• Hello to you all! I have avidly read on this forum lots, but never posted. I have a 15 month old intact male basenji that had a luxated right hip. He got out the front door last Thursday, got clipped by a car and then was running around for 4 hours. He managed to make it home and then he went straight to the vet. I am a licensed veterinary technician and I took him to my work and we put he hip back in. It's still in as of today, Sunday. My clinic and I don't have a lot of experience with the hip staying in so I don't know what to expect long term. Does anyone have any experience of this condition long term? I think the hip will stay in and not need surgery. His hips looked good on xray- nice deep sockets and good round heads. He is in good condition- lean and muscular. We have been sowing in conformation and just started lure coursing. I would like to know about his activities long term and what I can do to keep him sound. Any help would be greatly appreciated!


  • Is this Moose?


  • Yes, it is

  • Houston

    I have no idea..just wanted to say how happy I am that Moose is home again with you..
    He is so lucky to be alive..puppy hugs to him and you both 🙂


  • Thank you! We consider ourselves very lucky too 🙂


  • I would suggest, really, that you consult an orthopedic specialist. I would imagine that keeping confined, doing exercises like swimming etc to strengthen the muscles without putting too much weight etc. Sadly I have only known BIG dogs who were injured, so I don't know how it plays out with a small one. But your best best is a university vet school ortho specialist consult or have your vets send them everything and ask their opinion.

    I am glad your dog is home!


  • Do your vets have a VIN (Veterinary Information Network) account? I'm a tech also, and quite often we will post cases for a specialist's opinion without the expense of a trip to a referral center.
    Just a thought.


  • I have consulted with an orthopedic specialist and we have checked VIN. There is nothing about a dog that will continue to have a show career. I am not talking about lure coursing, but conofrmation. We are going to start laser herapy tomorrow and probably hydrotherapy when he is ready. He is doing well, other than bored, and on kennel rest for 1 month.


  • So glad you found him. Maybe ask someone on the BBR list?


  • Basenjis are unbelievably tough, my boy Sober injured a rear leg two years ago. We took him to the vet thinking soft tissue injury but the vet felt the knee had been injured. We went to an ortho vet top guy in the area who recommend surgery and reconstruction of the leg. He said he would never move correctly again and the surgery could cause other issues in his gait that could still put pressure on the other leg. We actually considered amputation. I have seen dogs recover and adapt so quickly when loosing a leg that it seemed at 8 years old (at the time) rather than months of rehab and pain it would be a better option for him.
    We brought him home and started making arrangements to consult another ortho surgeon outside our area for a second opinion. We noticed he seemed better, so we waited and watched letting him decide when he was okay or not to run or play.
    He is perfectly fine now. Within a couple months of quiet time he regained full use, he has not since limped or had any pain issues, he runs and plays with the young dogs with no problems, he is 10 now and doing great.
    Moose may surprise you and be just fine, it will just take time.
    Hug the boy for us and we are so glad he is okay. It says alot that he found his way home, you must be a really great basenji mom, but then we suspected that.
    Therese and Kevin

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