Our Sweet Bella

I have not been making journal entries tha last few days because our dear sweet Golden Retreiver, Bella, is having serious problems. She is a year and three months old. We have noticed that she has been less active over the last several weeks, has been having trouble going up and down stairs, and can only walk very short distances before she almost collapses.

This weekend her symptoms really excacerbated and she was not able to get up at all. We had to carry her up and down the stairs and had to help her stand up. We nursed her along over the weekend. (she was eating and drinking well)

We saw our Vet yesterday and he confirmed our worse fears. Bella has an extreme case or hip dysplasia. She has already developed severe arthritis in her right hip. The Vet said he has never seen a case so bad in such a young dog. Because of this she is in extreme pain. He believes she is a very stoic dog that just doesn't show her pain. (this runs in the family)

We have put her on pain medicine and a special arthritis diet and if she doesn't respond we may have to look at getting her a cart. (wheelchair for dogs) Of course, when and if it appears to me that she is having more pain than quality of life I will choose to put her down.

Total hip surgeries are being done in dogs, but to the tune of 3,000 a hip. I do not believe that will be an option for us.

So, we are sort of consumed with Bella right now. We are helping her and keeping her near and dear to us. We are visualizing good health and pain free days for Bella.

I will be back to making entries soon.