Ageing collie's stiff/sore legs

the_devil_made_me_do_it

krlyr wrote: »

Think you've totally misread my post as a dig at you. I meant it's important for OP to get a proper diagnosis - because in your dog's case, treatment is as-and-when-needed, in my dog, it was daily. It can vary hugely depending on the condition, hence OP should go to the vet.

My apologies, I certainly did misread your post.

I do agree it is best to get a vet to have a look and try and diagnose the problem. Could be something or nothing, not worth taking a chance though.

meritaten

cant comment about the medical aspect - but when my dogs were ageing they loved bean bag beds. lovely and warm and adjusted to their bodies.

teddysmum

Bean bags are quite hard when you sit on them for long, but memory foam dog beds are quite cheap, nowadays.


Has anyone tried Yumove, since this thread began ?


My once creaky Joly is quite fluid now. In fact, yesterday, while looking at a plant in the garden, I heard the mad flapping of wings and assumed the other dog was seeing off a pigeon ....but it was Joly and he was running; something he hasn't done for years. (He's eleven)

Better_Days

My 14yo collie cross is on Previcox every day. She really does need this to keep her mobile, and comfortable. However she has had a repeated upset tummy on Previcox (and prior to that Onsior) so she is now also on Zantac liquid which has worked a treat.

The vet also is doing 3 to 4 months blood tests to keep an eye on her liver and kidney function as well. Insurance does pay a proportiion and I buy most of the meds online to try and keep the costs down.

Cyclamen's suggestions are well worth considering, especially memory foam bed which the dog can lie out straight on.

jumpedtheshark

OP, I would recommend a visit to a good vets, just so you can reassure yourself that there are no specific issues and it's just that your dog is getting stiffer generally.

Our 12-ish-year-old lab x collie (bigger N American lab) is stiffening up and we have done the following for the past 2 years:
(1) grain-free food (as the grain aggravates the joints). We use Arden Grange as it's the most affordable commercial grain-free food for us. We also add some Arden Grange partners wet, so it's not just dry;
(2) cortaflex vet strength (also known as a cortavet) in her breakfast;
(3) one fish oil capsule (we buy it from Holland and Barrett and stock up when it's in their penny sale!) in both breakfast and dinner;
(4) one green lipped mussel capsule in her dinner;
(5) monthly cartrophen injections, which the vet has taught OH to do himself at home;
(6) keep her weight down - she's quite lean, so there's no extra weight on her joints. We weigh her food every meal, which is also handy if we need a dog-sitter as we can tell him to the gram how much to give her;
(7) multiple, shorter walks, instead of longer walks, and all at whatever pace she chooses to set.

We also tried esther-C, but she didn't like it and we didn't notice any improvement so we discontinued it.

Our vet is happy with the various supplements and dosings we give. If you take yours in for a check-up, it might be worth going with a list of supplements you'd like to try so you can also discuss dosings.

meloncollie

Not read through all of the pays yet, but:
Vet visit.
Yumove
Salmon oil or any other fish body oil
Good diet (google which dog food - first link. )
Less exercise
Replace some walks with swimming/hydrotherapy
Google doggy massaging - learn some ways to make her feel good and relaxed.

If she doesn't like exercise being lowered provide her with more mental simulation.

AlwaysAllie

Please consider talking to your vet.

My collie x has had arthritic hips for about 4 years, she is 13. Supplements or anti inflammatories can delay the advancement of problems as well as giving a better quality of life. She had supplements for about 18 months which eased the symptoms and them when they reappeared she was prescribed metacam which, according to my vet, has no long term effects IF your pet doesn't already have liver/kidney problems.

AA

foreign_correspondent

I found the link for the free sample of yumove - I've just filled the form in, hope it works!

http://lintbells.com/yfs?atrkid=V1ADWA12B5C47-15854608718-k--52124077718--d-m-none&gclid=CPiD-KyXrr8CFYrJtAodL0YAsA