Hip Surgery

Our 10 mths old poodle puppy had a fall from a chair a few weeks ago and then started walking with a limp on his left back leg. We took him to one vet and were told that he hurt his patella and the muscles/tendons around it. After two weeks of rest he seemed abetter so we took him for a swim and run around on the beach and the limp came back. Took him to another vet who took X-rays and sedated him for detailed checks. Patella etc was fine but he has a blood sypply problem to the ball of his left hip that can't be cured and thus teh ball has to be excised with nothing to replace it. The vet said that scar tissue would replace the ball and he could still move around but won't be an active playfull poodle. It seems a bit traumatic for a short fall off a chair.


I have seen the X-ray and the hip ball looks bruised (as I had a bruised tibia a couple of months ago.)


Is what the 2nd vet says possible from a fall and is that the only prognosis?


Any suggestions for a specialist at reasonable cost for a second opinion?


I am not afraid of the cost of surgery if that is what is needed it just seems too traunmatic for the little fellow

There are two possibilites with your dog from what you have described.

First of all it may be a traumatic fracture of the femoral neck (the part the joins the ball to the main part of the bone), alternatively it may also be a disease that commonly occurs in small breeds called legge-perthes disease (which is a disease where the blood supply to the ball of the femur is compromised).

Either way, removal of the head of the femur is usually required and small dogs often do very well with this surgery.

Now you have had your specialist second opinion for free!

PM if you want more advice.

DogDoc,


Thanks for that there was definitely no fracture and the other hip is fine.Is that normal one hip not the other also all his brothers and sisters don't have the problem.


he has suffered muscle loss to his thigh area so I suppose we should try to build up the muscle before the op?

uncommon to affect both hips. Not thought to be hereditary. Please don't bother with any physio to try to build up the muscle as this joint will be very painful under manipulation,, you won't be able to build up the muscle until you have had the surgery and the joint has settled down.

From what you have stated, I suggest youseek surgical advice asap.

OK thanks again will consult a specialist for the op