Staffy with stiff legs.

stripey

Hello everybody,
My 3 year old staffy !!!!! has started to develop a limp following excercise. She appears to have a very stiff back leg. I wonder if anyone has any suggestions regarding any dietary supplements that would help alleviate her stiffness.
Thanks Stripey.

bagpuss_fan

Cod liver oil is good for joints! and a good massage with lavender oil is meant to work (although I've not tried this)!

Are you sure it's her legs? Our patterdale has a back problem, I can tell he is in pain because: when he lays down, he keeps his legs out straight (doesn't curl into a ball like ususal) and when he's standing, he pushes his legs right out behind him (the vet said it's to put all his weight on his front legs), also it looks like he's limping but it alternates between his two back legs.

We think the original injury was from him bundling around with a very large dog a couple of years ago on the beach. Most of the time he's ok, but it has come back about 5 times so far. It doesn't seem to be triggered by anything in particular, sometimes he's maybe just slept in a bad position, or ran too much on the beach. Now I know the symptoms, he just gets rest and doggie paracetamol and it does the trick.

I hope your staffie does just have a stiff leg, but thought you should know about mine as it could be looked on as leg problems by the unknowing eye. Would advise taking her to the vets if this is happening all the time.

pamperedprincess

Hi, we have a chocolate lab who had the same problem. She seemed to have stiff legs after exercise and swimming. We get Joint Aid for Dogs from http://www.gjwtitmuss.co.uk/ It might seem expensive but it lasts for ages, 1 scoop per day (scoop is included) The bigger pack (tub) works out far better value for money. We noticed a huge improvement in our lab and in fact once, when we ran out and forgot to reorder there was a marked deterioration in her. I would highly recommend this product. (I have no connections with the company etc.) My MIL also gives this to her 10 year old Westie - he runs around like a pup!

HTH

By the way - staffies are fabulous dogs!

Savvy_Sue

Please tell me you've had your staffie checked out by a vet in case it's more serious than needing supplements?

stripey

Hi and thanks for your replies - when she was a pup she had problems with one of her front legs and had x-rays etc which showed nothing wrong but now its one of her back legs. It only appears stiff following a long run. I think i will take her to the vets just to rule anything out.
Thanks for the tips on supplements tho.
Cheers Stripey

willoscar

Joint Aid seems to work wonders for lame dogs.I would recomend it. I gave it to my dog who had been lame for18months. 6weeks later he was running around like a pup.Have talked to lots of people whos dogs it has helped.Well worth a try for arthritis joint problems stiffness ect.

Hintza

You don't say how long the problem has been going on for, but it has just started she could have just pulled something? Try taking it easy for a bit.

But I guess from your original post it might have been going on for a while if so probably best to pay the vet a visit.

orlao

Hi

Imo, she needs a check over at the vets, maybe walk her just before the appointment so they can see the lameness? my dog had the same symptoms and it turned out to be his cruciate ligaments but it took a while to diagnose cos the vets never saw him lame!!!! I never thought of taking him in straight after exercise:o

stripey

orlao wrote: »

Hi

Imo, she needs a check over at the vets, maybe walk her just before the appointment so they can see the lameness? my dog had the same symptoms and it turned out to be his cruciate ligaments but it took a while to diagnose cos the vets never saw him lame!!!! I never thought of taking him in straight after exercise:o

That's a good idea.
Thanks Stripey.

cluuuuur

Either that, or if you have some method of recording the dog when she's lame (mobile phone camera, video camera or something) that might work too - my friend's dog had hip dysplasia but never exhibited any symptoms whilst at the vet - in the end it was a mobile phone video that helped get them on the path to the right treatment.

sharonr

Hi there. I've been using a company called Hellenia for 6 years. They sell a product called GAGS for dog's joints problems. This has worked wonders on my Mother-in-Law's dog and we've recommended to lots of other dog owners too.

The smallest pack they do is a 90 tablets for £5.95, largest is 360 for £17.95. The directions say to give a small dog 1 tablet and a medium dog 2 tablets per day - not sure what you would class a staffie as.

Here's link to their web page

http://www.healthfoods-uk.com/vetschoice/products.htm

I can highly recommend their products and service is great. :money: