Leggs-Perthes Disease/avascular necrosis - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Cooper2010 · 05-14-2010, 04:49 PM

I posted a few weeks ago about my 5 month old Cooper and his limp. I took him back today because there has been no improvement, it's worse. Another x-ray showed a good bit of deterioration over the last 3 weeks.

He will be scheduled for surgery a week from Monday. The vet said the FHO procedure is quite successful and we can't determine if it is from an injury or genetic. He regularly sees the breeder we got him from and their pups and said they are some of the healthiest dogs and best breeders he's dealt with. He said that pathology could determine if it's genetic.

What am I looking at as far as recovery? He said Cooper would need some physical therapy, most of it I could do myself. They could also force him to use the weakened leg by taping up the good one if he continues to keep weight off of it after a reasonable recovery time.

Thanks for any advice.

Cooper2010 · 05-14-2010, 05:42 PM

I don't see a way to edit, but I should have said Legg----sorry.

ladyjane · 05-14-2010, 06:49 PM

FHOs on small breed pups are very successful. I had a pup who had both hips done at one time and he was up walking immediately!
It was amazing to me to see him do that! If you use the search option on YT you will find a lot of threads about Legg-Perthes.
I really doubt that he will have a difficult time..he is young and has not had a problem for a long time.
Keep us posted when he has his surgery!
And, welcome to YT!

Cooper2010 · 05-14-2010, 07:01 PM

Thanks. I have used the search feature and for some reason it comes up with no matches..

ladyjane · 05-14-2010, 07:22 PM

Here is a fairly recent one. I just used the word Perthes to search since many people spell it incorrectly.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...h-disease.html

ladyjane · 05-14-2010, 07:23 PM

Here is a website that might help you:

Femoral head and neck excision

PiePiper · 05-15-2010, 12:28 PM

My Piper had the FHO surgery for Legg Perthes Disease in December 2008. She was 8 months old and out of the blue started to carry her right hind leg. After x-rays you could see how the head of the femur was pitted and deterioated. She even had small bone chips floating around. The surgery went well and Piper was a real trooper. The first couple weeks she carried the leg but then I started to notice her setting the foot down when she was standing. Before you knew it she was putting weight on the leg and starting to use it when the floor was level. Whenever I took her out in the cold and snow she always carried the leg. Piper didn't go to physical therapy, but I did do movemrnt exercises with the leg. By mid March Piper was 100% and was taking long walks with me. I started walking Piper because the vet said that the more Piper used the leg the stronger it will become and the faster she would be back to normal. The leg causes Piper no problems now and she runs, plays and takes a 3 mile walk with me every day.

Cooper2010 · 05-16-2010, 10:32 AM

Thanks Piper. I read the linked thread and I think I have a good price on the surgery, I have a low estimate and a high. Low is around $950, high around $1170. Where will his incision be? At what point on his body to they go in? The vet said one of the best ways to strenthen the leg again would be to let him swim. We don't have a pool, he suggested filling the tub full and letting him "swim" in the tub.

shodanusmc · 05-16-2010, 02:33 PM

Those are terrific prices. In a Chicago Burb you would be looking at around 1800-2000, Best of luck

Tink's Mom · 05-20-2010, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cooper2010

Thanks Piper. I read the linked thread and I think I have a good price on the surgery, I have a low estimate and a high. Low is around $950, high around $1170. Where will his incision be? At what point on his body to they go in? The vet said one of the best ways to strenthen the leg again would be to let him swim. We don't have a pool, he suggested filling the tub full and letting him "swim" in the tub.

I agree with shodanusmc, those are good prices.

My Tinkerbelle hads Legg Perths and had her femoral head removed at 6 months. We started water therapy in the tub the week of the surgery. She was walking the day after and did just great. The only time you would ever suspect something is different is if you watch her run around a corner - she runs sideways for a couple of steps before her rear end catches up with her.

She did just fine after the surgery. I think your little one will do just as well. Good luck!

Cooper2010 · 05-26-2010, 05:14 AM

He had the surgery Monday. I took him home yesterday. He seems to be in a a good deal of pain. He's wearing a Fentanyl patch through tomorrow. He lies either in his crate or bed without moving around much at all. He's not interested in food or water. Is this normal? How many days until he's more willing to move around some?

ladyjane · 05-26-2010, 05:25 AM

My guess is the Fentanyl patch is making him groggy. They often do not eat for a couple of days after surgery anyway; but, I have seen many pups react that way to the Fentanyl patch...they are so out of it, that they will not eat.

You might want to call your vet and explain how he is. Sometimes it is better to take the patch off and use another medication for the pain, but don't do that without consulting with your vet.

Cooper2010 · 05-26-2010, 05:27 AM

They said I should let them be the ones to remove the patch. I have a call into them, I'm just concerned that he won't drink anything.

ladyjane · 05-26-2010, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cooper2010

They said I should let them be the ones to remove the patch. I have a call into them, I'm just concerned that he won't drink anything.

Good...hopefully they will have an answer for you.

I do think it is the medicine, but best to ask the vet always! I never deviate from what a vet says .. I consult with them first.

This happened recently with another YTer's pup. I will try to find the thread. They took that patch off and he perked up and started eating.

Cooper2010 · 05-26-2010, 06:52 AM

They wanted to see him so I took him over. They took off the patch, gave him an injection of something, I don't know what it was. His temperature was a little low and the nurse put about 4 bites of chicken flavored baby food in his mouth and he ate that. The dr. said the Fentanyl should wear off within 12-24 hours and to bring him back tomorrow if he hasn't started eating.

The meds they sent me home with were 10 days of anti-biotic and another 30 days of Rimadyl.

05-14-2010, 04:49 PM	#1
Cooper2010 YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 304	Leggs-Perthes Disease/avascular necrosis I posted a few weeks ago about my 5 month old Cooper and his limp. I took him back today because there has been no improvement, it's worse. Another x-ray showed a good bit of deterioration over the last 3 weeks. He will be scheduled for surgery a week from Monday. The vet said the FHO procedure is quite successful and we can't determine if it is from an injury or genetic. He regularly sees the breeder we got him from and their pups and said they are some of the healthiest dogs and best breeders he's dealt with. He said that pathology could determine if it's genetic. What am I looking at as far as recovery? He said Cooper would need some physical therapy, most of it I could do myself. They could also force him to use the weakened leg by taping up the good one if he continues to keep weight off of it after a reasonable recovery time. Thanks for any advice.

05-14-2010, 06:49 PM	#3
ladyjane Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 27,450	FHOs on small breed pups are very successful. I had a pup who had both hips done at one time and he was up walking immediately! It was amazing to me to see him do that! If you use the search option on YT you will find a lot of threads about Legg-Perthes. I really doubt that he will have a difficult time..he is young and has not had a problem for a long time. Keep us posted when he has his surgery! And, welcome to YT! __________________ CLOUD NINE BEDS--YORKIE HAVEN RESCUE MY ETSY SHOP

05-14-2010, 07:22 PM	#5
ladyjane Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 27,450	Here is a fairly recent one. I just used the word Perthes to search since many people spell it incorrectly. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...h-disease.html __________________ CLOUD NINE BEDS--YORKIE HAVEN RESCUE MY ETSY SHOP

05-14-2010, 07:23 PM	#6
ladyjane Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 27,450	Here is a website that might help you: Femoral head and neck excision __________________ CLOUD NINE BEDS--YORKIE HAVEN RESCUE MY ETSY SHOP

05-15-2010, 12:28 PM	#7
PiePiper Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 759	My Piper had the FHO surgery for Legg Perthes Disease in December 2008. She was 8 months old and out of the blue started to carry her right hind leg. After x-rays you could see how the head of the femur was pitted and deterioated. She even had small bone chips floating around. The surgery went well and Piper was a real trooper. The first couple weeks she carried the leg but then I started to notice her setting the foot down when she was standing. Before you knew it she was putting weight on the leg and starting to use it when the floor was level. Whenever I took her out in the cold and snow she always carried the leg. Piper didn't go to physical therapy, but I did do movemrnt exercises with the leg. By mid March Piper was 100% and was taking long walks with me. I started walking Piper because the vet said that the more Piper used the leg the stronger it will become and the faster she would be back to normal. The leg causes Piper no problems now and she runs, plays and takes a 3 mile walk with me every day. __________________ Mom to Piper & Chipper

05-14-2010, 05:42 PM	#2
Cooper2010 YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 304	I don't see a way to edit, but I should have said Legg----sorry.

05-14-2010, 07:01 PM	#4
Cooper2010 YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 304	Thanks. I have used the search feature and for some reason it comes up with no matches..

05-16-2010, 10:32 AM	#8
Cooper2010 YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 304	Thanks Piper. I read the linked thread and I think I have a good price on the surgery, I have a low estimate and a high. Low is around $950, high around $1170. Where will his incision be? At what point on his body to they go in? The vet said one of the best ways to strenthen the leg again would be to let him swim. We don't have a pool, he suggested filling the tub full and letting him "swim" in the tub.

05-16-2010, 02:33 PM	#9
shodanusmc BANNED! Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,603	Those are terrific prices. In a Chicago Burb you would be looking at around 1800-2000, Best of luck

05-26-2010, 05:14 AM	#11
Cooper2010 YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 304	He had the surgery Monday. I took him home yesterday. He seems to be in a a good deal of pain. He's wearing a Fentanyl patch through tomorrow. He lies either in his crate or bed without moving around much at all. He's not interested in food or water. Is this normal? How many days until he's more willing to move around some?

05-26-2010, 05:25 AM	#12
ladyjane Resident Yorkie Nut Donating YT 20K Club Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 27,450	My guess is the Fentanyl patch is making him groggy. They often do not eat for a couple of days after surgery anyway; but, I have seen many pups react that way to the Fentanyl patch...they are so out of it, that they will not eat. You might want to call your vet and explain how he is. Sometimes it is better to take the patch off and use another medication for the pain, but don't do that without consulting with your vet. __________________ CLOUD NINE BEDS--YORKIE HAVEN RESCUE MY ETSY SHOP

05-26-2010, 05:27 AM	#13
Cooper2010 YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 304	They said I should let them be the ones to remove the patch. I have a call into them, I'm just concerned that he won't drink anything.

05-26-2010, 06:52 AM	#15
Cooper2010 YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 304	They wanted to see him so I took him over. They took off the patch, gave him an injection of something, I don't know what it was. His temperature was a little low and the nurse put about 4 bites of chicken flavored baby food in his mouth and he ate that. The dr. said the Fentanyl should wear off within 12-24 hours and to bring him back tomorrow if he hasn't started eating. The meds they sent me home with were 10 days of anti-biotic and another 30 days of Rimadyl.