I think Noche may have hip displaysia

edited March 2009 in Shiba Inu (柴犬)
OK, I may be jumping the gun, (and I hope I am) but I noticed a "pop" feeling in noches rear leg, I think its comming from the hip or knee, he shows no pain, in fact he runs and jumps all the time (no weird walking, sitting, standing habits or "bunny hop"). I flexed his legs, that seemed fine; but when I did the Ortolani maneuver I definetly feel a pop (but only at certain angle, and on one side), during the whole process he did not fight me or show any discomfort (I was very surpised he let me do all the streching, in fact he seemed to like it). The reason I started checking was because I felt the pop when he was in my lap and he jumped out while my hand was on his rear back. I hope its just a legiamte or something else, I did read that some dogs might devolp pops if something else is torn, and not show any pain or discomfort. Noche is due to get snipped tomorrow, so I will let my vet check him out, but since last night I have been thinking and worrying about it.

Comments

  • edited November -1
    Perhaps he has luxating patella? My male, Triton, has stage 1 luxating patella. It is a congenital defect in Shibas. It usually doesn't affect him much, we keep the strenuous exercise to a minimum and he gets glucosamine and chondroitin every day. The vet can easily check for it.
  • edited March 2009
    I actually did some more checking this morning on him; the knee seems to have the pop, in fact I am leaning towards the fact that it may be patella, (between hip and that I prefer patella), Luna actually had the suregery as well and she recouped 100%, noche is still 6 months so I am sure if it is the doc will recomend suregery so that his leg has a better success rate. If we have to do the suregery,I prefer to spend for the operation now rather than have a bigger issue later. If knee suregery may be the case the doc may opt to do both the knee and neutor at the same time since he will be under...poor noche.
  • edited November -1
    Luxating platellas are actually (sadly) common in Shibas. If surgery isn't performed, it can lead to arthritis issues, etc. It is definitly preferrable to HD, though! On a young dog, the recovery should be fast- but it'll be harder to keep him calm when he's a young-un... Good luck with this.

    Rachel
  • edited November -1
    I guess it depends on the vet and the situation, but my vet recommended not to do surgery because Triton's is only Stage 1 at this point. When I looked it up online, surgery was recommended more for Stages 3 and 4. I opted not to do surgery until he starts to become more affected because it is so invasive and I wouldn't want him to not be able to exercise for months. If it gets worse, I won't hesitate to have it repaired though.
  • edited November -1
    Poor Babe! Much love to him! <3 ~
  • edited March 2009
    OK...the worse of two evils, turns out noche has HD, the x rays confirmed it :(. The docotr said I could wait until later to do surgery, since noche is in no pain or discomfort, however, suregery will be necessary at some point, the bone is to mal formed to expect anything else (on the x ray I could even tell the socket was very badly formed) his right side is perfectly fine. I went ahead and had the FHO surgery done, he said for the breed and size (plus being 6 months old, best suited to recover) he will have the best success, and probably not even know he had the surgery. THP would have been the best option, he would have recomended another surgeon if I wanted that, but said it was not necessary and that it may not be an option for his size. He had the FHO done first then the snip, and microchip ( I actually watched the whole procedure); poor fella, the doctor said to get him walking asap, but right now I am letting him sleep, he had a long day and I think he deserves it, I put his bed in the office with some food and water next to me, right now hes sleeping, happy to be home. I will start him walking tomorrow when he is over his meds and a little more spunky :) (but the little tropper did walk down the stairs when I went to get a water dish and some food, so I think he has some drive)
  • edited November -1
    Awww, heal well Noche!
  • edited November -1
    Hers a pic (sorry, only have my cell phone camera on me)
  • edited November -1
    Poor Noche! He's just a baby, isn't he?
  • edited November -1
    ohhhh...I"m sorry to hear about the HD :( always hard to hear that news, but obviously Noche has a good human to look after his wellbeing and that's half the battle right there! Sending you all healing thoughts for a quick recovery!!
  • edited November -1
    I am sorry Tony. Recover quickly Noche!
  • edited November -1
    I'm really sorry to hear that. I'm glad you caught it early though.

    What is the difference between the surgeries?
  • edited March 2009
    Thank all for the warm wishes, Ill tell noche :).

    Dlroberts, FHO (Femoral Head Ostectomy) basically cutting out the femur "ball" or head, the doctor tries to remove enough so that the bones no longer touch thus preventing grinding, in time the muscles and scar tissue form a replacement joint. This new joint not being of bone prevents grinding and basically all the tissue rebuilds the gap. From what my doctor said that on smaller dogs their is little to no noticible changes in overall usage of the leg once it heals, but it will take some time. And since noche is only 6 months old (to answer your question Nekopan) the vet said he will more than likely have a very high sucess rate at rebuilding the leg to full usage. This procedure can be done on bigger dogs, but because of weight on the legs and pelvis have a much more difficult time adapting to the missing joint. Now, THP (total hip replacement) is basically that, just like in a person the hip socket and joint are replaced with a new one, this is the better of the two, but unecessray (or overkill) for smaller dogs and aside from that there are no artifial joints for smaller breeds (at least its not common). Also it has a much longer recouperation time, because the bones have to set back in and meld with the artificial joints along with muscles and such.

    in the end I think I made the best choice to have it done now, and my vet, who is very good, said the same thing, it wasnt a matter "if" noche would ever need the surgery, just a matter of "when", by doing it now I just increase the chance of full recovery several times over because of his young age and less complecations with chipped bones and arthirtis problems, wich follow if HD is left untreated, but I am still going to place him and my two other shibas on Glucosamine supplements to prevent any future problems.

    I will let everyone know his progress so just in case anyone else has the misfortune of having their loved one with HD may be a little better informed. :)
  • edited November -1
    Well we are wishing Noche a speedy recovery from here. Hope that he is resting soundly he deserves it.
  • edited November -1
    Thanks for explaining that. I hope he has a speedy and full recovery and rehab!
  • edited November -1
    Hopefully he'll feel 100% real soon <3 ~
  • edited November -1
    Poor little peanut!!!
  • edited November -1
    Sorry I am so late on this, I have been out of town... but I am glad that little Noche is doing well after surgery. Best of luck to him (and you) for a speedy recovery. I am sure he is happy to have you on his side. :)
  • edited November -1
    best wishes to you and the little guy. i'll keep you guys in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery
  • edited November -1
    poor lil guy, i hope he makes a speedy recovery! :)
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