Bilateral Hip Displasia Treatment

Hello. I am hoping that some of you may be willing to share your knowledge/experience on hip dysplasia. My sixteen month dog (Malinois) has been diagnosed with chronic bilateral hip dysplasia. He will need to have both hips replaced at some point, the question is when should I have them done? I am worried that if I have them done now they will not last and I will have to put a healthy dog down but alternatively I want him to enjoy and have a quality life. My poor boy has clearly been in pain for some time, although being a very stoic dog has never complained.

As soon as his hip dysplasia was diagnosed my vet put him on 25kg Metacam and he has been a completely different dog as he is now clearly pain free. However I am worried about the long term implications of the damage that Metacam could do to his insides - guts, liver and kidneys. My vet has also put him on three Seraquin a day. He has started a course of hydrotherapy to strengthen his muscles to support his hips but the physio has suggested that the hips are so bad that it is likely that the hydrotherapy won't help the condition only his fitness - although the vet, physio and hydrotherapists are all in agreement that he is super fit and in excellent condition.
He has been doing flyball but have been told me that flyball is now out of the question for him which is a shame as he has really been enjoying starters and also is so excited when I take him to training and competitions with my other dog who runs in open.

I have always used CSJ Herbs for my dogs alternating between Resist, Go On, and Come On and was wondering if any of you have any experience in these herbs and if you feel i am doing the right thing with the way I am giving them as a mixture and whether they could also help him?

I realise I have asked a lot of questions but I really want to do what's best for my boy and any information/experience you can share with me can only help.

I'd get a second opinion from a specialist vet.

Then go from there.

Have you let the breeder know?

rune

Thanks. Have got two other opinions who endorse what mine is saying although none are clear on the implications of metacam and how long hip replacements last.

No breeder info as he's a rescue.

Exercise for him in the form of swimming in a therapy pool is brilliant exercise & non weight bearing which will help him stay fit

You may wish to consider "natural"treatments for your dog.

Metacalm & Rimadyl can both have severe adverse reactions & dogs on either drug should have regular check ups & blood tests for affects on the kidneys

i also have a dog with HD and rehomed one with Chronic HD last year, the one i rehomed had the worst hips the vets had ever seen the femor and the socket are that far apart that they are not rubbing, both my own and the rehomed one are getting by on a combination of hydrotherapy and seraquin, Millie only has metacam if she has had a particularly bad day.

I was always reluctant to put a dog through major surgery if it could be controlled in other ways, personally i would do what Rune suggested and get a second opinion in the meantime i would start the swimming and see how you get on.

The Best thing you can do with HD is keep the Back Legs Muscled (so as tight as possible to hold the leg together) & any inflamation down. The very worse thing you can do is not exercise.

Id encourage Controlled Free running etc, maybe not handbrake turns after balls etc.

Metacam can affect a dogs scenting ability so be aware that could happen if you decide to do obedience etc .

My 7 yrold Ob Dog flynn has lead a very full life & still competes in ob, although his legs have started to catch up with him now,

I take it the dog has been xrayed & the xrays read by a specialist. It is not actually how severe the hip dysplasia is that matters it is where the problems are a hip that is too tight fitting or a misshaped ball or socket is far more painful to the dog than a hip which is more seriously misplaced but is not rubbing so does not give the dogs any pain.If the dog is in serious pain & every time you stop the medication they are in pain again, then the only real answer is an op but I would be sure that you have an expert, not just a vet to verify this first. If the dog has the op then you need plenty of hydrotherupy to ensure the dog has good muscles.
The dog mentioned in another post who has no linkage between socket & joint will be keeping control through good muscles & as long as the dog is kept fit & not too fat they should be fine for a long time. I know of one GSD who had the highest score possible under the hip scheme as the socket & joint were no where near each other after as the people who had rehomed her found out the puppy had been dropped down the stairs & then not treated by a vet. At nearly ten that dog could still run & jump as well as the other dogs.

Sorry to be vague, but I'm sure I read about high dose vitamin C being beneficial for CHD??? Could be worth having a google. My friend is at present trying to rehome her two year old dog which has bilateral HD. Sadly no one wants him because of this condition.

Her vet told her he wasn't to exercise, so she took it literally and he doesn't go for walks at all.