Comment

Comment by Geri & Sidney on October 2, 2014 at 11:43am

I think Sidney would love to catch and eat crabs with Wini. I give him these dried mussels which are supposed to be good for his joints. They smell like a tide pool at high noon but he LOVES them. I think they are doing some good as he's been great at chasing the cat, even up the stairs.

Comment by Shari+ 'Wini' & 'Breena' on October 2, 2014 at 5:05am

Aloha!  Wini is scheduled to see a vet off island in 2weeks.  I am so grateful for all the help and kind suggestions here.  She is not worse, but not getting better either.  She has picked up a pound or so since we have been keeping her from her speed racer sprints _which she loves.  I take her swimming to cool off more often now but she tends to want to chase crabs.  Then she eats 'em...so funny.  Oh well...no can help, she is just so much fun.  When we get this next opinion, we will know more what she needs to deal with her pain.  We will share all about her vet expierence when we fly back home.  Mahalo hui!

Comment by Vicky Hay on September 30, 2014 at 11:52am

I'm with Beverly: take the dog to another vet, preferably a specialist and one who knows something about the corgi breed. My vet also said the same thing Beverly's vet advised: if you're going to give glucosamine, get it at Costco. Before you spend your money on it, tho', look up the science about it.

But definitely get a second and even a third opinion. I had a vet tell me my year-old German shepherd, who evinced no symptoms whatsoever when it came time for her one-year hip X-ray, had such bad hips she needed a double hip replacement! You could hear the cash register jingling as this person described what they proposed to do.

Years before, when I had a doberman, I used to frequent a vet who specialized in large-breed dogs. He had retired and sold his practice. Not knowing where else to turn, I made a gamble that the guy who'd bought the practice must have plenty of experience with dobes and Ger-sheps, assuming he inherited the old vet's clientele.

He took one look at the X-rays and said, "These images are not good enough to diagnose anything." He then proceeded to point out, in detail, everything that was wrong with them, which was indeed considerable.

For a very fair price, he sedated the dog and did a new series of X-rays, which he sent to OFA with a specific request for a specialist's opinion. Within two or three weeks, a written report came back: she had a very mild dysplasia in one hip. She did not need treatment for it, and she certainly did not need a double hip replacement.

All of which is a long way of saying always always always get a second opinion!

Meanwhile, if the dog will sit still for it, try applying an ice pack for about 10 or 15 minutes, followed by a warm (not hot) pack. That may at least ease the discomfort temporarily.

Comment by Beverly Butler Redford & Tucker on September 30, 2014 at 11:21am

You may want to see if you can see a specialist.  Tucker had a fracture at the growth plate before I got him (all 3 boys are rescues).  He favors one hind leg to the point he sometimes won't put the paw on the ground.

Tucker is on pain meds, glucosamine and a steroid.  My vet suggested using glucosamine that i get at Costco because the manufacturing is more consistent (and regulated) and is cheaper than the glucosamine at pet stores.  Tucker also has a bed that has a thick foam pad that won't bunch up after it is washed to cushion him at night.

Comment by Linda on September 29, 2014 at 7:12am

If possible get or build a ramp so that she has as few stairs as possible to handle.  Even if she has surgery to correct her hips not having to do stairs will make her so much more comfortable.

Keep us posted on how she is doing.

Comment by Geri & Sidney on September 29, 2014 at 2:49am

Please let us know what they find out. With Sidney the head of the femur was fine but the hip socket (on the left ) was malformed. He did so well after surgery though, it was amazing. It was slow at first, but we did swim therapy and he bounced back quickly. He does not limp and you would never know they removed the head off his femur. It is so hard to see them in pain, isn't it?

Comment by Shari+ 'Wini' & 'Breena' on September 29, 2014 at 2:38am

Thank you all so much for the support.  Wini had Xrays and it seems her hip joints are something like square pegs in round holes.  Well that's about the best way I can explain it.  The vet has experience with Corgis and suggested we do the more extensive XRays where she is "sleeping" when they do it.  He wanted to try the supplements first...but I have not seen any improvement.  She is such a happy dog and although she struggles to get up from a nap or go up the 3steps to our house, she never cries.  I wish I was that brave!

Comment by Judith Andre on September 28, 2014 at 11:05pm

I'm so sorry to hear this.  I have heard that they do have good results with surgery for hip dysplasia, but have not had to deal with that so don't know first hand.  I also understand that Corgi hips tend to look different in Xrays than most dogs so if you would be well off to have Xrays taken and read by a vet with a lot of experience.

Comment by Geri & Sidney on September 28, 2014 at 5:20pm

Does "loose hips" mean hip dysplasia? If so, that is what Sidney has. His was extreme though, his left hip was dislocated (just from following me down the hallway). Since that left side was so bad, he had surgery and is fine now. He still gets joint health chews but no more anti-inflammatories.. When you say she is worse, how do you mean? Limping even more? It sounds like getting to a vet is a hassle, but if you can I'd try a different vet and insist on xrays. At first our vet thought it was just a sprain but the xray told the true story.