Bonus's New Hip

When I picked Bonus up at the Humane Society back in May, they informed me he most likely had mild hip dysplasia. I took the risk and adopted him despite this, figuring by the time it became an issue I'd be in a more secure position financially (usually dogs don't develop arthritis from this condition until they're seniors). Over the past few months however, I've noticed him limping, unable to walk on his right hind leg or jump up on the bed.

After his vet appointment today we've discovered this is no "mild" case of hip dysplasia, but a rather severe one. His right leg basically has no socket to sit in and is grinding away his bones. I now have him on anti-inflammatories for the pain, which he'll most likely have to stay on for a lifetime. This also means a lifetime of bi-annual blood tests to insure against liver damage. In addition to this, he's receiving Adequan shots to help repair some of the damage done to his left hip joint, which is not as severe as his right. All of this is taking quite a blow to my small graduate student stipend.

However, these are not long-term solutions, and surgery is the only option for ever repairing his right hip joint and allowing him comfort. Bonus is not even two years old yet, and this is a pretty rare and extreme case of hip dysplasia for a dog so young.

All donations from this site will go directly towards a Femoral Head Ostectomy for Bonus. Although I cannot afford the total hip replacement (at about $5,000), the FHO will cost only about $1,600 and I'm hoping you all can help me out!

Bonus is an extremely sweet dog, albeit shy and sort of weird. Since I got him back in May we've made a lot of progress in socializing him and getting him to come out of his shell a bit. I'd hate for the pain his hip is causing him to take away from the things he loves most: walks, the dog park, and wrestling with his buddy Ico in the backyard.