Introduction & baby boy P-Nut diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes

[P-Nut Mom]

Hi, everyone, I've been a "lurker" here for quite a while and have found so much helpful info here at YT, thank you all!! Our little 11 month old boy had a diagnosis of bilateral Legg-Calve-Perthes confirmed by 2 specialists on Friday. While he walks and runs on all 4s, there's been a significant decline in his activity level over the past month or so and any playing is followed by lots of sleeping. He's very stiff at night and walks, sits and lays down strangely. No longer can jump up on the couch and we carry him up and down any stairs we encounter (none in the house, fortunately). Poor guy! He is going to have two surgeries (femoral head ostectomies [FHO]) - the vet doesn't believe in doing both legs at once.

Right leg is first, surgery is Thursday 8/2. This is my first dog, I've always been a cat person and, although the pup was originally my significant other's, he's now our baby. I've totally fallen in love with him and yorkies in general - they're amazing little dogs. And I feel so badly for P-Nut (or "the Nut" as he's called). He also has a disk issue due to the LCP, but that doesn't seem to be giving him many problems. I'd love to hear about anyone's experience on the recovery period post FHO surgery, especially since we have to do the whole thing twice . Thanks in advance!
-Sherry/P-Nut Mom

[LunasMomma]

I don't know a whole lot about this, but wanted to wish you and The Nut well on his surgeries There are a few LCP babies here who have done very well after their surgeries, so that's good

If you have time during your baby's recovery, please do share your experiences with his surgery and recovery. I'm sure that it would be extremely helpful to anyone else out there whose dog may be going through this too

Welcome to YT!

[LunasMomma]

OH, and make sure to let his breeder know about this, as it is genetic and they really should be taking some responsibility for his condition.

[P-Nut Mom]

Thank you for your kind thoughts and it's good to hear there have been positive outcomes from this surgery! I'll definitely share about our experiences as we go through the process of getting our boy better!

[kjc]

Hi and Welcome to YT!

So sorry your baby is going through this. I have also heard very good things about recovery from these surgeries.... keeping your little one in my prayers...

[P-Nut Mom]

Thank you, appreciate it!

[yorkienani]

Keeping your precious baby in my thoughts and prayers!!!! I hope the surgery is very successful!!!!

[msyorktown]

Also keeping your baby in my thoughts and prayers. Hope all goes well.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by LunasMomma

OH, and make sure to let his breeder know about this, as it is genetic and they really should be taking some responsibility for his condition.

The cause of LCP is unknown but the breeder definitely should be notified and should honor any health guarantee in a pup this young.

[107barney]

OP - you may wish to PM member LadyJane. She's had a number of pups who have had this surgery, including her own dog Adina recently. Adina is older and did great!

[P-Nut Mom]

Thanks much for the info about LadyJane! And, we will notify the breeder, but they're not going to do anything, there was no health guarantee, etc. My significant other answered the ad in the paper, met the breeder, met yorkie mom and dad, fell in love with 8 wk old P-Nut and purchased the pup for cheap. Against his better judgment. I didn't have anything to do with it. I would have insisted on all kinds of research on breeders, a health guarantee, etc. etc. Everything seemed great until about a month and a half ago. I will say that in all likelihood we'll rescue our next one. The $300 yorkie will be a $4k+ yorkie by the time we're done.

In the past, we had purchased two yorkies from "trusted sources" for my BF's daughter, they were wonderful and the trusted sources were family members who used to be breeders. We were going to get our own from them, then they stopped breeding yorkies and got into breeding show pigs!

[107barney]

Originally Posted by P-Nut Mom

Thanks much for the info about LadyJane! And, we will notify the breeder, but they're not going to do anything, there was no health guarantee, etc. My significant other answered the ad in the paper, met the breeder, met yorkie mom and dad, fell in love with 8 wk old P-Nut and purchased the pup for cheap. Against his better judgment. I didn't have anything to do with it. I would have insisted on all kinds of research on breeders, a health guarantee, etc. etc. Everything seemed great until about a month and a half ago. I will say that in all likelihood we'll rescue our next one. The $300 yorkie will be a $4k+ yorkie by the time we're done.

In the past, we had purchased two yorkies from "trusted sources" for my BF's daughter, they were wonderful and the trusted sources were family members who used to be breeders. We were going to get our own from them, then they stopped breeding yorkies and got into breeding show pigs!

I'm sorry you did not have a breeder you could go back to with this concern. Don't be so down on yourself about the purchase - we all make mistakes. I bought two puppy mill pups 12 years ago from a petstore, and when I bought my third dog, I went to a breeder who I thought was doing things right, only to end up with a special needs pup anyway. One of his issues happens to be LCP, but unlike your pup, he was diagnosed later and surgery is not recommended unless and until he exhibits clinical signs. P-nut may be your million dollar dog, but he sounds like he is worth every penny. Smart little pup picked the right family for sure!! He's no fool!

[P-Nut Mom]

Thanks, 107barney! He is definitely worth every penny. I think there's a reason we end up with "special needs" doggies. I'm not down on myself or anyone, I think the best thing is to be solution-oriented: we have a wonderful little guy, he's got such a sweet personality, plus SO bright - we'll move forward and solve the issue and he can hopefully lead a happy life. It's SCARY, though. Hope your LCP baby continues to do well!

[Yorkiemom1]

Unfortunately, you do not have a vet that will do both hips at the same time?.....there are a few out there that do, and with dogs weighing less than 50-60 lbs, it is a good choice...I had contacted and gotten opinions from 7 different vets , Chiefs in Orthopedic surgery from 7 different vet schools...even a vet that does certifications for OFA....they all assured me that rather than let that unoperated hip continue to waste away (atrophy), and rather than take the risk of anesthesia twice, a vet that has done multiple FHO surgeries, can easily do both hips at the same time....these 7 experts I spoke with had no $$$$ motivation for recommending doing both hips at the same time versus one at a time, and they all said there was no "right way or wrong way" to the answer, it was the attending vets preference only that actually dictates how it is done...Thank God my vet (orthopedic specialist) does this surgery, both hips at the same time, and the dog is on the way to recovery 6 weeks faster than if you do one hip and then re-traumatize the dog for the second hip.

[rubymoon2072]

welcome to YT...wishing your P-Nut much success with his upcoming surgeries. poor lil guy I will keep him in my prayers.