Legs are giving up ??

[LeftMuffin]

We've got a 4 and a half old rottie bh and just found out she has hip displacia in both her legs as well as the onset of joint disease in both hips and knees. What makes it more gutting is because she has had both her cruicate ligaments done they won't be able to offer surgery on the hips due to the cruicate etc. So basically been told Metcam (for now) every day for the rest of her life and we will end up having to make the call in the not too distant future 😔

Changing her food to Hills Metabolic and Mobility as well as the Metacam and supliments and hope that helps. She is petrified of water so hydrotherapy is out the window and been told no walks longer than 10 minutes and not off the lead.

Have a horrible feeling she won't make 5, the big soft bear. What makes it worse is my wife and I were looking forward to our baby (due May) growing up playing around with her as she is really good with kids and such a nice temperament.

Be interested if anyone has had the same with their dogs and what they did to help.

[HTP99]

This is Humphrey:



The photo was taken almost three years ago, he had a condition called degenerative myelopothy, which is a condition that affects the spine; from memory the discs in the back gradually crumble and put pressure on the spinal cord thus paralysing the dog at the point of pressure.

I haven't a clue whether the problem with your dog is in any way similar.

18m-2 years before Humphrey had to be PTS; almost two years ago now, we very nearly had him put down as his quality of life deteriorated because he had no feeling in his back legs; he couldn't use them, as much as we tried to stimulate him and lead as much as a normal life with him, he just existed and he was not happy.

The wife found the wheels online and we thought; what's there to lose, we can give it a shot and if it doesn't work then we can at least say that we tried. They were a revelation, he got his spark back, his general health returned, his eyes sparkled again, he was back to his happy self and he went on another 18m-2 years until sadly one morning he was passing blood. The vet thinks that the lack of feeling in his lower back and his paralysis was masking a much more serious problem so it went in noticed, he reached 11, the vet said he wouldn't see 10.

Humphrey was a local celebrity and we miss him greatly.

Edited to add: I bet putting a Pug in wheels is a damn site easier than doing the same to a Rottweiler!!

Edited by HTP99 on Wednesday 16th March 23:36

[bexVN]

What was the reasoning for why the cruciate surgery stops the hip surgery?

Find a good rehab centre that can offer good physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and natural choices alongside the conventional such acupuncture.

Weight control,quality diet can help aswell

[Jasandjules]

Green Lipped Mussel and several other products (Yumove I think it's called) can assist. As well as switching to a raw diet with lots of cartilage in it.. And as above, a chair can assist. Also stop her going up and down steep inclines and hills and stairs but if you've done two cruciates I suspect you know that already.

[Morningside]

HTP99 said:

This is Humphrey:



The photo was taken almost three years ago, he had a condition called degenerative myelopothy, which is a condition that affects the spine; from memory the discs in the back gradually crumble and put pressure on the spinal cord thus paralysing the dog at the point of pressure.

I haven't a clue whether the problem with your dog is in any way similar.

18m-2 years before Humphrey had to be PTS; almost two years ago now, we very nearly had him put down as his quality of life deteriorated because he had no feeling in his back legs; he couldn't use them, as much as we tried to stimulate him and lead as much as a normal life with him, he just existed and he was not happy.

The wife found the wheels online and we thought; what's there to lose, we can give it a shot and if it doesn't work then we can at least say that we tried. They were a revelation, he got his spark back, his general health returned, his eyes sparkled again, he was back to his happy self and he went on another 18m-2 years until sadly one morning he was passing blood. The vet thinks that the lack of feeling in his lower back and his paralysis was masking a much more serious problem so it went in noticed, he reached 11, the vet said he wouldn't see 10.

Humphrey was a local celebrity and we miss him greatly.

Edited to add: I bet putting a Pug in wheels is a damn site easier than doing the same to a Rottweiler!!

Same here.

This was George who lived to the grand age of 19. He had no use of his rear legs at all but was 100% clean and a very happy dog. Unfortunately he became dirty and lost the use of his front legs. It was such a shame as he was still very much 'with it'.

[bexVN]

The only issue here is hip dysplasia can be painful but no loss of feeling so a large rottie with use of his legs may not adjust so well. Esp if it is painful to put him in them.