Hips displasia/arthritis - may be a time for the op....

krlyr

Would some boots give her some extra grip? They do rubber boots which would probably give the best grip but even some cheap neoprene boots might be better than nothing.
http://canineconcepts.co.uk/en/dog-boots/3196-pawz-disposable-boots-12-boots.html

gettingready

They look great and they probably would help - if I could afford them.

Right now I have £40 to live on to th end of the month and an empty fridge so... have to manage somehow as we are.

Insurance will cover the op cost but all the extras (petrol to get there 3 times in one month, cage, vet bed, bowls that have not even arrived yet, admin fee at FR etc etc) have hit me REALLY hard TBH...

Wellyboots6

He isn't on metacam, I daren't give him that again. He had it when he was neutered and it seemed to make him some horrible side effects.

He is on anti-inflammatory tablets, seraquin, has catrophen injections once a month, and herbal supplements in his food. So far (touch wood) the doses of everything he is on seem to be holding him stable as long as he doesn't over do things.

If he has a bad day then I can increase his anti-inflammatories for a day or two.

He was having hydrotherapy too but he hasn't been for about a month because his skin flared up and they won't let him do it when he is itching

gettingready

Katy - if he is insured, I would ask your vet to refer to Fitzpatric Referrals.
They as for full history with the referral so will be aware of his skin condition.
He is a young dog, perhaps they can do something for him XX

Wellyboots6

Maybe they could. I am just worried that the amount of time he would take recovering, the major surgery etc would be too much for him considering he is nearly 7. He is so lively I would REALLY struggle to cage rest him and I think he would find it really distressing. He really is so active, and I don't know if having a major op would kinda knock that out of him.

So much to think about really

gettingready

I know, I look at Zara in th ecage and feel bad.... BUT - this way, hopefully she has few more years with a good quality of ball chasing rather than just tagging along walking slowly...

Zara is pretty good in the cage, Flyyn had to be given sedatives for a while not sure if you have seen ths thread?

http://www.petforums.co.uk/dog-health-nutrition/118528-diary-hip-replacement.html

Sally_A

We had to have our 16 year old pooch PTS last Friday, purely due to hip and spine problems which had been bothering him for 3 years, but it eventually got to the stage where his good days were worse than his bad days of a couple of weeks back if you get my drift. , I still feel awfully mean, but know that his life enjoyment had mostly gone.

Anyhow, what I'm really posting here for is a tip - underlay is a godsend on hard flooring, it's fairly cheap and can be bought in easy to handle rolls (if you can't find any free offcuts), put it rubber/knobbly side down, and make a walkway over the laminate/lino/wood floors with it. You won't win any prizes for an ideal home, but it definitely helps the dogs back legs.

SadBunny

gettingready wrote: »

They look great and they probably would help - if I could afford them.

Because I know you haven't got enough to do ...."Great video thank you! I'm going to make them using a different material so my elkhound doesn't slide on the wood floors."
Maybe adapt some old kiddy socks?
Perhaps you could stitch/stick some rubber/grippy stuff to the soles - or use some of the "rubber/knobbly" from the underlay - I like Sally's tip!

For tighter fit, better grip and rainy weather, how about swim socks?
You would need two pairs.
Any chance your daughter's friends might have some they don't need?

rustyboy21

I can't believe how you all have got away with having wood flooring down with a dog ! lol

My Rustyboy ( R I P ) freaked out when I spent £1000's on new wood flooring and tiled kitchen and wouldn't walk across it. I ended up getting carpet runners and laying a route for him throughout the whole of downstairs. He was like an entrant on dancing on ice otherwise and just stood there crying with his tail wagging ! It was another story when Chicken was on the scene, he would walk over the tiles and wood floors without batting an eyelid, he was that food orientated ! lol

Anyway, hope all your pups get better soon, the carpet underlay is a good tip as a temporary measure, see if any carpet shops have any scrap going spare.

rising_from_the_ashes

rustyboy21 wrote: »

I can't believe how you all have got away with having wood flooring down with a dog ! lol

I have carpet over the laminate in the hallway .....