute I got him home he was off running he didn't jump but he did play with my other babies. I don't want to do any unnecessary surgeries if this arthritis thing can be controlled with meds as far as if he does feel pain. I'm confused and don't know what to do, I want him to be at his best but I'm scared to put him through something like that. The doctor explained to me that what they do is removed the hips ball joint or whatever that was and allow scar tissue to grow in it's place giving the hip more movement. If anybody has any type of experience with hip surgery please let me know. UPDATE: Charlie seen the orthopedic surgeon today and it turns out he does not have arthritis, instead he has legg parthes in both legs. He is scheduled for surgery June 20th, my concerns are that they want to do both legs at the same time, wouldn't that make it harder for him to recover seeing how both his legs will be operated on??? wouldn't he have to walk to help him recover??? How will he do that if both his legs are hurt??? Also I work, I was told it would take 8 weeks for him to recover but that I will be fine leaving him crated. Also the orthopedic surgeon that is going to do the surgery said she would not put him on antibiotics because they give him an antibiotic shot pre and post surgery, I am concerned with the fact she doesn't want to give him antibiotics for me to take home seeing how that cute little angel Joey died from a massive infection after this kind of surgery. I feel like I'm going to lose my mind god knows I won't be able to handle anything terrible happening to my baby. Last edited by nydia; 06-10-2008 at 11:11 AM.

06-10-2008, 06:26 PM	#2
4doggiemama Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: KS Posts: 3,289	It would be interesting if someone who has experience would answer the OP's question. My Pommie, Snowboy, had LP in both knees and the vet want both of them done at the same time, too. Worries me. __________________ Joanne Eli ChipperEva Snowboy Rosie(R.I.P. 1996-July 29, 2013) Cocoa(R.I.P 1998-April 26, 2012):

06-10-2008, 06:39 PM	#3
Tae1107 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MA Posts: 1,252	surgery Hi, I am currently fostering alittle girl (10 months old) who just had the surgery for her hip. I was given antibiotics for ten days. She is doing great and with this type of surgery they are allowed to walk and move around...just no jumping or stairs. It is not as restrictive as the patella surgery. My vet wanted her to move and walk around and is happy that she is putting pressure on the leg and walking. She really showed no signs... but she is more playful now with my dogs since the surgery. I am going on Thursday for her 2 week re-check. I have fostered two others who had this surgery too and both of them were also put on antibiotics... I have never had one that had both legs done at once though. I would question the walking part because I always thought that the vets wanted them to walk on it and gently exercise? I could be wrong though :-)

06-10-2008, 09:09 PM	#4
Ladymom Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 8,317	A member on a Maltese forum just had the surgery for her girl with Legg-Perthes and she did really well. Please make sure to tell your breeder about Charlie's condition. Legg-Perthes is genetic and she should not breed his parents anymore. If she's reputable, she should offer to help with the cost of the surgery, too. __________________ http://www.myladysdogbows.com/ http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref...6213341?ref=nf

06-11-2008, 08:15 AM	#7
jp4m2 Love my Boys Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: w/ my boys Posts: 5,056	Nydia, Please get the antibiotics...I would rather be safe than sorry.....I guarantee you don't want to be where I'm at right now......You have to look out for your baby......Make sure your vet is very competent in this procedure.........Maybe my babies death will save others from this happening to them......I wish you and Charlie all the best..... __________________ B.J.mom to : Jake J.J. Jack & Joey, momma misses you..... The joy found in the companionship of a pet is a blessing not given to everyone. The two most powerful words when we’re in struggle: me too.. Last edited by jp4m2; 06-11-2008 at 08:17 AM.

06-10-2008, 09:17 PM	#5
mypreciouspups Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida/Canada Posts: 5,514	My vet in florida would always give me antibiotics.. and you need to tell them that you would feel better and if they cannot give you that.. you will go to another vet.. let them know you are the owner of the dog and are not putting the dog through surgery like that to get home and have a ton of other worries.. it would not hurt him I am sure..anne

06-19-2008, 06:26 PM	#9
clydecat YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 7	Nydia, is Charlie still having surgery tomorrow? I replied in your other thread. Our Kiki had this on one hip. We waited not thinking it was so bad for her, cause she limped some and carried the leg some. Our vet was kind and understanding, but encouraged us to have the procedure as he said Kiki was in pain. After the surgery, we gave her pain medication for 3 or 4 days, then she seemed to be fine without it. the orthopedic surgeon and the vet both instructed to give antibiotics for 10 days, to ward of any chance of infection. Kiki did really good, she walked, ok hobbled, at the vets office and was walking around and doing physical therapy (we did the PT) the next day. Now she did take some time before she was putting weight on the leg, but the instructions from the surgeon were pretty spot on as to what we could expect and before the end of week 2, she was putting weight on the leg. Now she is probably about 90% of her good leg, and if you saw her you would be hard pressed to tell which leg it was! No funny limp or hitch in her walk at all. We only wished we would have done the surgery sooner. Good luck with Charlie!