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Poppy is still just a puppy, but at only 8 months old, she is already facing a problem more often associated with older dogs: painful hips.
Unlike Fancee, whose hip injuries were caused by being hit by a car, Poppy has hip dysplasia, a developmental condition with a strong genetic component. In a healthy hip, the ball at the top of the femur fits securely into the socket of the pelvis. With hip dysplasia, that joint develops too loosely, allowing abnormal movement that can lead to pain and damage over time.
What does hip dysplasia look like?
It doesn’t always look dramatic. Some dogs limp, seem stiff or have trouble getting up. Others may hesitate before climbing stairs, jumping or playing, shift more of their weight onto their front legs, or simply move differently than you would expect from a young dog. Veterinarians use physical exams and X-rays to confirm what is happening inside the joint.
For Poppy, the condition affects both hips. Because her hip joints did not develop normally, movement in the joint was causing pain and damage. An FHO removes the head of the femur—the “ball” of the joint—eliminating that painful contact and allowing the surrounding muscles and tissues to support the leg and form a functional “false joint.”
Poppy recently underwent her first FHO by Dr. Mark House of Small Animal Surgical Services, a board-certified veterinary surgeon who specializes in procedures including orthopedic surgery – who also performed Fancee’s surgery. Poppy is now recovering, rebuilding strength and getting comfortable using that leg again. But her journey isn’t finished. She will need the same procedure on her other hip later this fall.
One surgery down, one still to go
Poppy has a lot of puppyhood ahead of her—growing, playing, exploring and finding her place with a family. Give Them a Leg Up is raising $10,000 to help cover the cost of her surgeries and Fancee’s care so both young dogs can move toward more comfortable futures.
Follow Fancee and Poppy’s Progress >>
Help us reach our $10,000 goal and support Poppy through the next step of her recovery. Donate today.
