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Perthes Disease in a Westie pup ? Reply to this Message

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Miles
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Aug 13, 2011 at 19:47
(Missouri)
Post 1

Perthes Disease in a Westie pup ? Vote for this post

Hi everyone I am a new member this is my first post. My wife and I got a new male Westie pup from a reputable breeder and until recently things have been fine. Over the last 10 days I have noticed a hind leg limp developing. The limp only happens after he has been sleeping or laying still for a long period of time, its worst in the mornings. As he wakes up in the AM he is slow to get out of his bed. Once out, he arches his lower back very high ( like a cat ) and limps a short distance then sits down. He does not yelp or whimper, its doesn't seen to be painful.  Its hard to tell which leg he is favoring but my best guess is the left. He will get back up and walk a bit more and over about 2-4 minutes the limp will disappear and he walks as if nothing ever happened. For the rest of the day he seems totally normal, he can run / jump and play without any sign of limp or rear leg weakness.

I took him to the vet today, my concern was luxating patella  or Perthes disease ( death of the hip bone )  or hip dysplasia. The vet felt a " click " in his left hip and he says it seemed to " bother the dog " during the exam. The vet didn't think he had luxating patellas and that hip dysplasia would be a bit unusual in his age group. Basically we are left with early Perthes disease or Musculoskeletal pain. He gave me a week course of NSAIDS for him with activity restriction. If its still there after a week were are gonna do Hip X-rays under sedation. 

Personally I am very worried that out little meatball miles may be developing Perthes disease in his left hip. Have any of you ever known or had a Westie with this disease  ? If so how did it begin and what where there symptoms, was there a limp or pain ? 

Thanks I will keep you all updated on Miles progress

Dan M . 


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Maggie Wren
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Aug 13, 2011 at 22:09
• Jacquie
(Illinois)

Post 16

Re: Perthes Disease in a Westie pup ? Vote for this post Reply to this Message Reply with a quote

Hi Miles  We are almost neighbors!  You know the first thing I would do would be to contact your breeder.  The Westie Foundation of America has a very good article on Legg-Perthes disease.  I hope everything turns out okay. 
Jacquie


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Kelsie and Deb
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Aug 13, 2011 at 22:24
• Deborah
(Pennsylvania)

Post 2736

Re: Perthes Disease in a Westie pup ? Vote for this post Reply to this Message Reply with a quote

So sorry to hear this. We will keep Miles in our prayers and look for more updates.

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Miles
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Aug 14, 2011 at 01:30
(Missouri)
Post 2

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Thanks he is doing fine tonight. I am interested to see how he feels in the AM after his first day of NSAID therapy. I guess even if its Perthes disease it can be fixed surgically and most dogs have a normal life even after surgery. Hopefully he doesn't have to go through it. 



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Katy
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Aug 14, 2011 at 14:40
• Jennifer
(Minnesota)

Post 1867

Re: Perthes Disease in a Westie pup ? Vote for this post Reply to this Message Reply with a quote

Our Katy was born with a defect in her knee area - she had surgery for luxating patella - basically what happened with her is that there was too much cartlidge (sp) in the groove that her kneecap traveled in and it caused her kneecap to pop and slip out of place.  After her surgery the vet put her on NSAIDS and we monitored her - after about 3 weeks on Rimadyl her liver enzymes had elevated so we pulled her off of those and went the more natural route - it is almost 2 years after surgery and she is doing very well.  Our vet also told us that Katy had mild hip dysplesia which has been doubted by our current vet - Hope you find some answers and Private Message me if you want to chat.

Take Care,
Katy ^~^ and Jennifer

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E Gang NimbySue
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Aug 14, 2011 at 16:22
(United Kingdom)
Post 10321

Re: Perthes Disease in a Westie pup ? Vote for this post Reply to this Message Reply with a quote

Our Healing Paryers are with you Sweet Miles and let us know how you get on tomorrow.Luv Nimby x

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Miles
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Aug 16, 2011 at 11:15
(Missouri)
Post 4

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Miles is doing much better. He has been on the NSAIDS for 2 days and this AM had almost no limp at all. I am hoping its just a strain. We will keep him on the medication until Sunday. I guess we will know Monday or Tuesday if the limp is going to come back. 

Thanks for all ur well wishes

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Sophie
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Aug 16, 2011 at 13:36
• Dave
(Maryland)

Post 85

Re: Perthes Disease in a Westie pup ? Vote for this post Reply to this Message Reply with a quote

That's certainly good news.  I really hope that its something minor that the NSAIDS take care of and that Miles is 100% in short order.  He's such a cute guy.

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Kelsie and Deb
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Aug 16, 2011 at 15:35
• Deborah
(Pennsylvania)

Post 2749

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So glad to hear that MIles is doing better. They worry the very devil out of us sometimes!

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Miles
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Aug 19, 2011 at 19:11
(Missouri)
Post 5

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Hi everyone, Miles continues to do well. Tomorrow is his last day of NSAIDS and as of now he is limp free and  being a normal "West Highland Terror". I will keep you guys updated. Thanks for the support. 

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Dr. Roo
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Nov 16, 2011 at 12:28
• Cheryl
(New York)

Post 9967

  
Re: Perthes Disease in a Westie pup ? Vote for this post Reply to this Message Reply with a quote

Just happened to stumble across this today (only a couple of months late!) but wanted to tell you that my first Westie had Legg-Perthes, diagnosed at about 7 or 8 months of age. Diagnosis was done by X-ray. He had the surgery; it was successful and other than trying to keep him quiet and subdued (ha ha ha) recovery was really pretty easy. (It just LOOKED worse -- large incision and shaved leg).

The vet told me that usually L-P is noticed in pups under one year of age, so if the dog happens to be an adult, it usually is something other than L-P.

Hope all is well with Miles!

Roo's Mom


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mkcostigan
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Feb 01, 2014 at 23:03
(Illinois)
Post 2

Re: Perthes Disease in a Westie pup ? Vote for this post Reply to this Message Reply with a quote

My Madison has LP. She was 12 weeks old when she had her surgery. My memory of the research I did / discussions with her specialist is that: the males are the carriers of this disease. All dogs in the liter will carry the disease, but it will only be dominate in 1 female. The disease "comes out" before they are 1 year old..When Madison went through this it was not a common disease for Westies. There were no replacement parts small enough for her. Madison will be 15 in April. She now has arthritis in that hip/leg. She has led a normal, active life. I truly believe the physical therapy and swimming (I bought a pool) is what has kept her going. The 1 thing that has stuck with me, the specialist said a blood test would detect this. 

I really blame the breeder I bought her from. She did nothing to help, nor would admit to there being disease in her dogs. Madison's 3 sisters were sold to a lady in Florida for the purpose of breeding. And that is how Lp continues to occur.

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