health crisis-hip fracture and much more

[fritterm]

Hello, this is my first post. Unfortunately it's a desperate plea for help (and a long story.) Our 18 month old English Mastiff, Pudge, is running out of options. He was born with hypoparathyroidism, which we didn't discover until he was 1 year old. By then his calcium levels had plummeted, causing fever and seizures. We hospitalized him and stabilized his calcium levels, but he came out of the hospital with a wobbly gait which never improved. We did and MRI and cervical vertebral instability was diagnosed. We ruled out surgery because the prognosis for success was not great. We did acupuncture and chiropractic with good success. But we began noticing his left hip was dragging and he wasn't putting much weight on his left leg. X rays showed multiple fractures in the hip socket! This somehow happened without any falling event or accident.Can you believe all of this happened to a not even full grown dog? Now the doctors (I've gotten 3 opinions and am seeking 3 more) have so far told us that they think surgery would half to be done to repair the hip--probably a FHO procedure, where they take out the bone altogether and let the muscles do the work to have the leg function. It would be 4 thousand dollars--we've already spent a total of $15000 on treatments. The fear is that with his CVI (Wobblers) his balance would not be good enough to have success with the hip surgery. Also, his bone structure in the right leg appears strange--a thick femur with a very thin neck.The thinking is that the low calcium levels may have caused this. This is concerning in that it may be susceptible to injury at some point. The doctors I've consulted so far feel there is no option but euthanasia. My family is heartsick. I am desperate to know--does anyone out there have a mastiff who has survived with such odds against him? Is there anything else we could try? Does it seem that the best course of action is to put him down peacefully before he suffers a traumatic injury? Is it too much of a gamble to try the hip surgery and try to give him another chance? I should say that although this all sounds like a recipe for misery, he is up, walking, sleeping, eating, wagging his tail. An amazing, beautiful, noble dog. We do not want him to suffer, of course. But with pain meds (non-steroidal) he seems relatively comfortable--perhaps because the Wobblers causes him to have some lack of sensation in his back legs. Anyway, thank you for reading this and I welcome your responses.

 

[allformyk9s]

First, welcome to the forum. Im so sorry Pudge & your family are going through all this. He's a lucky dog to have you, lots of folks would have given up on him long ago. I have not had dog with similar circumstances nor know of anyone w/ a dog like Pudge. As for surgery or euthanasia, its truly only a decision you can make, you know Pudge & have to follow your heart/gut feeling. With that being said, if he were my dog & he's up, walking, happy living his life I would do all I could to give him the best chance at as normal of a life as he could have. Dogs are amazingly resilient & if he's not given up nor in any pain (thats affecting his day to day living, obviously dogs cant tell us if their in pain or not but you know what I mean) I would keep fighting right along with him. I wish you & Pudge the best of luck & if you chose for him to have the hip surgery, I hope that it is a success.

 

[Marrowshard]

FHO (Femoral Head Ostectomy) involves removing the head and neck of the femur, not the entire bone.
"Cats and dogs weighing less than 40 pounds do very well with the FHO procedure. Function of the leg in larger dogs is harder to predict due to the limitations of the weight-bearing capability of the false fibrous joint. Dogs greater than 60 pounds have variable results and partly dependent upon the opposite hip." (Veterinary Surgical Referral) This makes me wonder if the surgery would even succeed. An adult mastiff will shoot past 60 pounds in no time flat.

I don't suppose the breeder's been made aware of the problem?

~Marrow

 

[fritterm]

Thanks for your replies, support and help! I truly appreciate it. Yes, I described the FHO incorrectly for sure. And I did hear that it has a better success rate with smaller dogs. Pudge is 130 pounds.

As for the breeder, Pudge was the result of an accidental breeding. It was a caring owner who nevertheless did not get her female spayed and her brother impregnated her. The woman is the mother of a student of mine. I was foolish, but I don't believe she was out to make a profit. She has agreed to give me my money back.

 

[chuckorlando]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Dont they make little wheels for the dogs rear? If they dont, I probly could. I dont know what to tell you. I doubt the surgery would work if he had to walk on it all the time. But I dont think I could put m dog down cause his hip aint working. I dont know how feasable it would be but any steel fabrication shop could make a dog wheel chair. Might take some thinking and figuring for the sling for him to be comfortable. My wifes uncle has a hug blood hound thats had his whole socket and hip removed. Looks like a big sunk hole in is side. They all told him to put the dog down to. But that hound is alive and kicking. I understand the situation aint the same. But some times thinking outside the box might help

 

[PuppyPaws]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Dont they make little wheels for the dogs rear? If they dont, I probly could. I dont know what to tell you. I doubt the surgery would work if he had to walk on it all the time. But I dont think I could put m dog down cause his hip aint working. I dont know how feasable it would be but any steel fabrication shop could make a dog wheel chair. Might take some thinking and figuring for the sling for him to be comfortable. My wifes uncle has a hug blood hound thats had his whole socket and hip removed. Looks like a big sunk hole in is side. They all told him to put the dog down to. But that hound is alive and kicking. I understand the situation aint the same. But some times thinking outside the box might help

I was just thinking the same thing... maybe a he could sport some "wheels". Also, if he is up and apparently enjoying lire, I would encourage and support him for as long as I could. We just lost our beloved Boxer, Christmas day. He suffered much for the longest time, but he kept on going and then he let us know when he couldn't. You will know. Pudge will tell you if the time comes. Hang in there!

 

[fritterm]

You're all so kind. Thank you very much. I discussed wheels with one doctor and she felt that he's just so big, and our house small, with a couple of steps to the front porch, that it wouldn't work. But thinking outside the box is all I have left and I'm so happy to find some here willing to look there also, and keep hope alive. I agree that it seems precipitous to put down a very young, vital dog because of a hip injury, but those with more experience than I have are directing me that way.I think you're right that I will know when it's time, and I am not going to say goodbye without *knowing.* I am going to consult a surgeon next week and will check in afterward. I am so sorry about your boxer, PuppyPaws. It is so painful to lose a beloved pet...just overwhelming. I believe spirits go on, but it's just that we miss them so very much!

 

[chuckorlando]

Well Docs speak from experiance and advise from it. A ramp will run you about 100 bucks and that makes the steps a non issue. The dog will learn where they could and could'nt go so I aint sure a small house would change my mind either. In fact I know for certain it would'nt.

Docs work off of the rule not the exception. The truely determined often ignore the rules

 

[fritterm]

We are going to go for the FHO. The surgeon said amputation isn't advisable given Pudge's wobblers. I think follow up rehab will be really crucial. I am aware that the odds for success aren't as favorable with his wobblers and hypoparathyroidism but we are going to be staying on course with treatment for everything and keeping his diet really healthy. Thanks all for your support and I'll keep you posted!

 

[chuckorlando]

We'll keep ya'll in our prayers. Thats a lucky dog no doubt. Your an awsome person

 

[Kelly]

Yes please keep us posted.

A couple of years ago we thought my dog might need surgery, I forget what it was for, but it was major and she would have had to be on complete bedrest for about 4 months. I could tell my vet was kind leaning against not putting my girl thru it, but fortuanately xrays showed arthritis and something else that was healable with rest and regular cartrophen shots.

I was prepared to go thru with the surgery though, couldn't stand the thought of the alternative, when she is such a happy girl all the time.

 

[fritterm]

Hi, everyone.Just back with an update. We did the FHO for Pudge 10 days ago. Since then he's gradually doing better day by day. I think I started his exercise too much, too soon, and his Wobblers started affecting even his front legs. So I cut back his walks and now he seems better and stronger. It's tricky to get the balance right with Wobblers and recovery from an FHO. We are having a massage appt tomorrow and a chiro appt on Friday, and then will start hydrotherapy. Wow, am I tired.

 

[chuckorlando]

Thats good news. I wish you both the best of luck. Very very lucky dog

 

[Kelly]

Hey Frittern that's good to hear. You are still doing the surgery though? Wobblers is horrible. One of the girls I work with had a dobe and he lived to be 8 with it.

 

[DavidPorter]

Really good news..I hope he will recover very shortly.