Sylvia Swims

A long time ago AP and CM took me to the canine fitness center and took me swimming. I really didn't like it much and prefer the ocean over a pool. My friend Sylvia who had hip surgery http://blinddogsrule.blogspot.com/2011/02/sylvia-and-her-fho-surgery-trishs-blog.html has had a rough time getting all the mobility back in her leg so she has taken up swimming. AP stopped in to see her at the canine fitness center pool and took a little video of her paddling away. She is much better at than I am and it is really helping her hip.

Sylvia Comes to Visit

My friend and fellow rescue Sylvia went swimming today at the canine fitness center. AP and CM took me there once but I didn't like it much see http://tinyurl.com/4ys38mh
Sylvia is still working on getting her hip back in shape after her FHO surgery http://tinyurl.com/3vfu3zf
and swimming is good therapy. Since the fitness center is pretty close to my house her and her human Trish stopped by to say hi. I have been sort of groggy after my anesthesia on Tuesday but I perked up for my guests and strolled the yard with Sylvie. AP said Sylvia is looking really good and the hair has almost grown completely back on her hip and leg.
I really like Sylvia she is so sweet.

Trish will be updating everyone soon with a new blog post and AP wanted to put up some pictures so everyone can see how well she is doing. Isn't she a cutie?

Sylvia One Week Update

AP here: I saw Sylvia this weekend, she looks great and Trish was kind enough to give us a one week update.

It’s been a little more than a week since Sylvia’s surgery and she’s recovering well. Her fur is already growing back, the incision is healing, and she’s gradually putting more weight on the surgical leg. Still, she has to stay confined (a little boring for her) until at least Friday. That’s when we go back to the surgeon to get her opinion of the progress and to see when Sylvia can start physical therapy, which is even more important for a large dog such as a Pyr. She’s still on pain meds — as much to keep her calm as to help with the pain!



FHO leg 1 week Post Op.

Kaiser has been gallant enough to give up his bed to Sylvia!

Tonka is very happy that Sylvia is on the mend and will get to see her for PyrFest in May.

Sylvia Update

My friend Sylvia had her surgery today and is doing fine. She had a lot of arthritis that they had to clean up and she is now resting and should be able to go home tomorrow. I am very glad it went well.
Tonka

Sylvia and Her FHO Surgery (Trish's Blog)

AGPR (where I came from) is a great rescue and the volunteers that help all of my Pyr friends are awesome people. Trish Rimo and Mike Diegel are two of those wonderful volunteers and they are fostering my friend Sylvia. Tomorrow Sylvia is having surgery and Trish has been nice enough to fill us in about the FHO surgery with this blog and will keep us updated on Sylvia's progress. Sylvia deserves a great furever home, she is such a sweety.


Sylvia and Friend



Sylvia’s Orthopedic Condition and Surgery to Correct It


Canine hip dysplasia is a genetic disease of dogs that causes looseness, abnormal development and arthritis of the hip joint. It is not particularly common in Great Pyrenees. However, Sylvia, our foster from Appalachian Great Pyrenees Rescue, has been diagnosed with dysplasia. Here’s a little more about the condition and the surgery to correct it that Sylvia is having on February 25th. Much of the technical information is from the Gold Ribbon Rescue website.

The hip joint is a ball-and-socket type joint. The ball is the uppermost part of the thighbone, or femur, and is called the head of the femur. The head is connected to the rest of the bone by the neck, and the socket is part of the pelvic bone. Normally, the ball, or head of the femur, fits very tightly within its socket. With hip dysplasia, this fit becomes loose and the joint partially dislocates, which can cause discomfort, abnormal development and/or arthritis. Sylvia has developed severe arthritis in her left hip, causing her discomfort and affecting her ability to negotiate stairs and do things such as leap and play.

There are three types of surgery to correct the problem, with the most extensive being total hip replacement. Sylvia is having a surgery called Femoral Head and Neck Ostectomy (FHO), which is designed to eliminate the source of discomfort by removing part of the hip joint. The femur is cut so that the head and neck of the femur are removed (“ostectomy” means the bone is cut and removed). Scar tissue forms between the femur and the socket, where the femoral head and neck used to be. This is called a false joint because motion between the bones is maintained without the true ball-and-socket joint. Eventually, this scar tissue provides enough support to permit use of the limb without causing significant discomfort.

Sylvia

While the surgery is very effective in dogs under 50 pounds, it can be effective in larger dogs as well – provided the dogs are kept slim and have sufficient physical therapy afterwards, which Sylvia will have. A few other Pyrs in AGPR have had FHO surgery with great success. One advantage of the FHO is that exercise restriction is needed only for a few days after the surgery. After 10 - 14 days, exercise is even encouraged to accelerate formation of scar tissue.

Many dogs that have FHO surgery return to almost normal function. The false joint that results from the surgery allows for walking, running and playing; however, the dog’s gait may be different. But with an experienced surgeon, which Sylvia will have in Dr. Aylin Atilla, and a lot of physical therapy afterwards, both at her foster home and the surgical center, Sylvia should be pain free and should enjoy a normal life.