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| Dax |
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| Contact Info: |
| MidAtlantic Border Collie Rescue |
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| Dax is a rescued Border Collie currently being fostered through MidAtlantic Border Collie Rescue. In early December 2003, Dax's foster mom noticed that he didn't move the same way as her other dogs, especially after heavy exercise. Dax was taken to a veterinarian who discovered that his hips did not have the full range of motion that they should. A radiograph confirmed that Dax had severe hip dysplasia, a congenital condition characterized by a very shallow hip joint. In severe cases of hip dysplasia, the hip can actually dislocate from the pelvis. At the tender age of two years, Dax already had one dislocated hip, and both hips showed signs of arthritis. The veterinarian determined that Dax needed to have a Femoral Head Osteotomy (FHO) to help eliminate the pain caused by this condition. The FHO was performed on January 6, 2004. This page chronicles Dax's surgery and recovery. |
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| Dax after his hip surgery, back at home. |
| MABCR Dax |
| What is canine hip dysplasia? |
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| Diagnosing Hip Dysplasia |
| After Dax's foster mom noticed he was moving in an unusual way, he was taken to the veterinarian to determine the cause of his abnormal gait. The veterinarian did a thorough examination, including an orthopedic examination. While examining the hips, the veterinarian discovered they did not move normally. Under normal circumstances, a veterinarian should be able to extend a dog's hind legs straight out behind him. In Dax's case, each hind leg extended only about half of the distance it should have been able to go. Additionally, neither leg could be rotated away from the body well. While Dax only had mild pain associated with these movements, it was obvious that something was inhibiting the joint's motion. The veterinarian ordered radiographs. Radiographs of Dax's hips illuminated the problem. A normal hip has a very rounded femoral head (the "ball" part at the top of the leg bone) fit into a rounded acetabulum (the "cup" portion of the hip joint) - see photo at left. Dax's hips (photo at right) had very flattened acetabuli on both sides of the pelvis, as well as flattened femoral heads. Additionally, Dax's right hip was actually dislocated out of the pelvis completely so that it was positioned above the acetabulum. It was amazing to anyone looking at the radiographs that Dax was able to stand at all, and this incredible dog was still running laps around the other dogs at playtime! The veterinarian decided a Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO) was the best treatment for Dax to ensure that his hip dysplasia did not continue to progress into a crippling ailment. |
| An Example of Good Hips |
| Border Collies and Hip Dysplasia |
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| Dax's Hips Before Surgery |
| Understanding Femoral Head Ostectomies |
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| Further Reading |
| The FHO Surgery |
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| Dax prepared for his surgery by fasting (unhappily) overnight. He arrived at Caring Hands Animal Hospital (which greatly discounted his surgery because he was a rescue dog) early on January 6, 2004. His preanesthetic bloodwork indicated that his kidneys and liver were functioning normally and would be able to handle the stress of anesthesia. To help make him as comfortable as possible, Dax wore a Fentanyl patch attached to his skin on his side that delivered pain medication throughout the procedure and for several days afterward. He also received an anti-inflammatory before and after his surgery. Dax was anesthetized and his entire right leg and back were clipped free of hair and scrubbed. His oxygen level and heart rate were monitored by a pulse-oximeter attached to his tongue. A veterinary technician also monitored all of Dax's vital signs to make sure he remained stable during the surgery. The doctors made an incision over Dax's hip and divided the muscles of his thigh to expose the head of the femur. Using a sterile chisel and mallet, they removed the top of the femur in a clean cut. Both doctors worked hard to control bleeding and to reduce the trauma as much as possible. Once the piece of bone was removed, the remaining part of the femur was palpated for sharp edges. Since none were found, the thigh muscles were closed over the hip joint and the incision was closed. A final radiograph was taken of the hips to ensure that the chisel-angle was correct and that no sharp points remained on the bone that might cause discomfort. Since the radiograph indicated the excision was appropriate, Dax was allowed to wake up fron anesthesia. |
| Dax Anesthetized Before Surgery |
| The Surgeons Performing Surgery |
| Recovery and Physical Therapy |
| Identifying the Femoral Head |
| Dax's Hips After Surgery |
| Dax spent the first night after his surgery in the hospital so that he was sure to get plenty of rest. He returned to his foster home the following day, already putting a little weight on the right rear leg. He has been restricted in his activities (which is hard for a high-energy Border Collie) and will gradually be allowed back to full activity over a 6-8 week period. He is currently undergoing physical therapy and heat therapy to help his leg heal from surgery. If all goes well, he will have full use of the leg and be able to return to full activity, without pain. MidAtlantic Border Collie Rescue and veterinarians are waiting to decide whether to perform a second FHO on the left leg. If he heals well and does not seem to be in pain, a second surgery may not be needed. |
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| Page Design by Marci Streck |
| Dislocated right hip |
| Right hip after FHO |
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| Chiseling Off the Head of the Femur |
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| The Removed Femoral Head |
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| Closing the Incision |
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| UPDATE!!! |
| Dax has been adopted (as of 2/15/04) and has found his place in a permanent home! He continues to do very well after his surgery and can now walk and run with only a mild limp. He still has several weeks of recovery to go before his new family will be able to determine if he will need surgery on the second hip. For now, Dax will enjoy playing with his new mom and dad, and his new doggy buddy who also recently had an FHO surgery! Thank you for all your interest and support with Dax's recovery. If you would like to help other border collies in need of medical treatment, please direct donations to MidAtlantic Border Collie Rescue (see link at the bottom of the page). |
| Dax has been adopted!!! |