After thorough examinations and x-rays Charlie-Spud has been diagnosed with severe HD in his rear right leg and secondary HD in the rear left.
His Vet and Consultant have put a plan of action together for Charlie, which involves a strict exercise regime including hydrotherapy. He has been restricted to 3 lead walks of a maximum 15/20 mins per day and hydrotherapy comprising 3 sessions this week increasing to 4 next week and five the week after. He has been prescribed painkillers and anti-inflammatory tablets and joint supplements. At the moment we are trying to stabilise his left hip in the hope that this will not require any surgery. However, Charlie will require surgery on his rear right hip but we hope the management plan will alleviate the need to operate on his left one.
Although Charlie is not overweight he needs to loose between 1.5 and 2.0kg. The lighter he is the better So in an attempt to help him along his groomer has given him a close cut (Hey, every little bit helps even if it is a matter of ounces
) Seriously though this was also recommended by the Consultant as it alleviates any pulling or agitating him around the rear or on his back.
Charlie's consultant is brilliant, she has explained everything in so much detail and appears to have won him over so much so that she can do almost anything to him, which is so reassuring especially as he tends to be slightly grummbly when anyone goes near his rear end.
The consultant also said that Charlie will need pain killing injections twice weekly towards the end of the year as his body will get used to the metacam and the pain level may over ride the effects of this drug. They cannot operate at this stage as they need to monitor his left hip, as they do not want to keep knocking him out due to the effects of a GA on his heart. But obviously if they need to then they will operate on the right one in the interim and continue to monitor the left one.
Its not the best result in the world but it explains why he has been acting so out of character recently and now measures can be taken to help him through each day and to improve his quality of life for how ever long.
There are further concerns over Frisbee especially as he shares the same father. The consultant has checked him over and at this stage is not unduly worried but we are keeping a very close eye on him...just in case… but you can bet that he will be taken straight to the vet if any alarm bells start ringing.
