Went to the vet today.

[StarFox]

Oh what a day! We took Zebra in to the vet today to see about his limp. And we took Nibbles (our rabbit) in for a general check up and nail clipping. Well we took one car and my mom and dad came. My mom helped me with Zebra and I helped my dad with Nibbles. We had to wait for an hour an half to see the vet! :o They were sooo busy and only one of the vets was there today. There are usually two of them but not today.

I saw a bunch of loverly dogs and cats! The First dogs I saw were two Bulldogs (K you would have loved them!!). One had a brindel head with one big brindel spot on his back, the rest of him was white. He was soo cute and super frendly! His other bulldog freind was white and black. I don't know why they were at the vet because they were leaving as we were arriving. I wish I had a camera because they were both so cute! :P

Then there was an older man who had a Black Lab who was 12 years old with HD and a younger dog that he saved from the pound. (Zebra realy like both of them and they liked him allot! :D )

There was a poor little kitty that got hit by a car and broke his leg and couldn't hold his bowel movement. The owner said that they had let him outside for the first time and they think he got hit by a car. :(

A not so friendly Pit Mix...A lovely looking dog that's temperment wasn't that good. Kept trying to get at Zebra and groweling. Poor thing had the WORST bark! I almost want to say he/she was debarked. :-? The owners wern't very nice either. because when we were leaving I saw the male owner go up to the dog and slap him back and forth in the face as "play". :x

Ok well when we FINALLY got to see the vet he checked over Zebra and said he didn't have a torn ligament. He gave him and anti-inflamatory and Deramaxx (100 Mg a day for a week). The vet said if the limp did not impove 100% by monday or tuesday we have to bring him back to have X-Rays done. To make sure he dosn't have HD. I hope to heaven that he dosn't have HD. He is only 1 year old! :( The Vet said he could have brused something in his hip and that could be making him limp. But I dunno...he has had this limp for a week and a half. :( I'm soo worried and scared! Is HD the end of the world for my dog? Will he still beable to run and play like normal?

Ok..now about our male rabbit Nibbles. The vet checked over him and said his ears, eyes and teeth looked perfect! :P He told us that he felt a lump in his belly and I told him that he has been having Diarrea(sp?). So now we have to give our bunny hair ball treatment for 2 weeks. Well the doctor checked his "privates" to make sure everything was ok down there...we got the shock of a life time. The vet said "You do know this "HE" is a "SHE"?" WHAAAAT?! :o :o We have had this bunny for 2 years and always thought it was a male! Oh my goodness my dad actually gasped and was in shock! I thought he was going to fall off the chair! The vet and the assistants were laughing at our reaction. We were all so suprised! :lol: The one vet assistant was like "have you ever seen bunny privets before?" and I'm like "No"..then he laughed and said "don't feel bad, they are so small that it's hard to tell sometimes"....of course he was SUPER CUTE!!! and he's standing there talking to me about rabbit private parts. :oops: Oh well I have to go back to the vet on tuesday...maybe I'll see him again and we'll talk about his privates! :lol: (J/K!!) :wink:

[mouseatthebusstop]

I do not know much about HD TAKEN FROM A BOOK
SIGNS--Affected dogs show abnormal sitting or an unusual way of walking, described sometimes as "crabbing". The back legs may seem stiff, and affected dogs are slow to sit, eventually deleloping stiffness and pain as well. The conditionis most often seen in the larger breeds over 12k , and can affect one or both hips.
TREATMENT--With appropriate medical or surgical treatment, the majority of dogs with HD can enjoy a painfree active life. A proportion of dogs will need pain controle for most of their life A number of surgical techniques have been developed to treat different stages of the condition.

[imported_Cassie]

HD is not the end of the world...my Rottweiler has HD and she has a horrible set of hips! she leads a normal active life. I don't over due the exercise...I am happy that she enjoys swimming as this is a perfect excercise for a dog with HD...with moderate exercise and the most important thing about exercise is do not over due it on some days and lax on other days...it must be consistant through out the week (example you take your dog for 2 - 15 minute walks daily then on the week end go for a 2 hour hike...that is not good - be consistant)
I was going to get the hip replacement surgery done (her hips are very bad) I have been able to manage my dogs HD with diet and supplements...your Vet will also go over other surgeries at the time when you find out how bad the hips are (if it is HD)

I myself have been able to manage my dogs HD with out the use of Rymidal or Metacam (common anti inflamatory med's given to dogs with Arthritis caused by the HD) I chose not to give these Med's as they are very hard on your dogs liver...instead I give Glucosamine & Chondroitin (with ascorbic acid to aid in the uptake of the Glucosamine) I also have her on MSM, and Yucca for pain.
I also have her on Vitamin E, B-50 complex twice weekly, once a week I give her a multi vitamin (made for dogs)...I also feed her canned Sardines twice weekly for the omega 3 fatty acids, and canned Salmon once weekly for the omega 3 fatty acids...I do not feed raw fresh/steamed Salmon as some salmon can contain a parasite called a "fluke" which is dangerous to dogs and not always eliminated in cooking. Also, the balance of calcium to phosphorus need to be considered -- when you feed canned salmon and sardines, you're feeding a source that contains some bone. And that is a good thing!
You could also try a supplement from a company called "Utlimate Health." The supplement contains Boswellia and bovine cartiledge in addition to the gluc/chond. You'll want manganese too.

If you are not currently feeding a raw diet or a holistic food then I would switch to a more holistic food or try the raw feeding (BARF diet) and try to drop as much weight as possible. Since switching my girl to a whole food/raw, she's gone from 100 lbs to 80 lbs (which is her ideal weight)
a lot of Raw Meaty Bones are very good for HD -- chicken necks, backs, etc. these will help build cartiledge.

[ellieangel]

Don't feel too bad about the bunny thing !! :lol:
We had a mad psycho bunny who would attack your ankles growling when you were in the garden so I phoned the vet and she suggested that we bring him in for a castration well when we got there she was examining him and she said " I'm afraid I can't do your rabbits castration " I said "why not ?" she said " because he is a she!!" I was so embarrassed. :oops:
She said to me "have you never looked to check ?"
I said " no I just believed the girl in the pet shop !!"

[DogPaddle]

Tyr our GSD/Malamute foster has 4rth degree (as bad as it gets) HD and the beginnings of osteoarthritis - diagnosed at 8 months. It is not uncommon for this to start early as it is a malformation of the hip socket so its not "an old dogs illness." Our vet has done his own work with HD and from personal observation has concluded that - most dogs see an improvement in symptoms after 18 months and do not see symptoms flaring up as bad again until they reach old age, most symptoms can be prevented with Glucosamine and Chondroitine (although the additional supplements Cassie suggested sound great as well) and those symptoms that cannot be prevented can be treated with uncoated ASA (aspirin) only - not to much though, your vet would know how much for your doggy's weight. I think even if Zebra has HD there will be no problem with an active (but moderate perhaps) level of activity and a very happy, comforatable life. Tyr was very comfortable and playful much of the time after we put him on Glucos/Chondroit (not expensive), occaisionally after too much roughhousing with Zaphod (our fault) he would be stiff getting up and have a slight limp, less then 20 min after giving him ASA he was fine. Good luck!

[StarFox]

I'm so worried about Zebra having HD. He is going to have the X-rays done next monday. By then my mom gets paid so we can afford them. I'm almost certain that it is HD, He seems to have many of the symptoms.

I want to thank you all because you reassured me that HD can be treated and prevented. What would I do with out you guys!? You guys are the best! (uh-oh..i'm getting all sappy now. :oops: )

[imported_Cassie]

Heres hoping Zebra does not have HD and just has a sprain or some thing simple....but, if it is HD we are here to support you and answer any questions you many have. HD can be managed through diet and proper exercise and natural supplements...I have been able to avoid giving my Rottie aspirin...I have found the Yucca to be very effectiant in controlling any pain..Yucca contains saponin compounds known as sarsasapogenin and smilagenin. These phytosterol constituents are believed to be useful for relieving inflamed joint in animals with arthritis and other rheumatoid diseases. If you do consider using Yucca it is important to note, that only a very small amount of the powdered root perhaps a pinch or two is needed to achieve the result of improved nutrient absorption. Too much of this herb, fed continuously, may actually have a reverse effect, causing nausea and irritation of mild intestinal mucosa and may be counter productive...I buy my Yucca at a local health food store a bottle of 60 pills only cost me about $5.00 canadian....each capsole contains the powdered form of the herb Yucca...I break open the capsole and just put a pinch of it into my dogs morning meal every other day...the bottle of pills will last a long long time! :wink:
Yucca has worked wonders for me...I have seen too many dogs die an early death on the anti inflamatory med's Rymidal and Metacam....I myself perfer natural products....I have subscribed to the whole dog journal which is very informative (a news letter) this news letter discusses new herbs and food etc...if you go to the website under www.wholedogjournal.com you will be able to subscribe...my subscription only cost $29.00 for a year.

Good luck with the X-rays, I hope every thing goes well...give us an update when you have the results...
We are here for you... :D