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From: marysue@hpfcla.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: german shepherd osteochondrosis
Message-ID: <13200007@hpfclp.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 23-Sep-85 18:24:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: hpfclp.13200007
Posted: Mon Sep 23 18:24:00 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 29-Sep-85 08:28:41 EDT
Organization: 23 Sep 85 16:24:00 MDT
Lines: 27



  Any vets or vet students out there?  I just found out my 2-year-old
  female German Shepherd has "osteochondrosis"--I think that is what the
  guy said.  One of her shoulders did not calcify properly, and now she
  has a flap of cartilage that causes occasional minor lameness.  If 
  left untreated, it could tear and cause major damage.  It usually is
  found in young (7-10 mo.) dogs, and usually males.  Anyway, my alternatives
  are surgery--for which the prognosis is excellent-- and three months
  of enforced rest (NO RUNNING or JUMPING).  Then if the rest doesn't do
  it, surgery is recommended.  
  
  First of all, imagine the psychological consequences of a keeping a 
  young, very active animal immobilized for three months.  She would lose 
  a lot of muscle tone and spirit; and then to have to go through surgery 
  also--it would be harder for her to recover.  Wouldn't it be better to 
  have the surgery right away, and only have to recover from that?

  I'm rambling.  What I want to know is, what are possible consequences of the
  surgery, apart from the risk of anesthesia?  

  I will find out the results of the arthogram later today.  If anyone
  out there has experience with this problem, please share it with me.
  I don't know my total csnet path.

  Mary Sue Rowan
  hpfcla!marysue