Bad morning for H/D dog
At that point I started to paninc. There is nothing worse than your baby being in pain and not being able to do much of anything about it. It was like he didn't understand that the pinching and pain was comming from inside his body. He just kept looking at it like "What is hurting me?" I had him walk it off and Daddy got him an ascription, malox coated asprin, and he spent most of the day inside on his bed. His hips only bother him in the winter. During the summer he is a normal healthy dog. But when winter gets here, he goes from great to absoulutly horrible. I am scared about this whole thing. You just can't prepare yourself for something like this. Even with all the time and research we put into stuff like this, it won't help when the time gets near. This ordeal only fuels me more to fight against the BYB's and Puppymillers. As reflects with my signature. |
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Poor baby, harder on them in the colder months. Do look at Metacam or something along those lines (from a vet they are prescribed) to help with the stiffness and soreness through the colder months, really a lot more benefit then the asprin for them in winter. It really does help them. 
Is your boy on daily supplements? Chondroiton and Glucosamine supplement helps enormously too. Natural stuff and takes a few weeks to start to aid them but something that should be in their diet daily for the rest of there lives. Hugs for your special boy and do explore treatments for HD there is so much stuff around now to help them and keep them mobile and comfortable.  |
| my heart go out 2 you i feel your pain i have 2 right now in pain and it is not easy |
| I know exactly what you are going through. I watch Tasker get stiffer and stiffer as the weather gets colder. He is on Derramax and a supplement. Are you using anything other than ASA? |
I'm sorry your baby has this problem. I know how scary this is... a few months ago Panda wouldn't stand. I finally got her on her feet by bribing her and carried her to the car. I set her down for a second to open the gate and she SCREAMED. You just don't know what to do for them when they're like this. When we got to the emergency vet, she was fine again  She said she had probably pinched a nerve.
Follow the advice about the glucosamine and pain meds but also take a look at where Bob sleeps. If he's worse in the winter, is his bed directly on the floor? You might look for a real thick foam type pad that helps to cushion his bones... cover it with a blanket for easier cleaning. Sometimes folding a rubber backed scatter rug in half and placing it under the doggie bed is enough to reduce the chill. You might also consider moving the bed closer to a heat vent. You might also take a look at either a Kuranda bed that keeps him up off the floor... we put heavy comforters on them. http://kuranda.com/catalog/index.php Or maybe a heated bed... http://cozywinters.com/pets/?source=go& ... FQodBjmq8A One last thing you might consider... a doggie coat may help to keep the hips warmer and less painful. They're easy to make... I made this one with a polar-fleece-thinsilate-stuff. http://oesusa.com/Kaytee-coat2.jpg Use butcher paper to make a paper pattern or template. You can cut it down or tape more on as you fit it to him... maybe make it so it drops down lower over the hips. When you've got it fit right, cut the material, then sew an edging around the outside to prevent fraying and sew on some Velcro or button closures in front of the chest and near the belly. I am NO seamstress (just ask my son about his Halloween costume when he was in grade school  ) but these are pretty easy to make. I did the one in the picture inside-out so the warm stuff was next to the fur.
Best wishes to you and your sheepie-boy. I hope he's doing better today. |
| Poor Doggie. . . That sounds really frustrating. The comfy bed and heated pad are great suggestions.
For what it is worth, the metacam is doing wonders for my Chumley. I think the important thing with pain meds is to not give up if one doesn't work. We went through several (Rimadyl, Deramax, & Etogesic) before finding the one that works for Chumley (Metacam). People who know her can't get over the change in her. I am hoping that some of these suggestions will ease his pain. I am sure having you to comfort him helps tremendously. |
| I understand completely. It's so tough to watch them like that because it seems like getting up and walking should be such an easy thing, almost automatic. It breaks my heart to watch them struggle.
Lucy can't even go out alone anymore because her backend is so weak, she's been getting stuck in snowbanks. I shoveled out most of the yard for her but guess where she keeps going? I have to follow her around and lift her up and move her into a safe place. She also suffers from Alzheimer's now so she doesn't learn from her mistakes and, instead, gets scared and confused. Metacam helps her mobility a little bit but it doesn't cure the problem. We've also tried a lot of the other anti-inflammatories with limited success. Metacam works as well as the others and is easiest to administer so it's what we're going with these days. My poor old girl.  |
| You really need to get your pup to a vet who has dealt with severe HD. Yes, surgery is an option, but way out of my budget, maybe your's too. There are many meds that help........I agree with the ones listed but noticed Adequan was not among them. It is injected into the back leg...you can learn to do it yourself and save big $$$. The vet will show you. It's a super concentrated glucosamine......works a bit faster but still takes time. Horse people have been using it for years but now doggies. I've used it on my guys.....I had to tell my vet about it, she researched and come back and said, "Let's try it." Now she uses it as part of her arsenal. Sometimes we have to train our vets.
Pup might also have stenosis along the spine pinching some nerves...in conjunction with the HD or separate. Sounds like you need to step up your treatment for the pup, Ascription won't work forever. |
| Our holistic vet had also mentioned Adequan shots as a possible treatment choice down the road. http://www.adequancanine.us/ We've used Metacam a few times too... once for Panda after that pinched nerve? episode and a couple of time for our tennis ball crazy Border Collie-mix.
Is Bob doing any better today? |
| We have a similar shot here call Cartrophen, it is given one week apart for 4 weeks then a booster course every 6 to 12 months depending on how severe the problem is. |
| Oh, I am so sorry!
You have been given great advice! And I'm glad you found Hannah's hip dysplasia thread because we were given great advice by all in that one too. Another thing I'm thinking to add is maybe since it's worse in colder weather there's some arthritis. Have you thought about some type of oil supplement such as omegaderm or cod liver oil to oil up the joints? If Bob is crying maybe something's dislocated? Like Hannah was yelping due to her dislocated/twisted pelvis. Maybe a vet can check that? We've been doing everything in the post and you'd never know Hannah had hip dysplasia. She has some other health issues but the dysplasia seems to be under control (knock wood). Don't dispair. It's possible they can have a few bad times and overcome them and get back to "normal". It's always very upsetting the first day when something bad happens but once you get your bearings you'll find you will be able to deal with things! |
| The list of possible options is endless isan't it? Lets' see...
During the summer he is perfectly healthy. No issues at all. This particular moring was the first time this winter he had been showing signs of any stiffness or pain. So that was the first day he needed any pain meds, and the ascription is the first step. I try not to overdo it with the pain meds, he will build up a tolerance to it and I will have to go to something stronger quicker. The longer I can postpone that the better. I will look into the other meds as the pain worsens and the ascription stops helping. He has been getting Glu. Chon. now on and off for a year or more. Consistant in the winter months. The fish oils I had not thought of. I do put corn oil on there food in the winter to add extra moisture to there skin and coat, but I will start him on some oils as part of his daily regime. His x-rays did show arthritus. (Funny side note, I as well have to take the same meds my dog does! We share bottles!) He wears a sweater most of the time but it's a woven one. I have been thinking about sewing him a fleese one, so thanks for the tips on that. Oh and also the pet bed links. He has a big fluffy bed that I put a heating pad under but it is lower to the ground. I have been wondering which brand would be best to purchase, so thanks for that as well. His activity level is pretty good. He gets lots of walk and play time outside. He is a good weight and sounds to be in better shape than most h/d dogs at 7. So I must be doing something right |
| My heart breaks for these animals that can not understand their pain. I have lupus so really I truely feel their pain, however I can rationalize it and verbalize it. There is pain control available and we, as their voice should make it clear we want our best friends to be as pain free as possible and live a good life!.................Kathy |
| I love this dog more than you can imagine. If I thought for one second he was in pain and my choice of remidies were not working I would find an alternante route immidiatly. I have done my research, I know what's available and what my options are. They may not be the same as someone elses, but rest assured they are the BEST for my bob.
Hey I did check out those raised bed's and it turns out I already have one! I wonder if it's safe to put the heating pad, wrapped in a towel, on the bed and then put his fluffy bed on top of it? I just keep the temp on warm so I am sure it would be ok?? |
Quote: I just keep the temp on warm so I am sure it would be ok??
You'd need to look at the instructions that came with the heating pad. Some say not to put anything on top because of the risk of fire (I only have an old one... maybe new ones are different?). Me being paranoid, I'm not a good one to ask about this |
| Poor Bob . He's in good hands with you but I hope the winter isn't too tough on him. |
| Hi,
My heart goes out to you and Bob. Two of mine suffer from arthritic or HD problems. Ole Blue is an ancient dog nearing 19 (blueheeler/Lab) and has been having an hard time when first arising from sleep. Panda has HD moderate in both hips. While both are comfortable with Medacam and Glucosamine I started using a sling after reading Valerie's post regarding her attempts at helping Chumley after her surgery. There's a lot of places that sell them..basically it's harness type thing held on with velcro and large handles in which you can assist the dog to rise. It's been really helpful and perhaps that what can make Bob more comfortable. Best wishes to you Marianne |
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