Tink has hip dysplasia!
 

Finally got my internet connection back up after my move this weekend.

I took Tink to the specialist on Tuesday and he says the problem is not with her knee but with her hip. He showed me the X-rays and it was obvious to me before he even said anything that she does not have a hip socket for the right back leg. :eek: He said she should have the femur head removed and then receive intense physical therapy to teach the muscles to conpensate for the lack of a hip. This is something large dogs have, not little ones. The vet said it is quite unusual.:confused:

So, I scheduled the surgery for Tuesday morning next week. They'll cut the ball off of the femur, remove more bone and stitch her up. He promised she will have lots of good pain meds. :thumbup: She will be confined for a week and then must be up and start slow walking :turtle:- not fast-paced Yorkie walking! :doghop:I should be able to do that. Slow is good, it will force her to put the leg down and put weight on it. My poor little baby girl! :( I feel so bad for her but I want her to be well and in the long run this will give her a pain free life. The other hip is not the best but he said he thinks it will be OK until she gets old and then it will develop arthritis. But he can't do the surgery on both hips 'cause she'd never walk then. Waaaahhhh!!!

So please remember Tink and me in your prayers; that she will heal well and walk without pain or problems, and that I will have patience and persistance to teach her to walk again without a hip.

OMG, Susie, I'm soooo sorry. Tell Tink that she's in my thoughts and I hope she makes a fast recovery! :(

OH i am so sorry to hear that. Poor little Tink!! i will definitly be thinking of you both next week when she has her surgery. I hope when it is all over with she will be much more comfortable walking and playing... Layla and I send kisses to the sweet girl!!

Susie, I'm so sorry! I've never heard of a small dog having that - it's usually Leggs Perthes. That is really bizarre. So what is the long term picture like? Will she walk ok, run? Will you be doing the PT with her or do you have to bring her in to do it?

Boy, if it isn't one thing, it's another with our pups, isn't it?

You take care of yourself, ok? :hug:

oh i'm so sorry Tink has to have an FHO done. Its not so common with the little ones but it does happen and a bilateral FHO can be done. there was a chocolate lab we did not too long ago.

thinking one it now, i really can't recall doing an FHO on anything under 20lbs.

The recovery will be slow but it you do everything right Tink will be just fine. The PT will help tremendously so don't skim on it.

Good luck with the surgery and recovery! prayers going out

Sending you and Tink lots of support and prayers.

Poor little Tink, You both will be in my prayers and Susie if you need anything don't hesitate to ask....you give that sweet little girl & yourself lots & lots of hugs & kisses from my crew.

Im so sorry, the poor baby,I will keep her in my prayers.

I wonder why he thought she might not walk if he did a bilateral?! Maybe because he knows it would be harder for me to do the PT since I have physical challenges myself. I think I'll call him tomorrow and ask.

Winston and I will keep you and Tink in our prayers, we hope she has a speedy recovery and that her therapy goes smoothly...Lots of thoughts and prayers coming your way, please take care of yourself too.

aww Susie, your poor Tinker girl!! Hope surgery and recovery go well! Keep us posted!!

I am so sad :ghug: for you and tink sending hugs and
prayers your way hope all goes well for you both

Awww, Susie, I'm soooooooooo sorry to hear about little Tink needing surgery! I hope all goes well and she gets back to being her little ole Tinkerbrat self in no time! I will be keeping you "both" in my thoughts. Give Tink licks and woofs from Kallie & Toby and a big smooch and lots of hugs from ME!

Hey Susie, how are you doing today? Hanging in there? I know it's hard - you love your little Tinker so much. Does she have to stay overnight when she has surgery? I told them ahead of time that I WAS going to bring Brea home the same day. :rolleyes: It can't do them any good being in a cage in a strange place with no one there. So they did the surgery first thing and she was ready to come home earlier than they expected. I hope the same will be true for Tink.

It's so darn hard when our little ones get sick, isn't it? :( Let me know if you need anything, ok?

Blessings to you and Tink

I'll call the vet-surgeon Monday morning and talk to his staff about taking her home, but I think I may leave her there overnight. They have staff on-site 24 hrs. so she won't be alone. If she's in pain, I'll want to stay up with her all night and my body can't handle that right now. :(

I'm really a little worried about getting her the intense physical therapy she will need. She has to walk alot and that is so hard for me. I'll just have to rely on God to help me out there - wow what a novel idea! Just something I do all the time and He always comes through for me. Why do I even worry?:rolleyes:

My little Tinkerbelle is laying on the floor beside me now. She's making an early evening of it I think. Her little leg is bothering her quite a bit today. Poor baby, but I'm sooooo glad to have her. What a precious little pal she is!:)

Oh, sorry to hear about Tink. My daughter's Cairn Terrier was hit by a car, had her ball joint removed and you would have never known that she had an injury. It is amazing how they recover and do compensate for the lack of that functioning joint. Good luck!

Send up the prayer that you need some help. A lady with a small dog in my neighborhood has a heart condition, and called the Human Society asking for help. Everyday, two volunteers stop by and walk her senior pup so he can get exercise. :dogwalk: Thinking of Tink as she has her surgery next week.

it is possible to do a bilateral but it does take a lot of work for the owner to help with the PT. If your not able (tho i know your willing) then its best to do one at a time. Tink will need to be walked with a sling and a harness to prevent her from falling after surgery. She'll probably need three short walks a day. No stairs, no furniture, no playing, no jumping, no running, etc. its tough not only on the pup but its tough on the owners too to restrain the pup after surgery and be there for them at all times.

It also is best to leave them over night. If its a referral center like where i work then there is most likely technicians there 24/7 to look after the patients. The patients are also on heavy pain meds and sedatives to keep them relaxed and calm after surgery so they don't injure themselves by trying to get up too soon. Most of the time they sleep anyway, which is best for them.

I wish you and tink the best with her future surgery.

edited to add: Tink herself might not be up to the bilateral or she might not need it right away which are other reasons your vet may not want to do it.

Tinkerbelle
 

I am sending my prayers for Tinks quick recovery from her surgery.


My little one had luxating patella in both her knees and had surgery on both at the same time. She stayed overnight but the clinic was manned 24/7. Her surgeon was an orthopedic specialist and he had alot of success stories. My little ones left leg was the worst but he suggested we do both at once. She had the surgery and came through fine. God Bless her. The only way I could keep her contained was to take her metal kennel and flip it over and I placed pillows in it to keep her comfy. This way she could not really run around and she could still see all that was going on. I would move it from room to room so she was never alone. It worked out great. She recovered from the surgery and also had physical therapy. She had water therapy you may want to ask your vet about that, it would be easier and you and her.


Jay

:)

Thanks for the info. Tink has a small crate, so I'm planning to keep her confined in that (with a padlock since she's learned how to open it!).
I think I'll put a bed pillow in it and then her blanket on top of that so she's all cushy.

I'll ask about the water therapy. If nothing else, we can use the bathtub. She loves being in there. It's a chore to keep her out when I'm having my showers. Little rascal!:)

OMG Susan! I just yet came across your thread and my heart sunk... poor little Tink! We send all good vibes, tons of prayers and gzillion Yorkie kisses to her and you!

Mitzi says she wants to give Tink a "get well soon present" and asked me to make for her a kind of harness with long sling handles so it will be easier for you to walk her and give her some support. Are her measurements still the same?

Best whishes from all of us and (((((((( hang in there Tinkerbell!!!))))))))

Yes, my poor baby. I'm so sad for her.

It is so sweet of you and Mitzi to make her a special harness.:eek: :) I think her measurements are the same but here they are. 9 in neck. 12 1/2 in tummy and 13 in from neck to tail. She is long and skinny! She would love a harness from you. She gets so many comments on her Tinkerbrat T-shirt and her Tinkerbelle harness!:D

Thank you too for the wishes and kisses. We sure appreciate them. Tink still gives me lots of kisses even when she is hurting. My little lover girl!

What a great Mom you are. You'll be giving Tink a much better life. We'll be thinking Tink on Tuesday!