Your experience with TPO operations needed.

[Nikon]

Hello.

I'm trying to research all I can about Triple Pelvic Osteotomy, so if you have this operation done on your dog or know somebody who has it done, please let me know how the operation changed your dog's life and wether you would recommend it.

I x-rayed my puppy when he was 4 months old and my vet told me his hips were fine. I posted his x-ray on this site and someone here advised me to seek another opinion since the vet did not seem to position the dog correctly for the x-ray. With that in mind, a couple days ago when he's about 9 months old, I took my pup to another vet for neutering and asked to have his hips x-ray also. The vet told me the pup now has severe hip dysplasia. I was both furious and devastated.

I am seeing a specialist to discuss the treament plans, but would like to gather more information from people who have had first hand experience with the procedures.

I appreciate your feedbacks, and thank all of those who advised me to seek a second opinion. If only I can find that old thread again.

[maximumgolden]

hi, I very rarely post, but visit daily and i have learned a great deal from this forum. years ago we had a female rottweiler who had severe hip displasia at 5 months , considered very young to be showing symptoms but she was, doing the bunny hop upstairs crying out in pain when she played with our other dog, we were lucky enough to have a surgeon who was located very close to our home and they were wonderful. She wasn't your typical rottie as far as agility and speed, but i do feel if not for those surgeries she would have been destined for a life of pain or she would have had to be put to sleep.she was the sweetest dog you could have ever have met and we feel very blessed to have the years we had with her, unfortunately we lost her to cancer at 8. i know people say there are other ways to make them comfortable, but with severe displasia you don't really have that option if you don't want your dog in angony.good luck with your research and hope you find a surgeon who was as wonderful as ours.

[diiorio]

With out more specific info not much can be said, he is still pretty young. But if they clearly see there is already severe deformation in the hip sockets, then surgery MAY be needed. THere are many surical procedures.

OHE.... IS when the balls of the hip are removed. The body filsl the area in wih muscle and scar tissue and material. Soem tiems it really does help, is cheaper, but the legs are nt tas strong. Soem dog's do well, some larer breeds don't It really depends o nthe og and the healing process.

THR-Total Hip Replacement is where the heads of the femur is removed, and a metal replacement is screwed into the bone, and the socket reformed. You know will ahve a smooth workign socket and hip. However psot care is critical so he bone heals and strenghens around the implanted hip head. Very expensive but long lasting.

TPO- surgery is used in large breed dogs no older than 10 months of age. Candidates for this surgery can only have mild hip dysplasia and no signs of secondary arthritis. During the procedure the pelvis is cut and rotated slightly so that the head of the femur has a tighter fit into the socket. Since the pelvis is being cut it needs to be stabilized with bone plates.

TPO is very invasive. I'm not sure if they explained it in detail, and that baces with pins are placed in areas the hip is cut. The hip is changed in angle so the hip sockets fit. However, when the dog is older, i can build material into the socket, and still get further displasia. Some times peopel wai to see what happens (when the dog reached full maturity) and if needed do a total hip replacment to create a new socket and femural head. This wil lassure a proper fit, and no furher issues.

TPO post surgery care is critical! the dog is on extreme limited activity, even mroe so then the other pocedures.

[KilasMammy]

Hi Nixon,
Sorry to hear that your puppy does have HD :( but glad that you got the second opinion...you must have been so frustrated at the initial vet and it may well be worth informing him of his incorrect xray and your pups condition. I thought you might want a link to your old thread its http://www.topgoldenretrieversites.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2430&page=1&pp=10

As you might remember we had Kila diagnosed at 7months old and having discussed the varying options with an orthopeadic specialist we opted for conservative management, she is on supplements and pain relief 2 times a week now. Our surgeon is not keen on the TPO operation due to several factors (and as he said this is how I make my living). Kila is doing well on her conservative management, she was switched to adult food to slow down her rapid growing phase and you wouldnt know she had HD in her general movement...she is stiff after sleeping at times and she bunny hops and waddles as she walks but we have seen an improvement since she has been on her supplements :)
We have 6-8 weekly chats with her specialist to discuss her progress which is nice to have that back up.
The ***** Canine HD group is a good one for getting general info on various surgeries and outcomes.
I wish you all the best with your puppy....they will still love you to pieces HD or not :)
Marie

[KilasMammy]

P.S. it would be nice to see your new xrays if you have them :)

[Ally99]

Hi Marie. Thanks for your informative post. We just found out our 6-7 month old Golden pup has HD.:-( Bless her sweet heart. Do you mind sharing the reasons why your vet did not recommend the TPO surgery? Thank you so much! Ally

[GoldenBoys]

Diiorio, I believe you mean an FHO, not an OHE.

OHE=spay (ovariohysterectomy)

[GoldenJoy]

Yes, he means FHO. My Golden had an FHO at 7 months and a THR at 11 months. His hip popped right out of the socket at 7 months and it could not be held in place by anything. At 7 months he was too young for an THR, or he would have had one on both sides.

As I understand it, a TPO is usually done at a very early age. It's a tough operation. This I was told by Dr. Pond's OR techs, and a few of the Vets at our emergency clinic.

I would check that ortho site. My Shadow, who is pictured in the avatar (darker) is doing very, very well after both his surgeries. However, he's a little crooked, and has a huge wiggle butt......not when he runs though...and this boy runs. He's fast. Sometimes Tucker can't keep up with him.
I had a wonderful surgeon operate on Shadow, he's located here in CT.

[waterabbit]

I have searched the site, and found a thread from a year ago, but no one on it had actually had this done to their dogs. Prince turned 8 mths June 3. He has bilateral HD. The surgeon is going to do a triple pelvic osteotomy on him the next couple of weeks. Has anyone experienced this procedure or know anyone who has. I am concerned about the long recovery period. :(

[Legend's Mom]

I have heard WONDERFUL things about TPO's....There is a lady named Kim on this forum that had to have something like this done to her dog, Shadow....maybe she will spot this thread and comment!

Good Luck and i am so sorry about your Golden baby, but there is life past HD!

[waterabbit]

Hello All! As some of you know, Prince our 8 mth old male GR, is having TPO on Tuesday June 27. Unfortunately, the surgeon is also concerned he may elbow displasia. :eek: We will deal with that after we take care of his hips. Will give updates, and pictures during recovery. (maybe it will help someone else going through same thing :) )I've got my fingers crossed that this surgery is going to work . The surgeon says that if all goes well, Prince will not be on any meds after recovery, and will run and play with our 3 yr old golden like his hips were never bad!
This is a picture of him singing to the music by the pool this weekend. (hopefully I did it right :o )

[GoldenJoy]

Hi!

I'm sorry. I haven't been on in a while even though it may say I have. I can't seem to log out. I've been very busy helping with rescue in a round about sort of way so time here has been limited.

My Shadow couldn't have a TPO because 1. he wasn't a candidate. Even if the pelvis was tipped there still wasn't enough to hold the socket(it's been a while so my terminology may be off). 2. He was 7 months old and getting close to the age were a TPO would no longer be possible.

Our experience has been with an FHO and a THR. From what I was told by one of the Vets, not part of the surgical staff, a TPO is a painful recovery, but it's quite successful. This was mentioned after I said how well Shadow did with his FHO and THR, as far as pain.

I was a bit shocked when I picked Shadow up from his FHO (he was 7 months old). I wasn't expecting him to have a huge incision and be shaved so much. He walked out! When he had the THR at 11 months old, I was ready! Again, big incision and shaved, but this time a huge patch was shaved on his back for a duragesic patch which was for pain.

I think he had more pain a day or two after the THR, but his recovery was quicker with the THR than the FHO. I don't know too much about a TPO, but I'll check back to see how things have gone for you both.

So you know.....Shadow runs like the wind, keeps up with Tucker, but does have an extra little wiggle butt...... :) This is due to the FHO.