No good news for our little Micah :(

[Rosemary]

This is a bit long winded, but need to talk it through ...........

We took Micah for a second opinion on her hip today. And the news is not good at all.

The vet we saw, says Micah (who is just over 3 years old) has an extreme malformation - so much so that it looks as if she had been in an accident (struck by a car or something similar). We said no, we re-homed her when she was five months old and she was fine and has never been in an accident or injured herself. She asked a lot of questions, like how long she has been showing symptoms - we told her about 4 months and that she was under the care of another vet.

She said with a malformation like Micah has, it is amazing that she is as agile as she is and that she hasn't shown more severe signs long, long before now

She asked us about her diet, we told her she was on a Prey Model raw diet with ACV, kelp and Omega 3 Fish, and Omega 3 Flax oil supplements and has been on this diet from the day she arrived at our home at 5 months old. She asked for a detailed breakdown of what she eats every day. She was quiet for a while just looking at the x-rays and said, she is putting her neck on the line here, but she wouldn't be at all surprised if the 100% balanced raw diet in conjunction with the oils is the reason why Micah has kept this crippling condition at bay for so long.

Anyway, the vet is not comfortable with doing any corrective/replacement surgery and has now referred us to a specialist. There are quite a few options open to us apparently, but we will see what the specialist has to say first, before we know in what direction we will take it.

The worst part of it all is that we had no idea - none whatsoever She regularly went on 5km runs with Monty for about a year, until he stopped running competitively a few months ago. If we had known or even suspected that there was a problem, we would never have allowed it, because it did worsen the situation, without a doubt.

Monty and I were discussing this this afternoon -

If Micah and Ozzy were on a Hills, Science Plan or Mera Dog diet, which is the type of food we get in SA, and not a raw diet, we would probably have picked this up earlier and we would have been able to do something sooner. So maybe the raw diet did her no favours

It feels as if we have failed her somehow, I just hope we can give her a comfortable life from here forward. Monty is taking this very badly, Micah is his little girl, wherever he is, you will find Micah

[Storm Angel n Auroras Mum]

This is a bit long winded, but need to talk it through ...........

We took Micah for a second opinion on her hip today. And the news is not good at all.

The vet we saw, says Micah (who is just over 3 years old) has an extreme malformation - so much so that it looks as if she had been in an accident (struck by a car or something similar). We said no, we re-homed her when she was five months old and she was fine and has never been in an accident or injured herself. She asked a lot of questions, like how long she has been showing symptoms - we told her about 4 months and that she was under the care of another vet.

She said with a malformation like Micah has, it is amazing that she is as agile as she is and that she hasn't shown more severe signs long, long before now

She asked us about her diet, we told her she was on a Prey Model raw diet with ACV, kelp and Omega 3 Fish, and Omega 3 Flax oil supplements and has been on this diet from the day she arrived at our home at 5 months old. She asked for a detailed breakdown of what she eats every day. She was quiet for a while just looking at the x-rays and said, she is putting her neck on the line here, but she wouldn't be at all surprised if the 100% balanced raw diet in conjunction with the oils is the reason why Micah has kept this crippling condition at bay for so long.

Anyway, the vet is not comfortable with doing any corrective/replacement surgery and has now referred us to a specialist. There are quite a few options open to us apparently, but we will see what the specialist has to say first, before we know in what direction we will take it.

The worst part of it all is that we had no idea - none whatsoever She regularly went on 5km runs with Monty for about a year, until he stopped running competitively a few months ago. If we had known or even suspected that there was a problem, we would never have allowed it, because it did worsen the situation, without a doubt.

Monty and I were discussing this this afternoon -

If Micah and Ozzy were on a Hills, Science Plan or Mera Dog diet, which is the type of food we get in SA, and not a raw diet, we would probably have picked this up earlier and we would have been able to do something sooner. So maybe the raw diet did her no favours

It feels as if we have failed her somehow, I just hope we can give her a comfortable life from here forward. Monty is taking this very badly, Micah is his little girl, wherever he is, you will find Micah

<img src="http://www.husky-owners.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=67834"/>

oh rosemary im sorry.

how can you have failed her?

you gave her the very best you could give.

thats not failure x

[Stormy]

Sorry to hear this Rosemary! Dont beat yourself up remember that the raw diet you are giving her has also prolonged use of her hip etc where as if you had fed dry kibble she may not be able to walk now

Hope it goes well with the specialist xxx

[Duremite]

Oh wow. D: I'm so sorry to hear that. I can't believe that's happening to poor Micah. Don't feel like you've failed her, you've done nothing but what you thought was best for her. I'm sure she couldn't be happier to be sharing her living space with you both, mo matter what happens to her. You're doing all you can to keep her comfortable, and that's all that matters. :3

[valkyries]

oh poor girl but hun she's happy and thats down to you both, stay positive be strong for her, hugs and i so hope all goes well xxxxxxxx

[tracey8]

so sorry rosemary ,please don't blame yourself ,you have done what you think is best and that is all any of us can do.xxx

[Kells xx]

im soo sorry to hear this rosemary, you have obv done a great job with micah and he is in a happy and loving environment

i hope you can resolves micah's leg problems soon and you can go back to being a happy pack

massive cuddles and please keep us updated

kells

[Osinn11]

Keep doing what you do. Life is always going to give you a challenge. Micah is in good hands....YOURS! Can't ask for anything more than that!

[elenamarie]

Oh no. (((((Rosemary, Monty & Micah))))) I'm so very sorry. Wish I had something of use to offer but I've got nothing but sympathy.

Please don't blame yourself. You have given her the very best you can give and for that she's been a happy girl when by medical standards she should be crippled. The runs didn't necessarily harm her. If the muscles and ligaments around the joint are strong enough they can counteract the joint issue by keeping things in line. The exercise developed those supports and could very well have contributed to her maintaining a pain-free life for this long. Don't assume that the exercise harmed. It very well may have helped.

Hip dysplasia is associated with abnormal joint structure and a laxity of the muscles, connective tissue, and ligaments that would normally support the joint. As joint laxity develops, the articular surfaces of the two bones lose contact with each other. This separation of the two bones within the joint is called a subluxation, and this causes a drastic change in the size and shape of the articular surfaces. Most dysplastic dogs are born with normal hips but due to their genetic make-up (and possibly other factors) the soft tissues that surround the joint develop abnormally causing the subluxation.

. . ..

Exercise may be another risk factor. It appears that dogs that are genetically susceptible to the disease may have an increased incidence of disease if they over-exercised at a young age. But at the same time, we know that dogs with large and prominent leg muscle mass are less likely to contract the disease than dogs with small muscle mass. So, exercising and maintaining good muscle mass may actually decrease the incidence of the disease. Moderate exercise that strengthens the gluteal muscles, such as running and swimming, is probably a good idea. Whereas, activities that apply a lot of force to the joint are contraindicated. An example would be jumping activities such as playing Frisbee.

(Treatments)

Exercise: Exercise is equally important in losing and/or maintaining the appropriate weight. Exercise that provides good range of motion and muscle building as well as limiting wear and tear on the joints is best. Leash walks, swimming, walking on treadmills, and slow jogging are excellent low-impact exercises. Bear in mind that an exercise program needs to be individualized for each dog based on the severity of the osteoarthritis, his weight, age, and physical condition. In general, too little exercise can be more detrimental than too much, however the wrong type of exercise can actually cause harm. While playing Frisbee can be very enjoyable and fun for the dog, it is extremely hard on his joints.

Remember, it is important to exercise daily; only exercising on weekends, for example, may cause more harm than good. Regular exercise in shorter sessions is always better than long work-outs on weekends. Warming the muscles prior to exercise and following exercise with a "warm-down" period are beneficial. Consult with your veterinarian regarding an exercise program appropriate for your dog.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2084&aid=444

Edited January 7, 2013 by elenamarie

[Emma]

So sorry Rosemary. I agree with Stormy, her diet has helped not hindered. Knowing this could prove useful with maintaining her condition. Good luck with the specialist. X

[BingBlaze n Skyla]

Big hugs hun you are not a failure! The vet said herself that your feeding her helped keep it at bay if you had known u wouldn't have let run its not your fault at all

Sent from my ST18i using Forum Runner

[Christine0925]

This is a bit long winded, but need to talk it through ...........

If Micah and Ozzy were on a Hills, Science Plan or Mera Dog diet, which is the type of food we get in SA, and not a raw diet, we would probably have picked this up earlier and we would have been able to do something sooner. So maybe the raw diet did her no favours

It feels as if we have failed her somehow, I just hope we can give her a comfortable life from here forward. Monty is taking this very badly, Micah is his little girl, wherever he is, you will find Micah

Ii think you did the right thing by feeding raw in this situation. She got to RUN and it FELT GOOD. If she were on dry kibble she most likely would have taken it easy and never get to experience what the best parts of being a husky is.

[elenamarie]

Rosemary, I knew a fellow at work who had no cartiledge at all in his knee. He was given visco-supplementation for a long time and it worked wonders. Lo and behold it can also be used for dogs with dysplasia. It's an option you might want to talk about with the specialist.

Other Pain Reducing Options

Another procedure known as visco-supplementation is also used to reduce the pain in pets. During this procedure the vet will inject hyaluronic acid or poly-sufated glycosaminoglycans into the affected hip joint. Visco-supplementation works as a lubricant and prevents friction due to abnormal joint alignment.

Read more: Pain Management for Hip Dysplasia in Dogs - VetInfo

If this isn't the kind of thing you want to hear right now please forgive me. I just hate to know you guys feel so terrible.

[pauline_d]

You seem to be so devoted to your dogs and that's what counts for them... you've done a great job so far. Good luck for the future and I hope everything will be sorted soon. Your big family deserves lots of happiness.

[basketcase687]

Aww,Rosemary ,sorry to read this. :(As everyone's already said,you mustn't blame yourself,certainly not your fault.Hopefully there are going to be a few options for you,so try not to worry,just take it all one step at a time.She's still a lucky girl,I know you will make sure she has a comfortable life,whatever the outcome.....Karen.x

[Elyse]

I'm so sorry to hear about this Rose.

You shouldn't blame yourself. How could you have known?

[elenamarie]

I know the news is mostly bad, Rosemary, but consider this: she has humans who will take the time, money and effort to ensure she has a long, healthy, painfree life. Given treatment she will feel better and it's not an immediately life-threatening condition when treated promptly and carefully. Nothing is certain of course but it isn't cancer of the bone or something like that.

From Micah's perspective the news isn't all bad and that's because of you and Monty.

[stormchaser09]

I have to agree with everyone else and that you are in no way to blame for anything, other than giving your girl the best life possible. I hope you get some positive solutions with the specialist and try to keep your spirits up your beautiful girl needs you.

[lebe03]

IMO I believe you have done the very best so far for Micah and I'm sure you and Monty will continue to do so. There is no point in blaming yourself as you had no indication that there was anything wrong and when you did notice something was you sought professional help nobody can do anything more than that. I thought that Polee would require a greatly restricted exercise routine after her ACL operations but she's still more than capable of walking a lot further than me.

Chin up Rosemary as I'm sure that you Monty and Ozzy can help Micah overcome this problem.

[Rosemary]

Thank you all so much - it has been a very difficult few months, and today was just the worst day ever. We were so hoping to hear something positive, but I think deep down, we both knew ...............

Oh no. (((((Rosemary, Monty & Micah))))) I'm so very sorry. Wish I had something of use to offer but I've got nothing but sympathy.

Please don't blame yourself. You have given her the very best you can give and for that she's been a happy girl when by medical standards she should be crippled. The runs didn't necessarily harm her. If the muscles and ligaments around the joint are strong enough they can counteract the joint issue by keeping things in line. The exercise developed those supports and could very well have contributed to her maintaining a pain-free life for this long. Don't assume that the exercise harmed. It very well may have helped.

Thank you so much, this was incredibly helpful - I thought I had read everything on the net, but this one escaped me, thank you

We really need to get her walking again, she has been swimming a lot, but she tires quickly so doesn't swim for longer than a few minutes at a time. Over the last few months there has been a marked difference in muscle mass. Maybe I should try and get her walking on the treadmill for 15 minutes in the morning and then a slow walk in the evening with Ozzy & Monty. Thank you again.

[cas]

Really sorry to hear this. Keep strong and positive. Hope things work out well with the specialist.

[elenamarie]

Thank you so much, this was incredibly helpful - I thought I had read everything on the net, but this one escaped me, thank you

It's my pleasure. I really didn't think I had anything of use to contribute.

I've been thinking about it while doing housework and it occurred to me that when Monty stopped taking her on regular runs the soft tissue part of the hip joint softened and relaxed, allowing the bone to rub and cause pain. It very well could be that the long runs were responsible for keeping her pain-free for so long. Is there any correlation between the end of his regular runs and the onset of her pain? I'm not a vet but it makes sense to me.

We really need to get her walking again, she has been swimming a lot, but she tires quickly so doesn't swim for longer than a few minutes at a time. Over the last few months there has been a marked difference in muscle mass. Maybe I should try and get her walking on the treadmill for 15 minutes in the morning and then a slow walk in the evening with Ozzy & Monty. Thank you again.

I'd talk to the vet before beginning an exercise regimen. They probably want to get her pain under control and decide on a treatment plan before determining exactly what kinds of exercise will best suit her. Short, frequent walks will help immediately as long as she isn't in any pain. At this point I'd let her pain levels dictate the daily walk plan.

Chronic pain can cause depression, lethargy and a resistance to movement. It doesn't surprise me that she tires quickly as pain will drain the energy right out of you (I know it does me.) I'm positive that once the pain is under control she'll be much more willing to exercise.

Again, all the hugs and wellwishes we can muster. My dad's dog had it 20 years ago and veterinary medicine has come a long way with it. Back then all they had were NSAIDs and while it worked for a little while, they eventually had to put him down when the NSAIDs caused renal failure. It was so sad. Now they have the visco-supplementation and new drugs and all sorts of therapies and treatments for dogs afflicted with this.

Lucky for Micah she has the most important ingredient for her life--YOU AND MONTY!

Edited January 7, 2013 by elenamarie

[Steve]

I'm so sorry Rosemary, but you cannot beat yourself up for giving her the best life to date - I'm sure she would not have changed a thing given time over. The main thing is to look forward rather than back. The past cannot be changed, but you're in charge of the future - she really is in the best hands. Good luck with the specialist.

[Austinville]

I can't offer more than a hug............you're a husky owner who has devoted herself to her pack and they can't ask for more than that. I firmly believe that YOU and the OH are the best things that could have ever happened to Micha. She's happy, loved and been given the best of everything.

Don't be kicking yourself. If any of us have a standard of care, it's been provided through watching you with your pack.

I pray that everything works out........you have our love and our support.

Hugs, hugs and more hugs.

[elenamarie]

Here are some additional articles for you, Rosemary.

http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=446485&sk=&date=&%0A%09%09%09&pageID=3

This one is very clinical but I think very useful for understanding the anatomy of the hip and its degeneration.

http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/saortho/chapter_83/83mast.htm

If I run across anything else I'll post it for you.

Given the role soft tissue plays in hip dysplasia I think it's important for you and especially Monty to know that the runs likely contributed to the delay of pain, NOT increased it.

EDIT: Please make sure ALL the vets you're working with are aware of any correlation between the end of the runs, the onset of pain and loss of muscle mass. If the exercise had provided sufficient support to the joint to prevent pain they need to be aware so they can plan her treatment accordingly.

Edited January 7, 2013 by elenamarie