Hi Angel and Irena, thank you for your kind thoughts. I have never heard about the Royal Jelly, will check if it is available here in Finland. Actually I have consulted three leading orthopedic vets here and they all are of same opinion, that my dog would be an ideal patient for THR and would get better quality of life. And as I wrote, for me this is not a question of money - I know the operation to be very expensive. But as I told, I already do put a lot of money on physiotherapy and medicine. As I do see this, it is a question of quality of life (admit that this is a bit easier statement when you can afford it economically). I realize that my dog is not going to be "as good as new" after the operation, but I am hoping to allow her a better life. And one of these vets showed me a video of a Newfounland hound which had gone this kind of operation for six years earlier, the dog seemed to me be quite goo shape compared to the state she were before the operation (it was shot before the operation, immediately after, two years and six years after). And no, to Angels question, the operation is not done. Since we are going ahead to autumn and slippery weather conditions, so we try to manage a bit longer before the operation. It will be easier to walk her out when we get snow. Kind regards, Meriam with three wonderful dogs