Oh Weezy...a question please

[fairlight]

In Ceph's photo thread last night Deb had mentioned that her dog had an operation called an osteotomy "sp?"
what exaclty is this, if you can put it in laymans terms please.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

Originally Posted by fairlight

In Ceph's photo thread last night Deb had mentioned that her dog had an operation called an osteotomy "sp?"
what exaclty is this, if you can put it in laymans terms please.

Well, actually it was a triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO). It's been so long now that I don't know how to explain it.

[weezyNollie]

How is this for ease with medical terminology:

Osteo = bone (another example: osteosarcoma or bone cancer)
Tomy = cutting operation (enterotomy or intestinal cutting operation)

But a TPO involves cutting of the bone and creating a better pelvic joint essentially. The triple is because they cut the pelvis in three places. It also involves some implants or metal -- plates and screws.

Are you looking for pelvic sugeries? Or just curious about this one?

[fairlight]

No. But Deb was telling me that one of her dogs had to have this operation even before it was a year old (If I remember correctly) poor pooch! I said I didn't understand what the termonolgy was and the proceedure. Deb had told me to ask you so you could break it down for me...and thank you! I hope I never have to go through anything like that with my dogs or even future dogs.

[weezyNollie]

Oh okay, then I answered it. I was going to go into other pelvic surgeries to help correct hip dysplasia, but I'll save my breath!

TPO is definitely a complicated procedure, not to be taken lightly. They are also difficult, because it takes just the right candidate to be able to this surgery.

[fairlight]

Deb was saying that her particular pup was diagnosed with severed HD when the pup was only 6 months old, but after this operation and a long time healing the pup/dog was so much better.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

The vet who did Tyler's both TPO's was one of the lead vet's at the Cincinnati Zoo. You really need someone who knows what they're doing and who is very experienced.

Weezy, at the time Tyler had his done (1999) the vet said he only does these on dogs 1 year old and younger. Then the window of opportunity closes. Is that still the case or have there been advancements to the procedure allowing it to be done on older dogs?

Oh, and I forgot to add - $$$$$$$$$$

[weezyNollie]

Very true. Depending on the case, some doctors will wait until the dog matures to diagnose the hip dysplasia. Some cases are so bad, it's very easy to diagnose. Then, depending on the dysplasia itself they start to think about whether they are surgical candidates.

Another good one that is done, which is super easy to perform and a relatively easy fix is a FHO.

FHO = Femoral Head Osteotomy. There's that word again. But it's where they cut the head of the femur off and allow scar tissue to create a joint. Eliminating the problem altogether. They usually do this in smaller dogs/cats.

[weezyNollie]

Originally Posted by Deb's Tiny Dogs

The vet who did Tyler's both TPO's was one of the lead vet's at the Cincinnati Zoo. You really need someone who knows what they're doing and who is very experienced.

Weezy, at the time Tyler had his done (1999) the vet said he only does these on dogs 1 year old and younger. Then the window of opportunity closes. Is that still the case or have there been advancements to the procedure allowing it to be done on older dogs?

Oh, and I forgot to add - $$$$$$$$$$

I think TPO's are less and less common. Partially because it does take the exact type of candidate (age, size of dog, anatomy -- how femur head is placed) that there are other procedures done.

We do a lot more FHO's and Total Hip Replacements (THR) than TPO's.

Our THR's cost about 5500-7000! Hip surgery is NOT cheap.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

Originally Posted by fairlight

Deb was saying that her particular pup was diagnosed with severed HD when the pup was only 6 months old, but after this operation and a long time healing the pup/dog was so much better.

We started noticing subtle signs that something was wrong at about 5 months. He started being very hesitant to jump up on the couch, for example. Being they had to do one side, then the other made for a very long recovery - several months. And for six weeks after each surgery he had to be crated and lie very still (oh boy!). We had to put a towel under his belly and each of us hold one end and take him out to potty because he couldn't put any weight on the back end. The whole thing was absolutely dreadful and stressful for him and us and I had 4 other dogs, too.

But, after the long healing time he would run like a gazelle in our large fenced in yard. I would think to myself, "We made that possible" and it made my heart feel good.