Question by Maureen A: Great Dane Cruciate Surgery and Athritis Question?
Hello. I have a 3.5 year old Dane who injured his cruciate ligament October 2007. He had the regular surgery and unfortunately, when the surgery was done, he was diagnosed with extremely bad arthritis in that knee. His recovery has been slow and he seems to always be producing extra joint fluid. It has been drained several times, we have tried anti-inflammatories, steriods etc. Nothing seems to be able to get a handle on this knee. This spring once the snow cleared up, he suddenly recovered as if he had never even had surgery.

A month ago, he fell and appears to have reinjured that leg. Again we have tried everything, but he seems to be getting worse instead of better. He’s had xrays, metacam, both short and long acting steriod injections, oral steriods, he has been on glucosamine for over a year and we have even tried alternative therapies. Our last attempt is to try a medication that will shut his immune system down – thinking if the system stops producing inflammation, we could get a handle on the knee. We should see results in 3 days but we are really getting to a point where our vet is really out of ideas and our dogs quality of life is suffering…and winter is settling in. Obviously he is not getting around very good so he only goes outside twice a day, he only eats every other day and of course – it is just very sad.

We are contemplating euthanasia and this is really a plea if anyone knows anything or had this experience, please let me know. I love my dog and am willing to try anything to save his life!

Best answer:

Answer by ND DVM
Sorry to hear about your trouble. I am not certain what medication you may be trying to “shut his immune system down,” considering that he has already been on potent doses of steroidal and nonsteroidal antiinflammatories. Have you considered asking for a referral to a veterinary specialist, particularly a teaching hospital? They see many more very difficult cases than the general practitioner, and so may have ideas on how to handle your special friend’s problems. Should the worse happen and you make the decision for euthanasia, try to take comfort from knowing that you really did do everything you could for your dog. All pets should be so fortunate. Best of luck.

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Question by Angry: If a great pyrenees is shaved, is there a possibility that their coat will not come back?
I have always had my pyrenees groomed. Recently a new groomer at the place of which I will not name, decided he was to matted to be brushed and she shaved him. This was in August of this year. It is now November and all he has for a coat is a bunch of thin fuzz. I was so angry that they did this to him but I am concerned that his coat will not return. Be aware of groomers who do not want to make an effort. She shaved him because she didnt want to take the time to brush him. He is routinely groomed and there was no need to shave him. A good brush out and bath would have done the trick but she admitted she thought it would be faster, then corrected herself with easier to which things only became worse. Now I have a sweetheart of a dog that looks so hideous. He looks as he has the mange or something..I just want to know if it will ever come back. He is 9 years old with sever hip dysplasia. I am concerned that this may be his last year since his coat isnt there to help keep his hips warm from the cold. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Best answer:

Answer by ladystang
yes

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Question by Cassie-Dane & Bully Breed lover: my great dane…how long?
OK
so my dane is 2 y/o and has hip dysplasia

she wont need any surgery for a few years

but I was wondering…how long does a dog usually live if they have it?

I would only want her to have a good quality life

if she’s in too much pain, and we couldnt fix it. then we wouldnt be selfish

but how long will her quality of life be good?

any idea/guesses of how old she’ll live to?

she was diagnosed around her 1st birthday
Lol

All of my dogs are fixed

Best answer:

Answer by BMTHESPIAN
HD doesn’t affect the length of a dogs life. How good a quality of life she has and how much pain she is in varies greatly on how severe the HD is. Keeping her weight down will go a long way to keeping her comfortable.

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Question by Cassie-Dane & Bully Breed lover: dog section question. very important. refers to my prior question about my great dane?
But not AS important. If you read the other one you will understand this one…
http://answers.yahoo.com/my/profile;_ylt=AmlNqLSYuU2MFp0X.whkbvbL7BR.;_ylv=3?show=JTxb2HR2aa

Ok so read that one and it will help you with this one.

So she is suffering more with her hip dysplasia as I said in that question.

So my question is…then I should not take her to the dogpark with my other dogs on sunday? Bc I know swimming does help the hips…and that is a big reason why I take her. And she LOVES the dog park. It makes her week.
But should I leave her at home then? And just take bella? 2 of my cousins might take their dogs too.
And Meri terrorizes the house when bella goes somewhere and she is left. Even for a 20 minute walk.
So should I leave her at home still?
I could try and find a way to keep her out of trouble. Which will be hard. But if I need to then I will.

So what is your suggestion?

Best answer:

Answer by Harlee the Husky Lab
your link doesnt work :”If you read the other one you will understand this one…” quote quote

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Question by Cassie-Dane & Bully Breed lover: RE-POST: Dog section question. very important. refers to my prior question about my great dane?
But not AS important. If you read the other one you will understand this one…
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqKHHuxqKZBzx7qof2G68wXsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080827122851AAmYDPq

Ok so read that one and it will help you with this one.

So she is suffering more with her hip dysplasia as I said in that question.

So my question is…then I should not take her to the dogpark with my other dogs on sunday? Bc I know swimming does help the hips…and that is a big reason why I take her. And she LOVES the dog park. It makes her week.
But should I leave her at home then? And just take bella? 2 of my cousins might take their dogs too.
And Meri terrorizes the house when bella goes somewhere and she is left. Even for a 20 minute walk.
So should I leave her at home still?
I could try and find a way to keep her out of trouble. Which will be hard. But if I need to then I will.

So what is your suggestion?

ok there we go…new link

thank you all!
p.s
can you star this question please?

Best answer:

Answer by * love rams & j *
i would suggest talking to your vet about what she can and can’t do. it’s better to get an expert opinion than to guess and possibly make things work.

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i recently found out my 3yo Dane, Fergie, has HD, arthritis & a bad knee. The vet has her on G3 & Deramaxx. She acts like it doesn’t hurt her &, other than a slight limp, you’d never know by the way she runs & plays. I have 2 other danes & during the day i keep them seperated from her so they don’t play rough while i’m away. When i get them back together, they play like they haven’t seen each other in years!

My problem is this: Fergie is a very energetic Dane who’s full of play, but her recent diagnosis is requiring her to rest. How do i let her get expell some of this energy without her hurting or straining herself? I’d love to be able to let her swim (i’ve read that does wonders) but i live in Ohio & its not the season for that. Also – there aren’t any facilities around that cater to animal therapy. The vet says to leash walk, & we do, but she’s still peppy after that! I hate to deprive her of playing w/the other dogs, but i have no way limiting how rough they get. Help!
Sidenote: Fergie is supposed to ‘rest’ for about a week. By ‘rest’ i mean ‘take it easy’ and not run sprints or wrestle with the others, until the G3 can start to work it’s magic. She’s not confined to a crate or not allowed to exercise – we leash-walk every other day. =)

I think my 6 year old Pyr is developing arthritis, but because I am unemployed (thank you, economy) I cannot afford a trip to the vet. The symptoms are stiffness of the hind hips, and a “high arching” limp.

The first thing that comes to everyone’s mind is hip dysplasia. When I take him on walks it tends to loosen up and by the end of the walk it is relatively unnoticeable.

So I think it is actually just arthritis…. but I know the only way for sure is to take him to the vet and pay a chunk.He’s never had a limp until recent months – we’re in an apartment with all hardwood floors. A few months after moving in he started limping, so I bought him a memory foam bed. That helped for a while but then the limp came back. I have also noticed improvements when I give him senior supplements but now I’m out of those. I am hoping a change of diet can help his condition until I am employed again and can get him to a vet.

I have always fed him Authority Large Breed (the petsmart store brand), but now I am looking for something that could be more beneficial for his condition.

Any recommendations?