Member

Posts: 409
From:Los Angeles, Ca.
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-23-2003 11:44 PM         

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Mann, my AB has been really sensitive in his back legs today. Every once & a while he'll complain about it hurting him or something. Well, i think i pin-pointed the spot to be his back legs (very possibly his hip-joints/ligaments).
We went for a run yesterday & broke/set our running time record by 10 minutes!! I was/am very proud of my boys!
I think (well at least i'm hoping) he just has some sore/tight/cramping muscles or something like that.
What i'm d e e p l y afraid of is a future of hip-dysplacia (sp?).
Has anyone delt w/ or is currently treating for this horrible problem??
I could use any & all advice for this type of situation. Just hoping to get perhaps some recommendations on supplements or medicine or something for it. Basically, "home-type-treament".
If it get's worse (never get's better), i'll be taking him in...
Although, he does romp around and play his normal way of playing w/ his buddy. But, i know there's something there bugging him (at least a little). That's why i'm hoping for the simple cramps, or sore muscles.
It sucks, i wanted to go for another run (not another record breaker or anything ), just a simple/normal jog.
This is probably a lame Q, but do you think i could take him for a walk along 1 of our same running routes?

Errr, ailments .

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Member

Posts: 160
From:Columbia, SC, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-24-2003 09:28 AM         

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I had a dog with hip dysplasia. Luckily(I guess) he didn't get it until he was very old - 12 yrs (old for a St. Bernard). but when he did get it it was BAD. We had him put down; the vet said the only option was surgery and I didn't see the point in putting such an old dog through full hip replacement.
As to supplements, anything with glucosamine and chondroitin would be good. I have my other dog on that now. If it is really bad you can get Cosequin for dogs but that is very expensive. It does work well though, at least it did for my horse. It was $160/month for the horse, I dont know how much it would be for a dog.
If price is a concern, there is a company called Springtime (www.springtimeinc.com) that makes stuff for joints with glucosamine that is a lot less expensive (we switched my horse to it when he retired). It seemed to work well.

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Member

Posts: 1179
From:,Calif. U.S.A.
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 12-24-2003 11:59 AM         

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If it is the joint glucosamine won't help for ever, maybe a little. But as you probably have researched already the joint is slipping in and out of position causing the scraping and pain. Eventually will need surgery. I know its not what you want to hear.
On the other hand my poodle started out with a limp occasionally on her hind leg. I thought it was hip or knee. It was arthritis. Cosequin is supposed to be one of the upper crusts of the glucosamine products. I know you said you are giving missing link, right. When I went looking for one of those products, I walked into my set supply(nope not pet-co) place and asked for their very best gluc-chondroitant product. They took me to Seatecs Phyto- Greens Suppliment The senior formula. I figured it would be really expensive but it was only 18.00 It is compared to missing link But goes one up and adds Spirulina in it for their energy level. It comes straight from Hawaii. It has alot of good things in it.
You know the best way to find out whats going on is to get an xray of your dogs legs. That will tell you exactly whats going on. I don't think you should be running your dog if its got this problem. My dogs arthritis is worse and I was told to let her take it easy from now on. Either way whatever it is, its probably irritated and inflamed or swollen. Vets can prescribe anti-inflamitories. Which is what we are doing. Hopefully it is just a pulled muscle or something minor like that. But now rest is what your dog need, no sprinting for now. Merry Christmas, Goodboy

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New Member

Posts: 7
From:North Epping, NSW Australia
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-24-2003 12:19 PM         

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Asprin, glucostamine chondroiton and chiropractic! Does your vet practice chiropractic? If not, look around. It seems that lots of vets in the states are taking up alternative healing including Holistic Homeopathy, Reki and Chiropractic. And I've seen a lot of accupuncturists who treat animals as well! I'm all for ALTERNATIVE as opposed to shoving another pill down the throat. Good luck!

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Member

Posts: 409
From:Los Angeles, Ca.
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-24-2003 03:29 PM         

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Urrrr!?

[This message has been edited by GoodboysBaddogs (edited 12-24-2003).]

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Member

Posts: 409
From:Los Angeles, Ca.
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-24-2003 03:31 PM         

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Thanks ALL!!!

I will be looking into all of what you've recommended.
He seems to be doing better as the hours go by... By tomorrow i'll see how he's doing, hopfully i'll be able to take him out for a stroll & some fresh air. Nothing Heavy....

m M e E r R y Y c C h H r R i I s S t T m M a A s S ! ! !

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Member

Posts: 409
From:Los Angeles, Ca.
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-25-2003 08:24 PM         

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hey ALL, hope everybodies having a good Christmas .
My dogs better now, i'd say back to normal, but i'd never know unless we go out for a run again.
He's been runnin around like a mad dog today, when i let him out after the rains past. I guess he was happy that it stopped too ! My Shar Pei could care less about getting his feet wet/muddy though He's a Snob wehn it comes to staying clean! It's in the breed i guess...
Anyhow, i posted something else about "after Long Runs", can every/anyone help me out over there...? Thanks for the Help!

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Member

Posts: 156
From:
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-29-2003 05:54 AM         

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Hi sry to bring this post back up, but my 6yo husky has started having problems with her back legs. we are going to the vet next week. I am praying its not dysplacia(sp). What happens is when she is outside in the cold laying for awhile she has trouble getting up. Also in the house if she is laying for awhile. Then one day last week I noticed when she went down the back steps, she was picking up her back legs and going down. I am hoping this is just arthritis, just wondering if anyone else has had this with their dog and if thats what is sounds like. Also can the vet x-ray to rule out dysplacia? I dont know too much about it, only that its very painfull and my dog will have her days. One day shes running around like a pup, the next just lays around. Thanks for all advice, sry for the long post.

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Member

Posts: 150
From:Western Pennsylvania, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-30-2003 10:05 PM         

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When one of my girls injured her back leg, (ACL) it was painful for her to run or stand on her back leg. She did end up having her surgery, (at over $650), but in the meantime I had bought some suppliments which helped her alot. I could see the difference within a few weeks. It is also good even if their joints, ligaments, whatever are in good shape. It will help KEEP them that way. It's for arthritis too. It is a pure, natural, glucosamine complex called Syn-flex. It's a liquid form and it has a 98% absorption rate, unlike pill or capsule form. I also give a 500mg capsule of MSM, which you can find at GNC. The 1st 2 wks, you double the dosage on both. Anyway, I really could tell a difference. You can check out Syn-Flex at: http://www.activexamerica.com/pets/

I wish I could afford to give it to all my dogs, but that ain't gonna happen anytime soon.

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REDCOAT KENNELS
Home of the chocolate/rednose!

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